VOA常速英语2007年-Wildfires Stir Global Warming Debate

By Paul Sisco
Washington
02 November 2007
 

In the wake of the devastating¹ Southern California wildfires last month, climate scientists Thursday linked such events to global warming.

While scientists say no single calamity² can be attributed to climate change, most of the scientific community agrees large wildfires could well become more frequent and intense as global temperatures increase. Paul Sisco reports.

California's wildfires sent millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. University of Colorado researchers report that from October 19th to the 26th, an estimated 8.7 million tons of the global warming gas were released.

Armed with that report, a key U.S. House committee on energy and warming sought answers from a panel of scientists.

Committee Chairman Edward Markey wondered about global warming's impact on wildfires and public safety.

Professor of Ecology Steven Running described the trend. "We see the current acceleration³ of wildfires and the current acceleration of people building homes in fire prone⁴ areas. It just all adds up to this issue getting bigger and bigger."

Climate scientist Michael Medler agreed. He said, "Most of the models and many of our predictions indicate we are going to be seeing increased fire behavior, fire severity."

Representative Markey asked, "Because of global warming?"

Medler responded, "I would be able to say that."

Researchers have established the fire season in America's west is, on average, 78 days longer annually⁵ than it was in the 1980s.

Running added, "That's on the order of 20 to 30 percent increase in number of days and we expect another 20 or 30 percent increase with the climate model projections⁶ for the future, and so. We are in the middle of a trend that has been progressing for 30 to 40 years and there is no reason to suggest it is going to slow down with any of the climate projections we see."

By the time of the hearing, the wildfires that swept through southern California were mostly under control. But weather forecasters expected more hot, dry and windy weather.

1 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。

2 calamity   

n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件

参考例句：

• Even a greater natural calamity cannot daunt us. 再大的自然灾害也压不垮我们。
• The attack on Pearl Harbor was a crushing calamity.偷袭珍珠港(对美军来说)是一场毁灭性的灾难。

3 acceleration   

n.加速，加速度

参考例句：

• All spacemen must be able to bear acceleration.所有太空人都应能承受加速度。
• He has also called for an acceleration of political reforms.他同时呼吁加快政治改革的步伐。

4 prone   

adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的

参考例句：

• Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
• He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。

5 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

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。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

6 projections   

预测( projection的名词复数 )； 投影； 投掷； 突起物

参考例句：

• Their sales projections are a total thumbsuck. 他们的销售量预测纯属估计。
• The council has revised its projections of funding requirements upwards. 地方议会调高了对资金需求的预测。