The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reported Monday that winter sea ice hit record lows in Antarctica this year.
美国国家冰雪数据中心周一报告称,今年南极洲冬季海冰面积创下历史新低。
Scientists say the lack of sea ice is evidence of serious climate change at the South Pole.
科学家表示,缺乏海冰是南极气候变化严重的证据。
Researchers say the lack of sea ice will affect penguins, who mate and raise their young on the ice.
研究人员表示,缺乏海冰将会影响企鹅,企鹅在冰上交配并养育幼崽。
In addition, a lack of ice speeds Earth's rising temperatures.
此外,缺乏海冰加速了地球温度的上升。
A large amount of sea ice keeps the planet cool because it reflects sunlight back into space.
大量的海冰使地球保持凉爽,因为它将阳光反射回太空。
The amount of sea ice was at its highest level on September 10, towards the end of the southern hemisphere's winter.
9月10日,即南半球冬季即将结束的时候,海冰数量达到了最高水平。
However, it only covered 16.96 million square kilometers.
然而,它的覆盖面积只有1696万平方公里。
That was the lowest coverage since satellite records began in 1979.
这是自1979年有卫星记录以来的最低覆盖率。
The latest measurement breaks a low ice record from 1986 by about one million square kilometers.
最新的测量结果比1986年创下的历史最低冰量纪录还要低100万平方公里。
Walt Meier is a top NSIDC scientist.
沃尔特·迈耶是美国国家冰雪数据中心的顶尖科学家。
"It's not just a record-breaking year," he said. "It's an extreme record-breaking year."
他说:“这不仅仅是破纪录的一年,这是极端破纪录的一年。”
The group said the ice measurement findings are not complete.
该组织表示,对冰的测量结果并不完整。
It said a full report would come out in October.
该组织表示,完整的报告将会在10月份发布。
Sea ice reaches its peak, or highest level, in late September in the southern hemisphere.
南半球的海冰量在9月底达到顶峰。
The ice melts to its lowest point during the hemisphere's summer in February or March.
在南半球的夏季(即2月或3月),冰量融化到最低点。
The last summer measurement came about six months ago, which also set a new record for melting ice.
上一次夏季测量是在大约六个月前,当时也创下了冰融化的新纪录。
I'm Caty Weaver.
凯蒂·韦弗为您播报。
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