Unit 3 El Nino

Unit 3 El Nino? La Nina?

C Now try this: listen to a more authentic version of the report. 简明词典单词解释

forecast (Forecast):n.预测,预报vt.预示Europe n.欧洲

grip vt.握紧,抓牢n.紧握

continent n.大陆;洲

Berlin (berlin):n.柏林(德国首都) degrees;degree (Degree):n.程度;度;学位Brussels n.布鲁塞尔

Belgium n.比利时

throughout prep.遍及

as well 也,又,同样

Rome n.罗马

periods (period):n.时期;学时;句号

Vienna (vienna):n.维也纳

Austria n.奥地利

Athens n.雅典

Greece n.希腊

Belgrade n.贝尔格雷德

Yugoslavia (yugoslavia):n.南斯拉夫Istanbul n.伊斯坦堡

Ukraine (ukraine):n.乌克兰[国名]

expect v.期待;等待;认为

snowy a.雪的,下雪的

Prague n.布拉格

Czech (czech):n.捷克人

Republic (republic):n.共和国

flurries (flurry):n.雨夹雪

typical a.典型的,代表性的

area;areas (Area):n.地区;面积

Washington n.华盛顿

Complete (complete):adj.完全的,彻底的chart n.图表;地图;海图v.制订计划

look forward (look forward to):期待,盼望,预料Almanac (almanac):n.年鉴,历书

experts (expert):n.专家a.熟练的

editorial a.编辑的;社论的n.社论

director n.导演;董事;主管

believe vt.相信;认为

climate n.气候;风土,地带

continue v.继续;延伸

article n.文章,论文;冠词

greenhouse n.温室,暖房

effect n.结果;影响;效果v.招致

exactly ad.确切的

causes (cause):n.原因,理由;事业

taken to (take to):开始,养成;喜欢,对…产生好感alleviate vt.减轻,使缓和

global (Global):adj.球形的;全球的

warmings (warming):加暖;加温

recently ad.新近,最近

go down下降,减少,落下,被记录下来

record n.记录,记载;唱片

major (Major):a.较大的n.专业

issue n.问题;发行;结果

tremendous a.极大的,非常的

consequences (consequence):n.结果,后果levels (Level):n.水平面a.水平的

affecting a.感人的,动人的

coastal adj.海岸的

zones (zone):n.地带;地区v.分成区

crops (crop):n.庄稼;收成

regions (region):n.地区,地带;领域

potentially ad.可能地,潜在地,假定地

significant n.有意义的;重要的

trend vi.伸向;倾向n.倾向

Tapescript:

Looking here at Wednesday's weather forecast for Europe. It's certainly clear that winter is starting to take its grip on the continent. Berlin on Wednesday, mostly cloudy and very cold, and -2 degrees for your high. Brussels, Belgium, a little warmer at one degree, partly sunny. London, 5 degrees for your high, mostly cloudy throughout the day. In Paris, your high temperature is 0 degrees on Wednesday, partly cloudy as well. Rome, 8 degrees for your high, with periods of clouds and sunshine. And Vienna, Austria, -2 degrees on Wednesday, cloudy and of course cold. Athens, Greece, a little warmer at 10 degrees, periods of clouds and sunshine on Wednesday. Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1 degree for your high, mostly cloudy. Istanbul, 5 degrees, and partly sunny. And Kiev, Ukraine,-7 degrees, and you can expect snow. Moscow, -9 degrees on Wednesday, also snowy. And in Prague, the Czech Republic, -4 degrees with snow flurries, so sounds like typical of weather for that area of the world. Let's look at what we have here in Washington D.C, no snow yet, but it will be coming.

D Listen to the following news report. Complete the chart.

As 1998 ends and people look forward to the last year of the century, the World Almanac spoke with experts about what comes next. Almanac editorial director says the experts believe the next century will bring lots of changes.

"Warm, of course, that our climate is going to continue getting warmer.

That's the subject, by the way, of another new article on the 1999 World Almanac. The greenhouse effect, exactly what causes it, and what steps to be taken to, um, perhaps, to alleviate global warmings. I've seen recently that 1998 is going to go down as the warmest year ever on record. And so that's going to be a major issue of the next century, and possible tremendous consequences of the global warmings, whether it is rising sea levels affecting the coastal areas; changes in climate zones affecting what crops can be grown, and in what regions. This is potentially a very significant trend to be watched."

E Listen to the explanation. Complete the information in the chart.

Tapescript:

Major ocean storms in the northern part of the world usually develop in late summer or autumn over waters near the equator. They are known by several different names. Scientists call these storms cyclones when they happen just north or south of the equator in the Indian Ocean. In the western Pacific Ocean or the China Sea, these storms are called typhoons. In the eastern Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, they are called hurricanes.

Part II El Nino

A Listen to the report. Complete the outline of El Nino.

III. Difficulty of prediction

B Now try this: listen to a more authentic version of the report. Write a summary about El Nino. Use the completed outline as cues.

单词解释

cyclic 循环的

pattern n.型,式样,模,模型

affects;affect (affect):vt.影响;感动

global (Global):adj.球形的;全球的

climate n.气候;风土,地带

normally ad.正规地,合规则,正常地

shows up (show up):露面,出现,到来

decade n.十;十年

regions (region):n.地区,地带;领域

begins with (begin with):以…开始,首先

decline n.下降;衰退v.拒绝;婉辞

coast n.海岸;滑行

equator n.赤道

allows (allow):v.允给;允许

western adj.西的,西方的

Pacific (pacific):n.太平洋a.和解的;宁静的

Ocean (ocean):n.海洋;洋

expand v.扩大;张开

eastward a.&ad.向东的,向东

toward prep.向,对于,为了

cause;causing (cause):n.原因,理由;事业

droughts (drought):n.干旱,缺乏

as well 也,又,同样

flooding n.泛滥,产后出血

industry n.工业;勤劳

stocks (stock):n.股票;原料;库存品

depletive a.使干涸的,减少血液的

However (however):adv.可是,不过

predict v.预知,预言,预报

strength n.力量;力气

depends (depend):vi.依靠

Calvin n.加尔文

wave n.波,波浪;波动

El Nino is a cyclic weather pattern that affects the global climate. It normally shows up about twice a decade and it lasts about 12 to 18 months. As it brings warmer weather to parts of the earth, some regions become wetter than usual while others drier.

El Nino usually begins with the decline of winds pulling cold water away

from South America's west coast to around the equator. This allows warm water in the western Pacific Ocean to expand eastward toward the America's. At the same time, the clouds and rain over the warm water move eastward too.

El Ninos can change the weather around the world. It can cause droughts as well as rains and flooding. They are also hard on the South American fishing industry, causing fish stocks to become depletive.

However, El Nino is hard to predict because the strength of it depends on how winds affect the "Calvin wave" that has moved across the Pacific.

Tapescript:

简明词典单词解释

readings (reading):n.读,阅读;读书

confirm (Confirm):v.证实;批准;巩固

conditions (condition):n.条件;状况

cyclic 循环的

pattern n.型,式样,模,模型

affects;affect (affect):vt.影响;感动

global (Global):adj.球形的;全球的

climate n.气候;风土,地带

normally ad.正规地,合规则,正常地

show up 露面,出现,到来

decade n.十;十年

regions (region):n.地区,地带;领域

lingered (linger):vi.逗留,徘徊;拖延

Although (although):conj.尽管,虽然

might v.aux.可能,也许

expected a.预期的,期待的

observing a.注意的,留心的

oceans;Ocean (ocean):n.海洋;洋

Brig (brig):n.禁闭室;桥

Jacker (jack):n.杰克(男子名);男人;起重器

oceanographer n.海洋学者,海洋研究者

Naval (naval):n.海军的,军舰的

Research (research):n.调查;研究Laboratory (laboratory):n.实验室Mississippi n.密西西比河,密西西比州unpredictable a.不可预知的

Generally (generally):ad.一般地;通常地cycles (cycle):n自行车,循环

begin with 以…开始,首先

decline n.下降;衰退v.拒绝;婉辞

coast n.海岸;滑行

equator n.赤道

allows (allow):v.允给;允许

western adj.西的,西方的

Pacific (pacific):n.太平洋a.和解的;宁静的expand v.扩大;张开

eastward a.&ad.向东的,向东

toward prep.向,对于,为了

Radar n.雷达,电波探测器

aboard adv.上船(飞机、车)

detected 检测到的

hint n.暗示,示意;建议

movement n.动作,活动;移动

ripple v.(使)起细浪

Calvin n.加尔文

wave n.波,波浪;波动

pulses (puls):n.阿富汗辅币

give rise (give rise to):引起,引发,导致…eastern a.东方的;朝东的

equatorial a.赤道的n.赤道仪

depends (depend):vi.依靠

strength n.力量;力气

linked 链表

droughts (drought):n.干旱,缺乏Indonesia n.印尼

flooding n.泛滥,产后出血

United States n.美国

mild a.和缓的;温柔的

caused 使得

associated a.联合的

devastating (devastate):vt.毁坏

floods (flood):n.洪水vt.淹没

midwest n.中西部

industry n.工业;勤劳

prevent vt.预防,防止;阻止

nutrients (nutrient):n.营养品,滋养物

surface n.地面,表面;外表

causing (cause):n.原因,理由;事业

stocks (stock):n.股票;原料;库存品

depletive a.使干涸的,减少血液的

apparently ad.表面上,似乎,显然地

would aux.v.将;愿;总是

betting n.打赌

predictions (prediction):n.预言,预报

Satellite readings confirm that conditions are right for another El Nino, a cyclic weather pattern that affects the global climate.

"El Nino's normally show up about twice a decade and it lasts about 12 to 18 months, bringing warmer weather to parts of the earth. Some regions become wetter than usual, others drier. The El Nino, which began in 1991 has lingered through this year. Although several years might have been expected to pass before the next one, an American-French satellite observing the oceans has found a sign that El Nino may come back quicker than expected.

"These kinds of things still happen." This is Brig Jacker, an oceanographer of the US Naval Research Laboratory in Mississippi. "Every year is unpredictable. One year might be El Nin5 year, one year might not. Generally El Ninos come in four year cycles. But there's nothing to say that you can't have two El Nino years in a row.

El Ninos begin with the decline of winds pulling cold water away from South America's west coast to around the equator. This allows warm water in the western Pacific Ocean to expand eastward toward the

America's. At the same time, the clouds and rain over the warm water move eastward too. Radar aboard the American-French satellite detected the hint that such water movement began in early August and reached South America two months later. It saw a ripple called a "Calvin wave" moving slowly eastward. Such pulses sometimes give rise to El Nino conditions in the eastern equatorial Pacific.

El Ninos can change the weather around the world, but how much depends on its strength. A strong one in 1982 and 1983 has been linked to droughts in Australia and Indonesia, rains and flooding in South America, and unseasonably warm weather in much of the United States. But even the mild El Nino that began in 1991 has caused trouble. It has been associated with devastating floods in the US southeast last year and in the US midwest this year. El Ninos are hard on the South American fishing industry. The warm waters prevent nutrients rich cold water from rising to the surface, causing fish stocks to become depletive. Mr. Jacker said a new El Nino apparently would be mild but he is not betting on it yet. The US Naval oceanographer says predictions are difficult because the strength of El Nino depends on how winds affect the "Calvin wave" that has moved across the Pacific.

Part III Lick Observatory

A Listen to the material. Guess the meaning of the following words and phrases.

简明词典单词解释

outskirts (outskirt):n.边界,郊外,外区

California n.加利福尼亚,加州

state n.州;国家;政府

high-technology adj.高科技

region n.地区,地带;领域

Silicon (silicon):n.硅,硅元素

Valley (valley):n.流域;(山)谷

eucalyptus n.桉树

seismographic a.地震仪的

glimpse n.一瞥,一看

dome n.苍穹;圆屋顶,拱顶

Lick (lick):vt.舔;舔吃

Observatory (observatory):n.天文台,气象台,了望台telescopes;telescope (telescope):n.望远镜

Overlooking (overlook):vt.眺望;看漏;宽容

manufacturing n.制造业a.制造业的

turn of 从…撵出去

shape (Shape):n.形状;情况vt.形成

huge adj.巨大的

giant n.巨人;巨物

meter n.计量器,计,表

reflecting (reflect):vt.反射;反映;思考

instruments (instrument):n.仪器;工具;乐器

motion n.运动;手势;提议

Mount (mount):n.山v.登上

summit n.顶点,最高点;极度

permanent (Permanent):a.永久的,持久的

residents (resident):a.居住的n.居民

research n.调查;研究

complex a.结合的;复杂的

astronomers;Astronomer (astronomer):n.天文学家

dormitory n.宿舍

work at;working at;worked at (work at):从事于…,致力于…,钻研…Stone (stone):n.果核,(水果的)硬核

director n.导演;董事;主管

decades (decade):n.十;十年

University (university):n.大学,综合大学

wealthy a.富的,富裕的

businessman n.商人,实业家

astronomy n.天文学

explains (explain):v.解释,说明

came to (come to):苏醒,恢复知觉,来到,参加,终于

San Francisco n.旧金山

gold n.金;金币

amount n.总数;数量;和

estate n.不动产,时期,阶层,财产

specified 指定的

portion n.一部分;一分

be used (be used to):习惯于,适应…

powerful a.有力的,有权力的,强大的

inch n.英寸

at that 而且,此外;到此为止,就这样,算了,不再多说;毕竟,无论如何request n.&vt.请求;要求

buried 埋入地下的;嵌入;地下的

base n.基础;基地,根据地

memorial a.纪念的;记忆的

lens (LEN):低入口连网

completion n.完成,结束,完满

Although (although):conj.尽管,虽然

adapt vt.使适应;改编

electronic a.电子的

historic a.有历史意义的

educational a.教育的,有教育意义的

tool n.工具;用具

connected 连接

imaging 成像

devices (device):n.装置;手段

allow;allows (allow):v.允给;允许

view n.观看;视力v.查看;观看

celestial a.天的,天国的,天空的

objects (object):n.物,物体;目的

television n.电视;电视机

screens;screen (screen):n.屏;屏幕vt.掩蔽

direct vt.指导

viewing 看

human n.人a.人的,人类的

requires (require):vt.需要;要求

users (user):n.使用者;用户

sit out 坐到…结束,坐视,不参加

nostalgia n.怀旧之情,思乡病

data n.数据,论据,资料

appear vi.出现;显得;好象

divorced (divorce):n.离婚,分离

reality n.现实;真实

look up (look up to):仰视;尊敬

control v.控制;支配

keep track (keep track of):记录…掌握…的线索

forth ad.向前方,向前

romance n.传奇;浪漫文学

gains (gain):n.获得;利益;增加

efficiency n.效率

trade-off 权衡

manages (manage):vt.设法;对付

Tapescript

It's about an hour's drive from the outskirts of San Jose, California, near the upper side of the state's high-technology region known as "Silicon Valley". As a visitor drives up the narrow winding road past red flowers and eucalyptus trees, one of the first two seismographic stations in the world, it's almost a surprise to glimpse the largest dome of Lick Observatory's eight telescopes. Overlooking the world of computer age manufacturing are telescopes from the turn of the century which help shape our understanding of the universe.

The huge dome, housing Lick Observatory's giant, one meter wide reflecting telescope, is one of the few instruments in motion this morning on Mount Hamilton. At the 1260-meter summit of Mount Hamilton is a small village of 55 permanent residents, some of them students in a one-room school house. But most at the research complex are visiting astronomers catching their first hours of sleep in an old dormitory after a night's work at the telescopes. Reminton Stone, director of operations at Lick Observatory has worked at the top of Mount Hamilton for three decades. Now a part of the University of California, Lick Observatory got its name from a wealthy businessman who never studied astronomy as Mr. Stone explains: "And he came to San Francisco, just before the gold rush and he made a huge amount of money on real estate. When he died, he

specified that some portion of his estate should be used to build the largest and most powerful telescope yet made and which was a 36 inch at that time. And at his own request he is buried at the base of the telescope. So this is a memorial to himself."

The telescope with its one-meter-diameter reflecting lens was the largest telescope in the world for seven years following its completion in 1888. And today, it's still the second largest telescope of its kind. Although the one meter reflecting telescope is still used for some research, it's hard to adapt today's electronic instruments to the old historic telescope. Now, it is used mostly as an educational tool for teachers and the thousands of visitors who come each year. While the other telescopes at Lick Observatory are connected to electronic imaging devices that allow the astronomers to view celestial objects on television screens, the 19th century telescope allows direct viewing with the human eye. It's one of the few giant telescopes in the world that still requires some users to sit out in the cold under the dark sky and the dome. That brings a feeling of nostalgia to Reminton Stone.

"I really do miss being able to see the sky, and seeing these wonderful data appear in the computer screen is really nice, but it's very divorced from the reality, from the universe. I miss a lot being in a dark place in these fields to look up to see the stars. We go out every now and then if we are working at..., we're at the control room, we do go out to keep track

of the skies, where the clouds are, and so forth, but one loses the romance and one gains greatly the efficiency. It's a trade-off."

Astronomer Reminton Stone, who manages the Lick Observatory complex at the top of Mount Hamilton, California.

Part IV More about the topic: The National Climatic Data Center

简明词典单词解释

know about 知道,了解,听说过…

Anyone (anyone):pron.任何人

information n.消息,信息;通知

conditions (condition):n.条件;状况

turn to 变得,转向,转而从事,求助于,参考

center n.中心,中心点,中锋

supported 支持

United States n.美国

government n.政府,内阁;政体;统治

Climatic (climatic):adj.气候的

Data (data):n.数据,论据,资料

reportedly ad.根据传说,根据传闻

active (Active):a.活跃的;积极的

collection n.收集;收藏品;募捐

established adj.已建立的;既定的,确定的

record;records (record):n.记录,记载;唱片

Department (department):n.部;局;系;省

Commerce (commerce):n.商业,贸易;交往

headquarters (headquarter):n.总办公处

North Carolina (north carolina):北卡罗来纳(美国南部之一州)

gathered (gather):vt.推测,推断

observers (observer):n.观察员,观测者

agencies (agency):n.经办;代理;代理处

Defense (defense):n.防卫,防卫物

Service (service):n.服务

coastguard n.海岸警备队

providing 假若;倘若

observations;observation (observation):n.注意;观察;观察力

diplomat n.外交官,有外交手腕的人

Benjamin n.本杰明

Franklin 富兰克林

President (president):n.总统

Thomas n.男子名,耶稣十二门徒之一

Jefferson (jefferson):n.杰斐逊(美国第3任总统)

scientific a.科学的;符合科学规律的,精确的

equipment n.装备;设备

including 包含

radar (Radar):n.雷达,电波探测器

solar a.太阳的,日光的

radiation n.辐射;射线

systems (system):n.系统,体系;制度

airplanes (airplane):n.飞机

organizes (organize):vt.组织,编组

prepare v.准备;预备

publication;publications (publication):n.发表,公布;出版;出版物

assists (assist):v.帮助;搀扶

production n.生产;产量;产品,作品

shared (Shared):共享,分享

microfilm n.微缩胶片

environment n.环境,外界,围绕

measure vt.量,测量n.分量

atmosphere n.大气;空气;气氛

requests (request):n.&vt.请求;要求

officials (official):adj.官方的,正式的

owners (owner):n.所有人,物主

researchers (researcher):n.进行…的科学研究工作

general (General):a.全体的;一般的n.将军

public adj.公共的,公众的

Tapescript:

More and more people need to know about the weather. Anyone wanting information about past weather conditions can turn to a center supported by the United States government.

The National Climatic Data Center reportedly has the world's largest active collection of weather information. The National Climatic Data Center or NCDC was formed in 1951. It was established as a record center for America's Department of Commerce. Its headquarters is in the southern city of Asheville, North Carolina.

The NCDC collects weather records gathered by a number of weather observers and the United States government agencies. The Department of Defense, the National Weather Service and the coastguard are among those providing weather information. The center also collects weather records from around the world. Some information held by the NCDC is only a few hours old. Other records are a lot older. For example, the office has written weather observations made by early American diplomat Benjamin Franklin and by the third President of the United States Thomas Jefferson. Today modern scientific equipment including satellites, radar and solar radiation systems help people learn about the weather. Information collected by airplanes and ships also is used. The NCDC organizes this information and helps prepare it for publication and other uses. The center assists in the production of written records, weather maps and pictures. The information also is shared by computer, microfilm and telephone. The NCDC produces several

publications about earth environment. One has monthly and yearly records about weather conditions in about 270 American cities. Another publication has monthly reports from 1 500 observation stations around the world. It also has information from about 800 upper air stations which measure weather conditions at all levels of the atmosphere. The National Climatic Data Center receives requests for information from all over the world. Last year the center reportedly had more than 900 000 requests from government officials, business owners, weather researchers and the general public.

Part V Do you know...?

Listen to the science report. Fill in the missing information.

简明词典单词解释

Scientists (scientist):n.科学家

event n.事件;事变;结果

Scientific (scientific):a.科学的;符合科学规律的,精确的

instruments (instrument):n.仪器;工具;乐器

Pacific (pacific):n.太平洋a.和解的;宁静的

Ocean (ocean):n.海洋;洋

experts (expert):n.专家a.熟练的

expecting (expect):v.期待;等待;认为

lead to 导致,引起;通往

conditions (condition):n.条件;状况

Spanish n.西班牙语

western adj.西的,西方的

coast n.海岸;滑行

strengthen vt.加强,巩固

causes (cause):n.原因,理由;事业

Peru n.秘鲁

Ecuador n.厄瓜多尔

eastern a.东方的;朝东的

evidence n.根据,证据;形迹,迹象

surface n.地面,表面;外表

effects (effect):n.结果;影响;效果v.招致

severe a.严格的;严厉的

Recently (recently):ad.新近,最近

Colorado (colorado):n.美国西部的一州

exchange v.交换;交流;交易

findings (finding):n.发现,发现物;调查的结果

Center (center):n.中心,中心点,中锋

Atmospheric (atmospheric):a.大气层的,有某种气氛的

Research (research):n.调查;研究

organized 有计画的,有组织的,有规律的

conference n.会议,讨论会

might v.aux.可能,也许

influence v.影响;感动n.势力

normal (Normal):adj.正常的,正规的

Asia n.亚洲

Central America (central america):n.中美洲

northwestern a.在西北部的,西北方的,来自西北的

United States n.美国

storms (storm):n.风暴;暴(风)雨

Atlantic n.大西洋a.大西洋的

Tapescript:

Scientists say the weather event known as El Nino is ending. Scientific instruments have shown that the Pacific Ocean waters warmed by El Nino are becoming cooler. Many weather experts are expecting the change in ocean temperatures to lead to conditions known as La Nina. El Nin5 means the little boy in the Spanish language. La Nina means the little girl.

La Nina develops when winds near the western coast of South America strengthen. This causes cold air to form near the Pacific coast of Peru and Ecuador. Unusually low water temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean are evidence of La Nina. Ocean surface temperatures there drop almost 4°C. La Nina is strongest during winter months in the northern part of the world. It usually lasts one to two years. La Nina's effects can be just as severe as those of El Nino.

Recently weather experts met in Colorado to exchange their findings about La Nina. The National Center for Atmospheric Research organized the conference. The experts agreed that the colder Pacific Ocean waters might influence weather conditions around the world. La Nina could make some places drier than normal and others wetter. Some reports presented at the conference said Southeast Asia is likely to receive a lot of rain during the present La Nina, so could South America, Central America and Africa. The northwestern part of Canada and the United States could be wetter than normal. The studies found that the southern United States could be warmer and drier and more severe storms are possible in the western Atlantic Ocean.