VOA慢速英语:NASA Launching Balloons Over Saint Louis to Study Ozone

Students at Saint Louis University are launching weather balloons into the sky above St. Louis, Missouri. The United States space agency NASA is paying for this activity. It's a part of a study to improve our understanding of air pollution and climate.
圣路易斯大学的学生们在密苏里州圣路易斯市上空放飞气象气球。美国太空总署（NASA）为这项活动买单。这项活动是一项改善我们对空气污染和气候认识的研究的一部分。

A group of students surround a laptop computer and a radio receiver outside the Saint Louis Science Center. They're getting ready to take part in a NASA project to measure ozone. The students hear the sound of information.
在美国圣路易斯大学科学中心外，一群学生包围着一台笔记本电脑和一台无线接收器。他们正准备参加美国太空总署测量臭氧的项目。学生们听着声音信息。

Inside container made of Styrofoam material are small instruments, they measure direction, temperature, humidity, air pressure and ozone. The students tested all the instruments. When they are certain everything is operating correctly, they attach the container to a weather ballon.
保丽龙材料制成的容器中是小型仪器，它们能测量方向、温度、湿度、气压和臭氧。学生们测试了所有的仪器。当他们确认一切操作正确时，就将该容器放到一个气象气球上。

The ballon will carry it into the atmosphere three times higher than jets airplane. But first, the students need to fill the ballon with helium gas, so it can rise. They need a lot of helium, fully blown up, the ballon will be 2 to 3 meters in diameter.
该气球将携带它进入大气层，高度是喷气飞机的三倍。但首先，学生们需要用氦气填充气球，这样气球才能上升。他们需要大量氦气。当气球吹气充分之后，它的直径将达到2至3米。

A voice announces the launch time.
这是宣布放飞时间的声音。

"This is Gary Morris with the Saint Louis University weather balloon launch team at the St. Louis planetarium. We're five minutes from a weather balloon launch."
“这里是Gary Morris和圣路易斯大学位于圣路易大学天文馆气象的气球放飞组。距离气象气球放飞时间还有5分钟。”

Gary Morris is a professor at Valparaiso University in Indiana. He is the lead trainer for the nationwide study. The professor says NASA wants more information on ozone because * affects our atmosphere ─ both good and bad.
Gary Morris是印第安纳州瓦尔帕莱索大学的教授。他是这项全国性研究的首席培训师。该教授称，美国宇航局希望获得更多关于臭氧的信息，因为它对我们大气的影响有好有坏。

High up in what is called the stratosphere, the ozone layer keeps harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth. But near the ground, emissions from cars and petrochemical plants form ozone pollution and smog, the unhealthy air condition that affects breathing.
在上方被称为的平流层的地方，臭氧层能阻隔有害的紫外线到达地球。但在地面附近，汽车和石化厂排放会形成臭氧污染和烟雾。这种不健康的空气状况会影响呼吸。

Jack Fishman leds the ozone study at Saint Louis University. He says new requirements that decrease pollution have lowered ozone levels in American cities, but he notes that pollution in remote areas continues to increase. He blames industrial activity in eastern Asia for that pollution.
Jack Fishman负责圣路易斯大学的臭氧研究。他说，减少污染的新要求已经降低了美国城市的臭氧污染水平。但他指出，偏远地区的污染持续上升。他指责东亚地区的污染工业活动。

Mr Fishman says polluted air is being blown across the Pacific by currents in the upper atmosphere. He says ozone pollution has slown the growth of farm crops and forests.
Fishman先生称，污染空气被上层大气中的气流吹着横跨太平洋。他说，臭氧污染让农作物和森林的生长缓慢。

And now, at the Saint Louis Science Center, is time for the balloon launch. OK, comes a voice, ready...
而现在，在圣路易斯大学科学中心，是时候让气球升空了。倒计时声音，准备。

"Five, four, three, two, one, lift-off! Alright!"
“5，4，3，2，1，升空！好！”