科學傢們現在有足夠的數據來描繪世界上最大冰山 A23a 的實際規模。衛星測量數據顯示，這塊冰的平均厚度剛超過280米。
Imagine a field of ice more than twice the area of Greater London, but as thick as its skyscrapers are tall. This is A23a, current title holder of the world’s biggest iceberg.
想象一下，一片冰原的面積是大倫敦面積的兩倍多，而它的厚度卻隻有倫敦摩天大樓的高度那麼厚。這就是 A23a 冰山，目前世界上最大的冰山。
Scientists have used radar pulses from a European Space Agency satellite to essentially take a tape measure to the colossus. The researchers from the UK Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling say the berg has lost quite a bit of mass since breaking away from the Antarctic coast in 1986, but it still tips the scales at 950 billion tonnes.
科學傢以歐洲航天局的一顆衛星發出的雷達脈沖為測量尺，對這座龐然大物進行瞭測量。英國極地觀測和建模中心的研究人員表示，自1986年脫離南極海岸以來，這座冰山已經失去瞭大量的冰，但現在仍重達9500億噸。
As A23a moves north and warms in the coming weeks, its melt rate will accelerate, and it’ll be dumping more fresh water into the ocean daily than is consumed by the entire UK population.
在未來幾周，隨著 A23a 向北移動並逐漸處於更溫暖的環境中，它的融化速度將會加快，融化造成其每天向海洋傾入的淡水量將比英國總人口每天消耗的還要多。
詞匯表
skyscrapers 摩天大樓
title holder 冠軍頭銜保持者
radar pulses 雷達脈沖
tape measure 卷尺
colossus 龐然大物
berg 冰山
mass （物理）質量
breaking away 脫離
tips the scales at 達到…重量
dumping 排放，傾入
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. True or false? The thickness of the iceberg is the same as the height of skyscrapers in London.
2. How has the iceberg been measured?
3. What is the current mass of the iceberg?
4. How much fresh water will melt from the iceberg in the coming weeks?
答案
1. True or false? The thickness of the iceberg is similar in height to skyscrapers in London.
True. The field of ice is as thick as Greater London’s skyscrapers are tall.
2. How has the iceberg been measured?
Scientists have used radar pulses from a European Space Agency satellite to essentially take a tape measure to the colossus.
3. What is the current mass of the iceberg?
It is 950 billion tonnes.
4. How much fresh water will melt from the iceberg in the coming weeks?
More than what is consumed by the entire UK population daily.
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