太阳科普 第16期

 The auroras dancing displays of celestial¹ light  在天空中熠熠生辉的极光

are caused by particles from the solar storm smashing  是太阳风暴夹带的微粒

through the magnetic field at the poles.  撞击地球两极磁场的结果

When they strike the upper atmosphere  它们撞击高层大气时

they light up the polar skies.  会照亮极地天空

In the strongest storms at the peak of the solar cycle  在太阳周期达巅峰时产生的强烈风暴中

the Northern lights can be seen  连雅典和古巴

as far south as Athens and Cuba.  都看得到北极光

But the buffeting² of the magnetic field has other unseen effects.  但对磁场的冲击还有其他肉眼看不到的影响

Migratory³ animals that navigate⁴ using the magnetic field  利用磁场导航的动物

can lose their bearings.  可能会迷失方向

Racing⁵ pigeons don't come home.  赛鸽回不了家

And whale strandings have been  鲸鱼搁浅的频率

seen to increase with solar activity.  会随着太阳的活动而增加

But most worrying for us is the effect  但最让我们担忧的是

that the disrupted magnetic field can have on electronics.  混乱磁场对电子系统造成的影响

The strongest storms can damage  强烈太阳风暴可能会破坏

or destroy satellites with devastating⁶ effects.  或摧毁卫星，造成严重影响

We're sort of more sensitive to the sun  我们对太阳的敏感程度

than we probably realise  也许超乎我们的理解

because when the sun releases these,  因为当太阳以太阳闪焰和

this magnetic energy in the form of solar flares⁷ and,  日冕物质抛射

and coronal mass ejections,  的形式释放磁力时

maybe you don't notice it at first, but um,  也许你一开始不会注意到

the crackle on your cell phone  但手机出现杂音

or your cell phone going out  或手机没信号

may actually be caused by enhanced activity on the sun.  很可能是因为太阳活动增强所致

Mobile telephones, television,  行动电话，电视

airplane navigation even weapons guidance systems  飞机导航系统，甚至武器导航系统

all rely on satellite communication  都仰赖卫星通讯

and all can be disturbed by space weather.  所以都会受到太空天气的干扰

The more we are reliant on these systems  我们越仰赖这些系统

the more we will feel the effects of the sun's tantrums.  就越能感受到太阳发火的威力

But we still don't understand  但我们对太空天气

all of the effects of Space Weather.  造成的影响仍未透彻了解

No-one can explain the effect on the climate.  没有人能解释其对气候造成的影响

Or why the disappearance⁸ of sunspots should cause an ice age.  或是太阳黑子消失为何会引发冰河时期

It may not matter.  也许已经无所谓了

The small effect that solar variation has on the climate  太阳活动对气候造成的微小变化

has long since been drowned out by man-made global warming.  早就因人为的全球暖化而相形见绌

 

1 celestial   

adj.天体的；天上的

参考例句：

• The rosy light yet beamed like a celestial dawn.玫瑰色的红光依然象天上的朝霞一样绚丽。
• Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.万有引力控制着天体的运动。

2 buffeting   

振动

参考例句：

• The flowers took quite a buffeting in the storm. 花朵在暴风雨中备受摧残。
• He's been buffeting with misfortunes for 15 years. 15年来，他与各种不幸相博斗。

3 migratory   

n.候鸟，迁移

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• This does not negate the idea of migratory aptitude.这并没有否定迁移能力这一概念。

4 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

5 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

6 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

7 flares   

n.喇叭裤v.（使）闪耀( flare的第三人称单数 )；（使）（船舷）外倾；（使）鼻孔张大；（使）（衣裙、酒杯等）呈喇叭形展开

参考例句：

• The side of a ship flares from the keel to the deck. 船舷从龙骨向甲板外倾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation. 他是火爆性子，一点就着。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。