VOA慢速英语--研究表明如今地球冰层的融化速度比上世纪90年代中期还要快

New research suggests Earth's ice is melting faster today than in the 1990s.

An estimated 28 trillion metric tons of ice have melted away from the world's sea ice, ice sheets and glaciers² since the middle of the 1990s. The yearly melt rate is now about 57 percent faster than it was 30 years ago. Scientists reported the findings in a study published in The Cryosphere.

"It was a surprise to see such a large increase in just 30 years," said study co-author Thomas Slater. He is a glaciologist, a scientist who studies glaciers, at Leeds University in Britain.

Slater noted³ that the ice melt situation is clear to those who depend on mountain glaciers for drinking water. It is also clear to those who depend on winter sea ice to protect coastal⁴ homes from storms. But Slater noted that the world's ice melt has now started to be recognized even far from frozen areas.

"People do recognize that, although the ice is far away, the effects of the melting will be felt by them," he said.

The melting of land ice – on Antarctica, Greenland and mountain glaciers – added enough water to the ocean during the 30-year time period to raise the average worldwide sea level by 3.5 centimeters. Ice loss from mountain glaciers made up 22 percent of the yearly ice loss totals.

Across the Arctic, sea ice is also shrinking to new summertime lows. Last year saw the second-lowest levels of sea ice in more than 40 years. As sea ice melts, it uncovers dark water which takes in solar radiation, rather than sending it back out of the atmosphere. This is known as Arctic amplification⁵, which increases area temperatures even further.

The worldwide atmospheric⁶ temperature has risen by about 1.1 degrees Celsius⁷ since pre-industrial times. But in the Arctic, the warming rate has been more than twice the world average in the last 30 years.

The team of British scientists studied satellite data from 1994-2017, used site measurements and created computer models to measure the ice melt. They found that the world was losing an average of 0.8 trillion metric tons of ice per year in the 1990s. In recent years, the team estimated a loss of about 1.2 trillion metric tons each year.

Gabriel Wolken is a geologist⁸ with the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. He said that finding even an estimated ice loss total from the world's ice formations is "a really interesting approach, and one that's actually quite needed."

Wolken was a co-author of the 2020 Arctic Report Card released in December, but was not involved with the new study.

He said that in Alaska, people are very mindful of glacial ice loss. "You can see the changes with the human eye," he added.

Words in This Story

amplification – n. an act, example or product of making something louder by increasing its strength

approach – n. a way of dealing⁹ with something : a way of doing or thinking about something

glacier¹ – n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land

solar – adj. of or relating to the sun

1 glacier   

n.冰川，冰河

参考例句：

• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。
• The upper surface of glacier is riven by crevasses.冰川的上表面已裂成冰隙。

2 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）

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 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。

5 amplification   

n.扩大，发挥

参考例句：

• The voice of despair may be weak and need amplification.绝望的呼声可能很微弱，需要扩大。
• Some of them require further amplification.其中有些内容需进一步详细阐明。

6 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

7 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。

8 geologist   

n.地质学家

参考例句：

• The geologist found many uncovered fossils in the valley.在那山谷里，地质学家发现了许多裸露的化石。
• He was a geologist,rated by his cronies as the best in the business.他是一位地质学家，被他的老朋友们看做是这门行当中最好的一位。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。