太阳科普 第17期

 As the world warms up,  在地球日益暖化的今天

the sun may yet prove an unlikely source of cooling.  太阳也许能提供意想不到的冷却效果

The greenhouse effect could be stopped  我们可以藉由利用太阳的热力

by harnessing its heat.  而阻止温室效应

The American Indians of the Southwest deserts  住在美国西南部沙漠里的原住民

have understood the importance of living sustainably  早在数百年前

with their environment for 100s of years.  就已了解永续生活的重要性

We have these natural disasters like the big old fires,  近年来的天灾，如野火

the volcano's erupting,  火山喷发

the big old earth quakes,the tsunami¹.  地震和海啸等

That's the earth telling us that  都是地球在告诉我们

it's getting pretty tired.  它太累了

It's warning us that we need to slow down.  警告我们要放慢脚步

On the Mesas of Arizona,  位于亚利桑那州的方山

far beyond the reach of the electricity grid²  在供电网路范围之外的

lies Old Oraibi.  老欧拉比村

The oldest occupied settlement in North America.  这是美国年代最久远的居住聚落

For 1000 years the Hopi Indians have lived here in harmony  奉行着天人合一的霍皮族原住民

with their environment.  在这里住了一千多年

But that doesn't mean that they have to live  这并不表示他们无法享受

without the conveniences of modern life.  现代生活带来的便利

They have just realized that they are already  他们不久前发现

getting all the power they need.  自己已经拥有了所需的一切能源

Under the clear skies of the desert a family  在一碧如洗的沙漠天空下

can be supplied with electricity  几片太阳能板

from a couple of solar panels.  就能满足一个家庭的能源需求

Being that we pray to the sun every day,  我们每天向太阳礼拜

it's got our heart felt desires,he receives it every day,  我们希望太阳神日日听到我们的祈祷

we thought the best source of energy should come from the sun.  我们认为太阳是最好的能量来源

A few miles across the desert the idea is finally catching³ on  数哩之外的美国大众

with the rest of American civilization.  终于接受了这个理念

But, naturally,it's on a much bigger scale.  但是规模自然大得多

These are Stirling Dishes  这些是太阳能界龙头老大

the Daddy of solar power systems.  斯特林公司出品的太阳能碟

And they may be about to solve the energy crisis  这套系统说不定可以解决

facing the cities of the American west.  美国西部城市面临的能源危机

People want to run their air conditioners,  人们白天要开灯

their computers,their lights during the day  开冷气和用电脑

and we run out of energy.  所以能源不够用

We have a solar furnace 90 million miles away  九千万哩外的巨大太阳能炉

that provides life for all of Earth.  让地球生物生生不息

In the past we have been unable to harness that potential  过去因为受限于太阳能系统的效率和成本等

because the efficiency,the cost etc.  我们无法利用它的能源

Of the systems didn't make it viable⁴  但如今日新月异的科技

what's changed is technology.  让我们得以建造

The technology now allows us to build large scale,  规模庞大、效率惊人

highly efficient,cost effective systems.  又节省成本的能源系统

Each dish tracks the movement of the sun across the sky,  每个太阳能碟都能追踪到太阳在空中的位置

focusing the heat onto a single point.  把热能集中在单一点上

Where it is converted to electricity.  并将之转换为电力

They are twice as efficient as any other solar power system.  它们的效率是其他太阳能系统的两倍

 

1 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

2 grid   

n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅

参考例句：

• In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
• Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。

3 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

4 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。