Weather and Plant Growth Study

by Caty Weaver¹
Broadcast: July 4, 2003
This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Environment Report.
Scientists in the United States say plant life has increased on Earth in the past twenty years. And they say in every area of plant growth the increase is the result of weather conditions.
Eight scientists from across the United States did the study. The space agency² 1)NASA and the Department of 2)Energy paid for it. The magazine Science published the findings³.
The researchers spent a year-and-a-half examining weather and satellite information. The information was recorded from nineteen-eighty-two to nineteen-ninety-nine. This period was one of the warmest on record. Researchers found that rainfall generally increased during this time.
The satellites measured the amount of leaves on plants and the amount of sunlight taken in. The scientists used that information to estimate⁴ what is called net primary production. This is the total amount of carbon stored in land plants.
The scientists report a six percent increase in stored carbon since nineteen-eighty-two. They say gains were high in 3)equatorial areas, especially around the Amazon River in South America. The report says that area alone had a one percent increase in net primary production.
Ramakrishna Nemani of the University of Montana in Missoula led the study. He says reduced cloud cover led to the growth in the Amazon area. He says the lack of clouds permitted more sunlight to get through. More sunlight meant increases in 4)photosynthesis⁵. That is the process by which plants use energy from sunlight to produce the chemicals they need to grow.
Northern Canada, the north-central United States and northern Europe were second in increased plant growth. Ramakrishna Nemani says a rise in temperatures helped plants there.
All together, the report says twenty-five percent of areas of plant life on Earth experienced⁶ increases. But, the scientists also note increases in the number of people on Earth and carbon 5)dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Study scientist Ranga Myneni of Boston University in Massachusetts says humans use about half the net primary production on Earth. And, he notes that world population grew by thirty-six percent during the period of time studied.
This VOA Special English Environment Report was written by Caty Weaver. This is Steve Ember.
注释：
1) NASA [5nAsE] abbr.National Aeronautics⁷ and Space Administration⁸ (美国)国家航空和宇宙航行局
2) energy [5enEdVi] n.精力，精神，活力，（物）能量
3) equatorial [7ekwE5tC:riEl] adj.近赤道的，赤道的
4) photosynthesis [7fEutEu5sinWEsis] n.光合作用
5) dioxide [dai5Cksaid] n.二氧化物

1 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

2 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

3 findings   

n.发现物( finding的名词复数 )；调查（或研究）的结果；（陪审团的）裁决

参考例句：

• It behoves us to study these findings carefully. 我们理应认真研究这些发现。
• Their findings have been widely disseminated . 他们的研究成果已经广为传播。

4 estimate   

n.估计，估量；评价，看法；vt.估计，估量

参考例句：

• We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
• The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。

5 photosynthesis   

n.光合作用

参考例句：

• In apple trees photosynthesis occurs almost exclusively in the leaves.苹果树的光合作用几乎只发生在叶内。
• Chloroplasts are the structures in which photosynthesis happens.叶绿体就是光合作用发生的地方。

6 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

7 aeronautics   

n.航空术，航空学

参考例句：

• National Aeronautics and Space undertakings have made great progress.国家的航空航天事业有了很大的发展。
• He devoted every spare moment to aeronautics.他把他所有多余的时间用在航空学上。

8 administration   

n.经营，管理；行政，行政机关，管理部门

参考例句：

• Who is in charge of the administration of your company?你们公司的行政工作由谁负责？
• The teachers are responsible to the school administration.教师向学校行政负责。