和谐英语

VOA常速英语:Study: Upper-Atmosphere Particles Slow Pace of Global Warming

2011-08-11来源:VOA

短语讲解:

1. A recent study finds tiny particles suspended high in Earth’s atmosphere are having a greater impact on global climate than previously believed.

have an impact on对…有影响;对…起作用,产生效果
例句:This book have a far-reaching impact on readers.
这本书对读者产生了长远影响。

2. Global average temperatures have risen steadily during the past century, due largely to the rising concentration of CO2 and other industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

due to由于
例句:Due to the extreme cold, we were unable to plant the trees.
由于天气很冷, 所以我们无法去植树。

3. “Since about 2001, it appears that the globally-averaged temperature has stopped going up as fast as it was going up in the decades before,” Daniel said.

go up上升, 上涨, 提高, 增加, 增高
例句:The temperature is going up; will the snow melt?
气温正逐渐上升, 雪会融化吗?

4. Most of us are familiar with low-altitude aerosols: soot and other fine particulates from factories and vehicles that make up city smog.

be familiar with熟悉
例句:Tom is quite familiar with the author.
汤姆很熟悉那位作家。
make up组成, 构成
例句:This is made up of three different parts.
这由三个不同部分组成。

5. So why weren’t climate scientists accounting for the stratospheric aerosols in the first place?

account for说明〔解释〕…原因
例句:How do you account for losing five games in a row?
你如何解释一连输了五场比赛呢?

6. Although they are common closer to Earth, they are less abundant in the stratosphere. Terry Deshler, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Wyoming, explains.

be abundant in…富于,…丰富
例句:Rainfall is abundant in the region.
该地区降雨丰沛。

7. But it also threw up a lot of sulfur gas.

throw up把…向上抛〔推, 举〕; 产生; 提出
例句:Our country has thrown up a number of great writers.
我们国家出了许多大作家。

8. Deshler, who was not involved in the new aerosol study, says explosive volcanic events comparable to the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 are rare. 

comparable to比得上
例句:His achievements are comparable to the best.
他的成绩可以同最好的比美。

9. But Daniel and Deshler point out that it’s difficult to tell where the background stratospheric aerosols are coming from.

point out指出
例句:I must point out that delay is unwise.
我必须指出拖延是不明智的。

10. They believe the best way is to find cleaner renewable sources of energy, so we depend less on carbon-rich fossil-fuels, and avoid at least some of the expected warming over the next few decades.

depend on依赖, 依靠
例句:All living things depend on the sun for their growth.
万物靠太阳生长。