第1606期:The weather of the future

As winter takes its icy grip, and we head outside into a cold and crisp morning, we might be dreaming of warmer and sunnier days that lie ahead. Although, for many, summer might give us the most clement weather, our changing climate might mean that our chilly winter season becomes a thing of the past. So maybe we should enjoy it while we can.

随着冬天的冰冷，我们走到外面进入一个寒冷而清爽的早晨，我们可能梦想着未来更温暖、更阳光的日子。尽管对许多人来说，夏天可能会给我们带来最温和的天气，但我们不断变化的气候可能意味着我们寒冷的冬季将成为过去。所以也许我们应该尽可能地享受它。

Last year, the World Meteorological Organization found that the Earth continued to endure a period of significant heating, making it one of the three hottest years on record. The most notable warmth was in the Siberian Arctic, where temperatures were 5°C above average. The evidence shows that much of this climate warming is driven by human activity.

去年，世界气象组织发现地球继续经历一段显着升温的时期，使其成为有记录以来最热的三个年份之一。最显着的温暖出现在西伯利亚北极地区，那里的温度比平均水平高 5°C。证据表明，这种气候变暖在很大程度上是由人类活动驱动的。

With a shift in meteorological conditions, we’re likely to see more record-breaking temperatures, where, in certain places, summers will be scorching hot and winters mild. This means for some, snowy winters could become a thing of the past. In the UK, a series of projections, based on accelerating global emissions, found that the average coldest day would not drop below freezing point. Dr Lizzie Kendon, a senior Met Office scientist, told the BBC: “It could mean the end of sledging, snowmen and snowball fights… the overarching picture is warmer, wetter winters; hotter, drier summers.” She’s described this as ‘a wake-up call’.

随着气象条件的变化，我们可能会看到更多破纪录的气温，在某些地方，夏天会很热，冬天会很温和。这意味着对一些人来说，下雪的冬天可能会成为过去。在英国，基于全球排放加速的一系列预测发现，平均最冷日不会降至冰点以下。气象局高级科学家莉齐·肯登博士告诉 BBC：“这可能意味着雪橇、雪人和打雪仗的结束……总体情况是更温暖、更潮湿的冬天；夏天更热、更干燥。”她将此描述为“敲响警钟”。

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the obvious way to slow the rate of change in our climate. Some nations are promising to do this, but already we’re experiencing less snowfall and fewer frosty mornings. And on a bigger scale, glaciers are melting. According to modelling by Aberystwyth University in the UK, up to 92% of glaciers in the Alps could be lost by the end of the century due to climate change. So, if you’re lucky enough to be looking out on a winter wonderland, get outside and make the most of it before it melts.

减少温室气体排放是减缓气候变化速度的明显方法。一些国家承诺这样做，但我们已经在经历更少的降雪和更少的霜冻早晨。在更大的范围内，冰川正在融化。根据英国阿伯里斯特威斯大学的模型，到本世纪末，由于气候变化，阿尔卑斯山多达 92% 的冰川可能会消失。所以，如果你有幸看到了一个冬季仙境，那就到外面去，在它融化之前充分利用它。

词汇表

icy grip 冰冷刺骨
crisp 干冷的
clement 温和的
chilly 冷飕飕的
heating 升温
warmth 温暖
temperature 温度
climate warming 气候变暖
meteorological conditions 气象条件
record-breaking temperatures 破记录的气温
scorching 灼热的，炎热的
mild 温和的
snowy 下雪的，多雪的
global emissions 全球排放
freezing point 冰点
sledging 滑雪橇
snowman 雪人
snowball fight 打雪仗
greenhouse gas emissions 温室气体排放
snowfall 降雪
frosty 霜冻的
glacier 冰川
melt 融化
winter wonderland 冬日仙境