北极冰带的融化将加速全球变暖进程

                  北极冰带的融化将加速全球变暖进程

DATE=2/16/01
TITLE=SPECIAL ENGLISH ENVIRONMENT REPORT - Arctic¹ Permafrost Melting BYLINE=Cynthia Kirk

（Start at 59"）This is the VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT.
United Nations scientists say (1)frozen² soil in the (2)Arctic that is (3)melting could be increasing the rate of global warming. They say the melting soil could be releasing³ air-polluting (4)gases that have been (5)trapped for thousands of years. Scientists say the (6)temperature changes in the Arctic could lead to serious problems. The scientists made the statements at a meeting of the U-N Environmental Program's governing group. The group met in Nairobi, Kenya last week.
The Arctic is an area around the North Pole. It includes the Arctic Ocean. It also includes the northern parts of the continents of Europe, Asia and North America. And it includes thousands of islands. The frozen soil in the Arctic is called (7)permafrost. Permafrost is land that stays frozen all year. Almost twenty-percent of the world's land surface is made up of (8)permanently frozen soil. Most of it is in the Arctic.
Scientists estimate⁴ that fourteen percent of the world's (9)carbon is stored under the frozen soil. Permafrost has trapped carbon (10)dioxide and other heat-trapping gases for thousands of years. But as temperatures rise, the permafrost melts. This releases⁵ carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. These gases trap heat in the (11)atmosphere and increase the temperature of the earth. The process is called global warming.
Soil in the Arctic is frozen to as deep as one-thousand meters. But rising temperatures can change permafrost into a soft, liquid-like material. Scientists say the melting permafrost is already damaging roads, buildings and structures in (12)Greenland and parts of Russia, Canada and Norway. And they say the problems could have a major affect on the living conditions of native people and Arctic (13)wildlife such as reindeer⁶.
U-N scientists say the political reaction to the problem of melting permafrost is slow. They say they are closely⁷ watching the situation in the Arctic. But they say more study is needed.
The Arctic Council⁸ is a group that represents the governments and people of the Arctic. Arctic (14)Council (15)ministers are expected to study the dangers of melting permafrost when they meet in Finland in June.
This VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT was written by Cynthia Kirk.

(1)frozen[ 5frEuzn ]adj.冻结的, 冷冰的, 冷酷的vbl.freeze的过去分词
(2)arctic[ 5B:ktik ]adj.北极的, 北极区的n.北极, 北极圈
(3)melting[ 5meltiN ]adj.熔化的, 融化的, 溶解的, 混合的
(4)gaseity[ ^A5si:iti ]n.气态
(5)trap[ trAp ]n.圈套,汽水闸, (双轮)轻便马车vi.设圈套, 设陷阱vt.诱捕,设陷, 使受限制
(6)temperature[5temprItFE(r)]n.温度
(7)permafrost[ 5pE:mEfrC(:)st ]n.[地]永久冻结带
(8)permanently[5p:mEntlI]adv.永存地, 不变地
(9)carbon[ 5kB:bEn ]n.[化]碳(元素符号C), (一张)复写纸
(10)dioxide[ dai5Cksaid ]n.二氧化物
(11)atmosphere[ 5AtmEsfiE ]n.大气, 空气, 气氛
(12)Greenland[ 5^ri:nlEnd ]n.格陵兰(岛名,位于北美洲的东北部,属丹麦)
(13)wildlife[5waIldlaIf]n.野生动植物
(14)council[ 5kaunsil ]n.政务会, 理事会, 委员会, 参议会, 讨论会议, 顾问班子, 立法班子
(15)minister[ 5ministE ]n.部长, 大臣

1 Arctic   

adj.北极的；n.北极

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• The sort of animal lived in the Arctic Circle.这种动物生活在北极圈里。

2 frozen   

adj.冻结的，冰冻的

参考例句：

• He was frozen to death on a snowing night.在一个风雪的晚上，他被冻死了。
• The weather is cold and the ground is frozen.天寒地冻。

3 releasing   

v.释放( release的现在分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• Releasing his arm, she laid her hand upon his shoulder. 她放掉他的胳膊，却把手放到了他的肩上。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• The drag operation is still terminated by releasing the mouse button. 释放鼠标按键时，拖动操作将立即终止。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

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 releases   

v.释放( release的第三人称单数 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• Nuclear fission releases tremendous amounts of energy. 核裂变释放出巨大的能量。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Zemel says that when calcium levels are low, the body releases a hormone that helps squeeze the most out of every available milligram of the mineral. 泽莫尔博士说，当人体中的钙含量偏低时，身体里就会产生一种荷尔蒙，它能帮助肌体最大限度地吸收所摄入的钙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 reindeer   

n.驯鹿

参考例句：

• The herd of reindeer was being trailed by a pack of wolves.那群驯鹿被一只狼群寻踪追赶上来。
• The life of the Reindeer men was a frontier life.驯鹿时代人的生活是一种边区生活。

7 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

8 council   

n.理事会，委员会，议事机构

参考例句：

• The town council passed a law forbidding the distribution of handbills.市议会通过法律，禁止散发传单。
• The city council has declared for improving the public bus system.市议会宣布同意改进公共汽车系统。