科學傢們說，近年來，南極野生動植物暴露在紫外線輻射中的時間有所增加，原因是臭氧層空洞在南極地區上空的時間更長瞭。臭氧層是地球上層大氣中的氣體保護屏障。
The ozone layer is healing, but it’ll take until about the end of the century to restore completely. In Antarctica, the ozone layer is broken down by chemical reactions in very cold, high atmospheric clouds.
臭氧層正在 “愈合”，但大約要到本世紀末才能完全恢復到之前的水平。在南極地區上空非常寒冷的高空大氣雲層的作用下，臭氧層被消耗，導致 “破洞”。
That loss of protective gas and resulting hole used to peak in September or October when plants and animals are tucked under winter snow and marine animals are protected by sea ice. But it’s now lingering well into the Antarctic summer.
保護氣體的流失和由此產生的 “破洞” 曾在9月或10月期間最為嚴重，不過那時動植物被冬雪覆蓋，海洋動物也有海冰遮蓋受到保護。但現在，臭氧層出現最大面積空洞這一現象已經持續到瞭南極的夏季。
Researchers say that’s been driven in part by smoke from the Australian wildfires in 2019 and 2020, which were themselves fuelled by climate change.
研究人員們說，這在一定程度上是由 2019 年和 2020 年澳大利亞野火產生的煙霧造成的，而這兩場野火本身就是氣候變化的產物。
They found evidence of Antarctic plants putting more effort into synthesising protective sunscreen compounds and krill, marine crustaceans that are the foundation of the food chain in Antarctica, moving deeper into the ocean to avoid ultraviolet rays. While seals and penguins are covered by protective fur and feathers, the scientists say exposure to harmful rays could damage their eyesight.
他們發現有證據表明，南極植物正在把更多的能量用於合成起保護作用的防曬化合物，而磷蝦，即南極洲食物鏈基層的海洋甲殼類動物，正在向海洋深處移動，以躲避紫外線照射。雖然海豹和企鵝的身上覆蓋著起保護作用的皮毛和羽毛，但科學傢們表示，陽光中的紫外線可能會損害它們的視力。
詞匯表
peak 達到峰值，達到最高水平
tucked under 藏在…之下
lingering 遲遲不去的，停留
well into 直到…很久
synthesising 合成
krill 磷蝦
crustaceans 甲殼動物
ultraviolet rays 紫外線
2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. How is the ozone layer broken down in Antarctica?
2. True or False? The hole in the ozone layer is lasting longer than it used to.
3. What do scientists think is partly responsible for the lingering hole in the ozone layer?
4. What evidence is there that Antarctic wildlife is adapting to the change?
3. 答案
1. How is the ozone layer broken down in Antarctica?
The ozone layer in Antarctica is broken down by chemical reactions occurring in very cold, high atmospheric clouds.
2. True or False? The hole in the ozone layer is lasting longer than it used to.
True. The hole in the ozone layer used to peak in September or October, but it’s now lingering well into the Antarctic summer.
3. What do scientists think is partly responsible for the lingering hole in the ozone layer?
Scientists believe that the lingering hole in the ozone layer has been driven by smoke from the Australian wildfires in 2019 and 2020.
4. What evidence is there that Antarctic wildlife is adapting to the change?
Evidence that Antarctic wildlife is adapting to change includes Antarctic plants putting more effort into synthesising protective sunscreen compounds, and krill moving deeper into the ocean to avoid ultraviolet rays.
免費試聽
填表領取25分鐘真人外師課＋英文程度分析
