VOA标准英语2009年-Climate Change Conference Warns of Accelerating

Some of the world's top scientists are wrapping up a three-day, climate-change meeting in Copenhagen with a grim warning that global warming is arriving faster than previously¹ expected.

The Copenhagen meeting drew about 2,000 scientists from around the world, and the news they delivered was not encouraging as they warned of an increasingly warmer world with more frequent droughts, and food and health problems.
　
Rajendra Pachauri (File)

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change chairman Rajendra Pachauri summed up the fallout if temperatures increase.

"Even for a range of zero to one degree celsius² [annual rise in temperature], we have problems with water availability. We also have problems with ecosystems," he said. "Food security would certainly be at growing risk. Coastal³ areas are particularly vulnerable, and human health would also be affected⁴ by the impact of climate change."

Scientists warn the impact of climate change is hitting the world faster than previous predictions by Pachauri's IPCC, which amounts to a more conservative consensus⁵ of top world researchers.

Climate change expert Konrad Steffen, of the University of Colorado in the United States, explained the impact of climate-induced sea level rises to coastal areas.
　
Red shows areas where temperatures have increased the most during last 50 years. Dark blue shows areas with lesser⁶ degree of warming (in Celsius). (NASA/ GSFC Scientific Visualization⁷ Studio)

"The key finding of this meeting is that we have up to one-meter sea-level rise by 2100, based on our new insight of glaciers⁸. And that will affect up to 600 million people that are living close to the coastline and it will include major cities like New York," he said. "We already know that New Orleans is in the same way, but also areas like Bangladesh or smaller areas of islands that will be flooded within that one-meter sea level rise."

World leaders of the top 20 economies are expected to discuss climate change during talks on the global economic downturn next month in London. Late this year, scientists and politicians are to gather in Copenhagen for a key global climate-change summit in an effort to thrash out a consensus on cutting heat-trapping greenhouse gasses.

1 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

2 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

3 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

6 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

7 visualization   

n.想像，设想

参考例句：

• In 2D visualization and drawing applications, vertical and horizontal scrolling are common. 在二维的可视化及绘图应用中，垂直和水平滚动非常普遍。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Ophthalmoscopy affords the only opportunity for direct visualization of blood vessels. 检眼镜检查法提供直接观察血管的唯一机会。

8 glaciers   

冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Glaciers gouged out valleys from the hills. 冰川把丘陵地带冲出一条条山谷。
• It has ice and snow glaciers, rainforests and beautiful mountains. 既有冰川，又有雨林和秀丽的山峰。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）