大型城市因鱗次櫛比的高樓大廈而常被人們稱作 “鋼筋混凝土的森林”，也正因如此，大量的混凝土建材增加瞭城市的內澇風險。為瞭防治內澇，人們從大自然中汲取靈感，利用高科技手段，對城市進行 “海綿化” 改造。本文介紹城市雨洪管理概念——“海綿城市”。
詞匯：flood prevention 防澇
Devastating floods are becoming more and more common around the world. The warming climate is leading to heavier rainfall, but could the way that cities are growing be making things worse? Could we design cities in a different way to reduce the risk of flooding?
As cities expand, and more and more land is underneath concrete or paving, less water is absorbed and more needs to be channelled away by storm drains and sewerage systems. As they become overwhelmed by the volume of water, the risk of flash flooding increases.
Could it be that we’ve been taking the wrong approach? Chinese landscape architect Yu Kongjian certainly thinks so. In 2013, he proposed the concept of ‘sponge cities’, which are designed to soak up water – like a sponge – reducing the risk of sudden floods. Natural solutions are encouraged, using riverside parks and ponds to absorb floodwater. Approaches inspired by this have been taken by cities across the world. Auckland, in New Zealand, was named the spongiest city in one study. It has replaced the concrete culverts around the Oakley creek stream with green banks and connected parks. This has reduced flooding in the nearby residential areas as well as the amount of associated contamination which used to be washed into the sea.
Auckland has taken a natural approach, but a much more high-tech method can be seen in Amsterdam. The Dutch city has installed blue-green roofs on a number of buildings. These roofs have a layer of plants on the outside, and then layers underneath which collect and store rainwater. This water can be used by people in the building below to water plants or flush toilets. Sophisticated software can even tell the roofs to release water ahead of upcoming storms to maximise the system’s ability to soak up rainwater. It can even identify which areas of the city are at most risk and tailor the response accordingly.
Yu Kongjian describes the sponge city approach as using Tai Chi with nature instead of boxing. Questions have been raised as to whether a natural approach is sufficient when faced with increased rain fall globally. What remains to be seen is whether increased scale and combination with modern technology can help natural methods save many more people from flooding.
詞匯表
concrete 混凝土
paving 鋪路的材料
channel away 疏導，排出
storm drain 雨水渠
sewerage system 下水道系統
overwhelmed 被淹沒的
flash flooding 突發性洪水
landscape architect 景觀設計師
soak up 吸收，吸掉（液體）
absorb （逐漸）吸收
floodwater 內澇積水，洪水
culvert 地下排水管道
bank 堤岸
wash into 沖入
blue-green roof 種有綠色植物、有助於管理雨水的 “藍綠色屋頂”
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Why is rainfall getting heavier around the world?
2. What is happening to land as cities expand?
3. When was the idea of sponge cities proposed?
4. What has been done to the Oakley creek stream?
5. How can people use the water collected by blue-green roofs?
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. When _______ is added to roads, it is harder to get rid of water.
culverts floodwater paving storm drain
2. Drainage systems can be _______ by floods.
channelled away soaked up absorbed overwhelmed
3. Concrete does not _______ rain water.
absorb wash into channel away overwhelm
4. A _______ designs ways to protect cities.
blue-green roof culvert storm drain landscape architect
5. _______ can destroy buildings quickly.
Flash flooding Paving Concrete Sewerage system
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Why is rainfall getting heavier around the world?
The warming climate is leading to heavier rainfall.
2. What is happening to land as cities expand?
As cities expand, more and more land is under paving or concrete.
3. When was the idea of sponge cities proposed?
Sponge cities were proposed in 2013.
4. What has been done to the Oakley creek stream?
Concrete culverts have been replaced with green banks and connected parks.
5. How can people use the water collected by blue-green roofs?
People can use this water to water plants and flush toilets.
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. When paving is added to roads, it is harder to get rid of water.
2. Cities with poor infrastructure can be overwhelmed by floods.
3. Concrete does not absorb rain water.
4. A landscape architect designs ways to protect cities.
5. Flash flooding can destroy buildings quickly.
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