英國陰雨綿綿、變幻莫測的天氣是許多人茶餘飯後樂此不疲的談資。即便是在氣溫回暖、萬物復蘇、百花盛開的春天，英國也因多發 “April showers（四月陣雨）” 而聞名。究竟有哪些因素造成瞭英國的這種天氣現象？本期 “隨身英語” 探討為何英國的四月總是陣雨連連。
詞匯：rain 雨
“Take your brolly, it’s chucking it down!” The UK is famous for its rainy weather, and Brits LOVE to complain about it – particularly when the arrival of spring teases us with warmth and light, but with them come the ‘April showers‘, lovingly shared by Britain, Ireland and some of coastal northern Europe. What exactly are they, and why do they insist on coming every year?
Meteorologists differentiate between rain and showers. The UK’s national weather service, the Met Office, says that rain is precipitation brought by a weather front, is usually long-lasting, and stretches over large areas, whereas showers fall from individual clouds and are characterised by intermittent patterns. So, it can be sunny one minute, and the next you’re getting caught in a large downpour, but then ten minutes later, you can put away your waterproof jacket and get your sunnies out!
So, what’s responsible? Rob Thompson, meteorologist at the University of Reading, says that as the hot air rises, it forms the cumulus clouds that produce showers. These are then driven by the jet stream – strong winds that move northwards during spring – creating rather unsettled and unpredictable weather. Besides the drizzle, we’re just as likely to experience snow as we are to feel sun as strong as that in late August!
With all this in mind, would it surprise you to hear that April is actually one of the driest months of the whole year? In 2021, data company Statista recorded 137.6mm of rainfall in January, compared to just 20.1mm in April, with similar results for the last four years. That’s because while there are lots of rainy days in April, the showers are scattered, and there aren’t as many of the long downpours we see in the winter months. But, this is likely to change as the world warms up. Weather that causes flash floods is predicted to be four times as frequent in Britain by the 2070s, according to a study by Elizabeth Kendon and colleagues, published in Nature Communications.
There is a British proverb that goes “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers”. It is a reminder that, despite our complaints, April showers can be a symbol for renewal and new beginnings. So Brits, instead of complaining about the drizzly days, why not romanticise that pitter-patter sound that brings us the colourful spring bloom?
詞匯表
brolly 雨傘
chuck it down 下瓢潑大雨
shower 陣雨
meteorologist 氣象學傢
precipitation 降水
weather front 氣象 “鋒”
intermittent 斷斷續續的
downpour 暴雨，驟雨
waterproof 防水的
sunnies 太陽鏡，墨鏡
cumulus 積雲
jet stream 急流，噴射氣流
unsettled 變幻莫測的
drizzle 毛毛雨
rainfall 降雨（量）
scattered 分散的，疏疏落落的
flash flood 突發性洪水
drizzly 下毛毛雨的
pitter-patter （下雨的）啪嗒啪嗒聲
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Where are April showers commonly experienced?
2. How does the Met Office differentiate between rain and showers?
3. What creates the unsettled weather in April?
4. True or False? April is the wettest month in the whole year.
5. How are weather patterns predicted to change in Britain by the 2070s?
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. The _______ coming from the west is expected to bring heavy rainfall.
intermittent meteorologist weather front jet
2. She always carried her _______ in her handbag, in case it started raining.
brolly sunnies flash shower
3. We shouldn’t go out in that weather. It’s absolutely _______!
drizzling chucking it down rainfalling unsettling
4. Listening to the _______ of raindrops helped the children fall asleep.
flashing precipitation pitter-patter jet stream
5. It was a _______ morning, but we didn’t get too wet walking to work.
drizzle drizzly drizzling drizzler
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Where are April showers commonly experienced?
April showers are commonly experienced in Britain, Ireland and some of coastal northern Europe.
2. How does the Met Office differentiate between rain and showers?
The Met Office says that rain is precipitation brought by a weather front, is usually long-lasting, and stretches over large areas, whereas showers fall from individual clouds and are characterised by intermittent patterns.
3. What creates the unsettled weather in April?
The unsettled weather in April is created because hot air rises, which forms Cumulus clouds. These are then driven by the jet stream.
4. True or False? April is the wettest month in the whole year.
False. April is one of the driest months in the whole year, despite frequent showers.
5. How are weather patterns predicted to change in Britain by the 2070s?
Weather patterns are predicted to change in Britain by the 2070s with flash floods becoming four times as frequent.
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. The weather front coming from the west is expected to bring heavy rainfall.
2. She always carried her brolly in her handbag, in case it started raining.
3. We shouldn’t go out in that weather. It’s absolutely chucking it down!
4. Listening to the pitter-patter of raindrops helped the children fall asleep.
5. It was a drizzly morning, but we didn’t get too wet walking to work.
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