Scientists Release New Polar Ice Findings
By Elizabeth Palmer
科學家宣布關於極地冰層的新發現
特派員: Elizabeth Palmer
(CBS) Last spring, the Catlin Arctic Survey members set out to walk - and sometimes swim- the just over 600 miles to the North Pole, collecting data on sea ice.
But almost immediately, their radar and a sled loaded with water-testing equipment failed, reports CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer.
去年春天, 凱特林北極探勘團收集了北極周圍600英里的冰層資料。
但在同時，探勘隊的雷達和承載(water-testing)設備的雪橇也故障了。(由CBS新聞特派員Elizabeth Palmer為您報導)
The team had to scale back its ambitions and measure ice thickness the old-fashioned way. In some places they found it was barely 6-feet thick, half of what they expected.
因此，探測團只得縮小他們的野心與目標，改由較原始的方法來測量冰層的厚度。他們發現在某些地方，冰層只有六英尺厚，是預期厚度的一半。
By May, the ice was on the move. One night, it was so violent the team had to break camp.
五月正是冰層移動的季節。某一晚，劇烈的冰層移動使得探勘蹪不得不放棄營地。
Finally, plagued with frostbite and frozen sleeping bags, they gave up only halfway to the Pole.
在飽受凍瘡與結冰睡袋的困擾後，他們決定在往北極點的半路折返。
This week in London, Catlin released its results, fending off accusations that such a flawed expedition couldn't produce good science.
外界質疑，凱特林有缺陷的探勘結果不具科學代表性。本週凱特林在倫敦對外發布了探勘結果，來為自己辯護。
But for scientists who rely on satellite or submarine data, Catlin says its measurement is unique.
相對於使用衛星或潛艇探測資料的科學家，凱特林認為自己的量測方式是特別的。
"The scientists really have a lack of what you might call relatively accurate absolute measurements, what they would call direct observations, made from the surface at the surface, down through the snow, ice cover and the ice layer below," said expedition leader Pen Hadow.
"相對於他們的量測方式，我們從雪地、冰蓋(ice cover)、到冰層底下的直接量測，結果較為準確。"探勘團團長Pen Hadow說。
Eminent climate scientists agree that the data supports a growing consensus that the polar ice cap is in dramatic retreat.
其他著名的氣候科學家也同意，這些探勘資料支持了越來越多人認為北極冰冠正在劇烈後退的情形。
"The conclusions from this work and from other measurements that have been done, and from new models, are that the summer ice will disappear within twenty to thirty years, and a lot of it will be gone within 10 years," said Professor Peter Wadhams, with the University of Cambridge Polar Ocean Physics Group.
劍橋大學極地海洋物理團隊的Peter Wadhams教授，在總合此次探勘和之前的相關數據後，由新的實驗模型推論：夏季冰層在10年內會後退很大部份，而在20~30後會完全消失
he good news is that it will open up new shipping lanes. The bad news is that polar ice helps keep the planet cool by reflecting the sun. Once it's gone, it is likely global warming will speed up.
好消息是，冰層的消失會帶來新航路。而壞消息是，當地球無法再藉由極地冰層反射陽光來減少溫升時，全球暖化將會加劇。
(Critics Say Flawed Catlin Arctic Expedition Couldn't Produce Reliable Scientific Results)
(評論家認為，凱特林有缺限的調查無法當作有效的科學證據)
單字:
Arctic: [a] 北極的; [n]北極圈
Survey: [n] 測量,勘測
set out: 開始
sled: [n] 雪橇
correspondent: [n] 通訊記者, 特派員
plagued with: 【口】使苦惱;煩憂;折磨[(+with)]
frostbite: [n] 凍傷,凍瘡
fend off: [vt] 抵擋,擊退;避開[(+off)]
accusation: [n] 指控,控告;指責[U][C][+(that)]
flawed: [a] 有缺點的
expedition: KK: [ ]遠征;探險;考察[C]
eminent: [a] 著名的
consensus: [n] 一致, 合意, 輿論
critic: [n] 評論家
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