學術英語翻譯

1、 Text 4 云計算的安全利益1. 網(wǎng)絡的未來現(xiàn)在，我們可以很容易地注意到網(wǎng)絡的本質從被用來讀網(wǎng)頁的地方變?yōu)樵试S用戶運行軟件應用程序的環(huán)境。諾瓦提出了一個有趣的類比，以如下的形式描述了網(wǎng)絡的進化：1）web 1.0 是只讀的，被用來創(chuàng)造幾乎靜態(tài)的網(wǎng)頁，比如個人網(wǎng)頁、報紙、購物應用程序等。2）web 2.0 引入了讀和寫的內容出版變成了參與，網(wǎng)頁變成博客，博客聚集在一起變成大的匯總。對于網(wǎng)絡內容而言，現(xiàn)在互動與合作非常普遍。Executable: 可執(zhí)行的Execute: v. 運行，執(zhí)行3）web 3.0 將允許讀、寫和執(zhí)行操作， 所以內容將變成可執(zhí)行的網(wǎng)絡The future belong

2、s to the Web 3.0, also called the intelligent web, which is the next stage of the Internet evolution based on the services for data mining, artificial intelligence, independent agents, speech recognition and new computing models (distributed, grid and cloud).未來屬于web 3.0, 也被稱為智能網(wǎng)絡，它是互聯(lián)網(wǎng)進化的下一階段，這種進化以數(shù)

3、據(jù)挖掘、人工智能、獨立代理人、言語識別和新的計算模式（分配計算、網(wǎng)格計算和云計算）為基礎。The Web 3.0 can be seen as a new way of creating and using applications that can run on different devices, like mobile phones or PDAs, and having the data stored into the cloud.Web 3.0可以被視為一種新的創(chuàng)造和使用應用程序并且讓數(shù)據(jù)存儲在云中的方式，這些程序可以在不同的設備上運行，比如手機或掌上計算機。2. 云計算的基本原則S

4、imply speaking, the cloud means the Internet. The term is derived from the way in which the Internet is often represented into the network diagrams. Cloud computing represents a new paradigm of the Internet computing in which the software is seen as a service and the applications and data are stored

5、 on multiple servers that can be accessed from the Internet.簡單地說，云意味著網(wǎng)絡，這個術語來自于網(wǎng)絡圖表中網(wǎng)絡常常被代表的方式。云計算代表著一種新的網(wǎng)絡計算范例，其中軟件被看作是一種服務，應用程序和數(shù)據(jù)被儲存在多個服務器中，這些服務器可以從網(wǎng)絡進入。The current cloud computing architecture involves the existence of data centers that are able to provide services to the clients located all ove

6、r the world. In this context, the cloud can be seen as a unique access point for all the requests coming from the customers/clients.目前云計算技術涉及這樣一個數(shù)據(jù)中心的存在，這個中心能夠為全世界用戶提供服務。在這個背景下，云可以被看作是對于所有來自顧客或客戶請求的獨特的進入點。移動電話或掌上計算機可以成功地扮演云客戶的角色。由于這個原因，移動設備可以在安卓或iphone 平臺上運行。同時，網(wǎng)頁瀏覽器，比如谷歌瀏覽器，毫無疑問也可以是云客戶。云客戶可以是普通的電腦，

7、移動手機，掌上計算機或其他任何類似的設備?；旧?，客戶是從數(shù)據(jù)中心租用或直接進入數(shù)據(jù)中心獲取所需的數(shù)據(jù)處理能力。服務的品質是云計算成功的關鍵因素。要注意客戶可以是硬件設備和（或）軟件應用程序，比如瀏覽器。Cloud computing allows to move the processing effort from the local devices to the data center facilities. In such a way, any phone, for example, could be able to solve complex differential equation

8、 systems by simply passing the specific arguments to a data center service that will be capable to give back the results in a very short time. In these conditions, the security of data and applications becomes a very major issue.云計算允許把數(shù)據(jù)處理的過程從當?shù)卦O備移動到數(shù)據(jù)中心設施。這樣的話，舉個例子，任何電話都可以解決復雜的微分方程系統(tǒng)，只要把特定的自變量傳到數(shù)據(jù)服

9、務中心，這項服務可以在很短的時間內返回結果。在這些條件下，數(shù)據(jù)和應用程序的安全性變成了一個重要的問題。云計算的主要優(yōu)勢如下：1）沒必要下載或安裝特定的軟件，軟件的使用成為很快、很簡單的任務2）費用很低，在某些情況下，甚至是免費的，客戶只需支付他們實際使用的資源費用3）如果客戶電腦崩潰，因為一切都儲存在云中，幾乎不會丟失什么4）當一些新的安裝包被釋放時，沒必要升級本地系統(tǒng)5）云計算可以被用在有最小硬件需求的客戶端上面，如移動電話或掌上計算機6）給不同的軟件包授予許可證的問題轉到了數(shù)據(jù)中心層面7）硬件升級不需花費（或花費很少）8）用戶不用依靠他們的個人電腦，因為他們可以使用任何其他設備，只要這些設

10、備能夠連接上互聯(lián)網(wǎng)并有一些基本的軟件。當然，也有一些缺點，比如：1）為了能夠進入和使用云，網(wǎng)絡連接是必要的，這種對網(wǎng)絡的依賴性使離線模式不可能。另一方面，一些應用程序需要高速網(wǎng)絡連接，所以網(wǎng)絡速度會影響整體的表現(xiàn)。2）從長期看，服務的用戶費比購買硬件的費用更貴3）很難整合公司內部現(xiàn)有的基礎設施，同時，從云又回到公司內部的模式會很難。4）現(xiàn)在，在這個領域沒有足夠的大供應商5）令人擔憂的一個非常大的問題是數(shù)據(jù)安全，因為數(shù)據(jù)和軟件位于遙遠的服務器，而這些服務器可以在沒有任何額外警告的情況下崩潰或消失。在這種背景下，服務質量非常重要，備份的需求也是至關重要的。3. 安全優(yōu)勢云計算為個人和公司提供了一些

11、主要的安全優(yōu)勢，比如:1) Centralized data storage - this goes to reduced effects of loosing some hardware items, like a laptop, for example. While the main part of the applications and data is stored into the cloud, loosing a client is not a big issue anymore- there are no sensitive data lost and a new client

12、can be connected to the cloud very fast;1) 集中的數(shù)據(jù)存儲這就減少了由于沒有硬件如手提電腦帶來的影響。應用程序和數(shù)據(jù)的主要部分被儲存在云端，失去客戶端放松不再是一件嚴重的事情沒有敏感的數(shù)據(jù)丟失，新的客戶端可以很快被連接到云端。2）對數(shù)據(jù)獲取的監(jiān)控變得更簡單，因為只要監(jiān)控一個地方就夠了，而不是一家大公司的成千上萬臺電腦3）不確定性的增加小偷幾乎不可能決定為了得到一種數(shù)字資產(chǎn)究竟該偷哪一個實體成分。Virtualization allows a rapid replacement of a compromised server located into t

13、he cloud without major costs or damages. Also, the downtime for computers in the cloud could be substantially reduced because it is very easy to create a clone by using an image.4）虛擬化允許位于云端中的受損服務器得到快速替換，而不會有大的破壞或損失。同時，在云中電腦的停機時間可以大大降低，因為通過使用一個圖像，很容易創(chuàng)造一個一模一樣的東西。 5）日志更多的記錄可以被激活，因為云空間足夠大，可以儲存大量匯總的數(shù)據(jù)6）安

14、全變化可以很容易被測試和實施云計算還處在起步階段，所以還會有很多新的優(yōu)點出現(xiàn)在這一清單中。4. 結論現(xiàn)在，信息基礎設施正在向一個簡單而創(chuàng)新的概念發(fā)展，它就叫做云計算。有很多應用程序都能利用云技術，而且很快會有更多的應用程序加入到隊伍當中來。許多設備都是云兼容的，比如傳統(tǒng)的計算機，掌上計算機，移動電話，甚至瀏覽器（google 瀏覽器），在這個前提下，云計算有潛力能夠提供大的安全優(yōu)勢。 Text 8 納米技術如何工作 How Nanotechnology WorksThere's an unprecedented multidisciplinary convergence of scie

15、ntists dedicated to the study of a world so small, we can't see it - even with a light microscope. That world is the field of nanotechnology, the realm of atoms and nanostructures. Nanotechnology is so new, no one is really sure what will come of it. Even so, predictions range from the ability t

16、o reproduce things like diamonds and food to the world being devoured by self-replicating nanorobots. 有很多致力于研究小到我們無法看見的世界的科學家。他們從事不同學科，但是他們史無前例地會聚在一起，他們研究的世界小得連借助精致的顯微鏡都看不見。那個世界就是納米技術的世界，一個由原子和納米結構組成的領域。納米技術是如此新以至于沒人能夠確定它會給我們帶來什么。即便如此，各種預言卻都有，比如說復制鉆石和食物，又比如說世界會被自我復制的納米機器人毀滅。In order to understand th

17、e unusual world of nanotechnology, we need to get an idea of the units of measure involved. A centimeter is one-hundredth of a meter, a millimeter is one-thousandth of a meter, and a micrometer is one-millionth of a meter, but all of these are still huge compared to the nanoscale. A nanometer (nm) i

18、s one-billionth of a meter, smaller than the wavelength of visible light and a hundred-thousandth the width of a human hair為了了解納米技術不同尋常的世界，我們需要了解所涉及的測量單位，一厘米是一米的百分之一，一毫米是一米的千分之一，一微米是百萬分之一米，但是和納米級相比，這些都還是巨大的數(shù)字。一納米是十億分之一米，比可見光的波長還要小，還不到人類一根頭發(fā)寬度的十萬分之一。As small as a nanometer is, it's still large co

19、mpared to the atomic scale. An atom has a diameter of about 0.1 nm. An atom's nucleus is much smaller - about 0.00001 nm. Atoms are the building blocks for all matter in our universe. You and everything around you are made of atoms. Nature has perfected the science of manufacturing matter molecu

20、larly. For instance, our bodies are assembled in a specific manner from millions of living cells. Cells are nature's nanomachines. At the atomic scale, elements are at their most basic level. On the nanoscale, we can potentially put these atoms together to make almost anything.盡管納米很小，但是和原子水平比起來依

21、然很大。原子的直徑大約是0.1納米。原子的核更是小得多大約0.00001納米。原子是宇宙所有物質的基石。你和你身邊的一切都是由原子組成的。自然界從分子水平上完善了制造物質的科學。比如，我們的身體是從千百萬個活細胞以特定的方式聚集在一起的。細胞是自然界的納米機器。在原子的層級，各種元素都處在最基本的水平。在納米層面，我們可以把這些原子放在一起做成幾乎任何一種物質。In a lecture called "Small Wonders:The World of Nanoscience," Nobel Prize winner Dr. Horst Stoermer said tha

22、t the nanoscale is more interesting than the atomic scale because the nanoscale is the first point where we can assemble something - it's not until we start putting atoms together that we can make anything useful.在一次名為“小小的奇觀：納米科學的世界” 的講座中，諾貝爾獎得主Horst Stormer 博士說納米級別比原子級別更有趣，因為納米級是我們可以把東西放在一起的最初的

23、起始點直到我們開始把原子放在一起，這個東西才變得有價值。Nanotechnology is rapidly becoming an interdisciplinary field. Biologists, chemists, physicists and engineers are all involved in the study of substances at the nanoscale. Dr. Stoermer hopes that the different disciplines develop a common language and communicate with one

24、 another. Only then, he says, can we effectively teach nanoscience since you can't understand the world of nanotechnology without a solid background in multiple sciences.納米技術正在迅速變成一個跨學科的領域。 生物學家、化學家、物理學家和工程師們都要參與納米層面物質的研究。Stormer博士希望不同學科可以發(fā)展出相同的語言，可以彼此交流。他說，只有那時我們才能有效地教授納米科學，因為如果沒有多學科科學的扎實背景，你無法

25、理解納米技術的世界。One of the exciting and challenging aspects of the nanoscale is the role that quantum mechanics plays in it. The rules of quantum mechanics are very different from classical physics, which means that the behavior of substances at the nanoscale can sometimes contradict common sense by behav

26、ing erratically. You can't walk up to a wall and immediately teleport to the other side of it, but at the nanoscale an electron can - it's called electron tunneling. Substances that are insulators, meaning they can't carry an electric charge, in bulk form might become semiconductors when

27、 reduced to the nanoscale. Melting points can change due to an increase in surface area. Much of nanoscience requires that you forget what you know and start learning all over again.納米尺度最令人激動和最具挑戰(zhàn)性的方面之一就是量子力學在其中起的作用。量子力學的規(guī)則非常不同于經(jīng)典物理學。這意味著在納米層面，物質的有時表現(xiàn)的不穩(wěn)定，而產(chǎn)生與常識相違背的現(xiàn)象。你不能走向一面墻，馬上又穿墻而過到達墻的另一邊，但是在納米水平

28、電子就可以這被稱為電子隧道效應。絕緣體物質，其含義是不能攜帶電荷，但是當降低到納米水平時，如果大批存在也許會變成半導體。因為表面面積的增加物體的熔點也會變化。所以大部分納米材料要求你忘記你所了解的知識，開始重新學習。So what does this all mean? Right now, it means that scientists are experimenting with substances at the nanoscale to learn about their properties and how we might be able to take advantage of

29、 them in various applications. Engineers are trying to use nano-size wires to create smaller, more powerful microprocessors. Doctors are searching for ways to use nanoparticles in medical applications. Still, we've got a long way to go before nanotechnology dominates the technology and medical m

30、arkets.這一切意味著什么？現(xiàn)在，這意味著科學家們正在用納米水平的物質試驗，以了解它們的性質，以及在不同的應用領域我們如何能利用好它們。工程師們正在嘗試用納米大小的金屬線來創(chuàng)造更小、更強大的微處理機，醫(yī)生們正在尋找在醫(yī)療應用領域使用納米顆粒的方式。但是，在納米技術統(tǒng)治技術和醫(yī)療市場之前還有很長的路要走。In the world of "Star Trek," machines called replicators can produce practically any physical object, from weapons to a steaming cup of

31、Earl Grey tea. Long considered to be exclusively the product of science fiction, today some people believe replicators are a very real possibility. They call it molecular manufacturing, and if it ever does become a reality, it could drastically change the world.在星際迷航的世界里，被稱為復制者的機器可以生產(chǎn)幾乎任何物體，從武器到一杯冒著

32、熱氣的格雷伯爵茶。長久以來復制者被認為是科幻小說專屬的產(chǎn)品，可是現(xiàn)在有些人相信這些機器是非常真實的并且有可能存在的。人們把它稱為分子制造者，如果這些機器真的變?yōu)楝F(xiàn)實，它們將極大地改變世界。Atoms and molecules stick together because they have complementary shapes that lock together, or charges that attract. Just like with magnets, a positively charged atom will stick to a negatively charged at

33、om. As millions of these atoms are pieced together by nanomachines, a specific product will begin to take shape. The goal of molecular manufacturing is to manipulate atoms individually and place them in a pattern to produce a desired structure.原子和分子粘在一起是因為它們有互補的形狀，這樣的形狀鎖在一起，或者它們的電荷互相吸引。就像磁鐵一樣，帶正電的原子

34、會粘住帶負電的原子，千百萬這樣的原子由納米機器粘在一起，一個特殊的產(chǎn)品就將成形。分子制造的目標就是控制單個的原子，把它們按照某種樣子放置，這樣就可以生產(chǎn)出想要的結構。The first step would be to develop nanoscopic machines, called assemblers, that scientists can program to manipulate atoms and molecules at will. Rice University Professor Richard Smalley points out that it would take

35、 a single nanoscopic machine millions of years to assemble a meaningful amount of material. In order for molecular manufacturing to be practical, you would need trillions of assemblers working together simultaneously. Eric Drexler believes that assemblers could first replicate themselves, building o

36、ther assemblers. Each generation would build another, resulting in exponential growth until there are enough assemblers to produce objects第一步是研發(fā)納米機器，也被稱為裝配器。這樣科學家可以按照自己的意愿讓這些裝配器控制原子和分子。萊斯大學的Richard 教授指出要組裝一定數(shù)量的物質，一臺納米裝配器要花上幾百萬年的時間。為了讓分子制造變得更實際一些，你需要讓無數(shù)的裝配器同時工作。Eric 相信，裝配器首先要復制自己，建造其它的裝配器，每一代會建造另一代，以

37、指數(shù)方式增長，直到有足夠的裝配器生產(chǎn)物品。Assemblers might have moving parts like the nanogears in this concept drawing. Trillions of assemblers and replicators could fill an area smaller than a cubic millimeter, and could still be too small for us to see with the naked eye. Assemblers and replicators could work togethe

38、r to automatically construct products, and could eventually replace all traditional labor methods. This could vastly decrease manufacturing costs, thereby making consumer goods plentiful, cheaper and stronger. Eventually, we could be able to replicate anything, including diamonds, water and food. Fa

39、mine could be eradicated by machines that fabricate foods to feed the hungry.在上述描繪的概念中，裝配器可能有移動的零件比如納米齒輪，無數(shù)的裝配器和復制者可以填滿一個比立方毫米還要小的區(qū)域，并且依然還是太小以至于我們的肉眼看不見。裝配器和復制者可以一起工作，這樣可以自動建造產(chǎn)品，可以最終取代所有傳統(tǒng)的勞動力方法。這可以大大降低制造費用，從制造更多，更便宜，功能更強的消費品。最終，我們能夠復制任何東西，包括鉆石、水和食物。饑荒會被消除，因為有機器制造食物來喂養(yǎng)饑餓的人。Nanotechnology may have it

40、s biggest impact on the medical industry. Patients will drink fluids containing nanorobots programmed to attack and reconstruct the molecular structure of cancer cells and viruses. There's even speculation that nanorobots could slow or reverse the aging process, and life expectancy could increas

41、e significantly. Nanorobots could also be programmed to perform delicate surgeries - such nanosurgeons could work at a level a thousand times more precise than the sharpest scalpel. By working on such a small scale, a nanorobot could operate without leaving the scars that conventional surgery does.

42、Additionally, nanorobots could change your physical appearance. They could be programmed to perform cosmetic surgery, rearranging your atoms to change your ears, nose, eye color or any other physical feature you wish to alter.對于醫(yī)療工業(yè)納米技術可能有最大的影響。病人會喝下含有納米機器人的液體，這些納米機器人會按照程序設定來攻擊癌細胞和病毒的并且重建它們的分子結構。甚至有

43、猜測說納米機器人可以減緩或逆轉衰老的過程，壽命預期會大大增加。納米機器人也可以被設定用來做精密的手術這樣的納米外科醫(yī)師的工作水平可以比最尖銳的解剖刀還要精準一千倍。通過在這樣小的水平上工作，納米機器人在工作時可以不留 下常規(guī)手術中會有的傷口。此外，納米機器人還可以改變你的外貌。它們可以被設定來做美容手術，重新安排你的原子，來改變你的耳朵、鼻子、眼睛的顏色，或者任何你希望改變的外貌特點。Nanotechnology has the potential to have a positive effect on the environment. For instance, scientists co

44、uld program airborne nanorobots to rebuild the thinning ozone layer. Nanorobots could remove contaminants from water sources and clean up oil spills. Manufacturing materials using the bottom-up method of nanotechnology also creates less pollution than conventional manufacturing processes. Our depend

45、ence on non-renewable resources would diminish with nanotechnology. Cutting down trees, mining coal or drilling for oil may no longer be necessary - nanomachines could produce those resources.納米技術有潛力對環(huán)境產(chǎn)生積極的影響。比如，科學家們可以讓空中的納米機器人重建正在變薄的臭氧層。納米機器人可以移除水源中的污染物，清掃濺出的油。使用納米技術從細節(jié)開始的方法來制造材料，相比常規(guī)的制造過程產(chǎn)生的污染更少。

46、擁有納米技術后我們對于不可再生資源的依賴性會降低?？硺洹⒉擅夯蜚@井勘探石油也許不再必要納米機器可以生產(chǎn)這些資源。Many nanotechnology experts feel that these applications are well outside the realm of possibility, at least for the foreseeable future. They caution that the more exotic applications are only theoretical. Some worry that nanotechnology will en

47、d up like virtual reality - in other words, the hype surrounding nanotechnology will continue to build until the limitations of the field become public knowledge, and then interest (and funding) will quickly dissipate.許多納米技術專家覺得這些應用都不在可能實施的領域里，至少在可預見的未來是這樣。他們提示說更奇異的應用只是理論性的。有些人擔心納米技術最終會是虛擬現(xiàn)實換句話說，圍繞在

48、納米技術周圍的炒作將繼續(xù)增強，直到這個領域的局限性成為公共知識，然后興趣（和資助）會很快消散。The most immediate challenge in nanotechnology is that we need to learn more about materials and their properties at the nanoscale. Universities and corporations across the world are rigorously studying how atoms fit together to form larger structures.

49、We're still learning about how quantum mechanics impact substances at the nanoscale. Nanotechnology will definitely continue to impact us as we learn more about the enormous potential of the nanoscale.納米技術領域現(xiàn)在面臨的挑戰(zhàn)是我們需要了解更多有關納米層面的材料和它們的性質的知識。全世界的大學和企業(yè)正在仔細地研究原子如何連在一起以構成更大的結構，我們還正在學習量子力學如何在納米水平影響物

50、質。當我們了解更多納米水平巨大的潛力后納米技術肯定會繼續(xù)影響我們。 Text 10 全球變暖Global warming is about much more than hotter summers, winter floods, and farting cows. There is absolutely no question that the earth is warming up fast, and few climate scientists would argue with this. The dispute lies in whether or not the warming we

51、 are now experiencing simply reflects a natural turnabout in the recent global temperature trend or results from the polluting impact of human activities since the Industrial Revolution really began to take hold.全球變暖遠遠不止是更熱的夏天，冬天的洪水，還有放屁的牛。毫無疑問地球正在快速變暖，幾乎沒有氣候科學家會對此有爭議。這一爭論的焦點在于：我們正在經(jīng)歷的變暖僅僅反映了最近全球氣溫變

52、化趨勢的自然轉變，還是工業(yè)革命真正開始以來人類活動造成污染影響的結果。預測氣候變化時極其困難的，這也解釋了為什么未來氣溫升高和海平面變化的模型要經(jīng)常進行修訂。但是現(xiàn)在的證據(jù)無可辯駁：人類行為正在推動現(xiàn)在的行星變暖周期。盡管有一些特立獨行的科學家，石油公司的支持者，還有世界最大污染國的總統(tǒng)，但是壓倒性的一致意見是如果沒有減少溫室氣體的排放，情況真的會變得很糟。Amazingly，this prospect is still played own and intentionally hidden by some, most recently by Danish statistician, Bjor

53、n Lomborg. In his widely savaged book, The Skeptical Environmentalist, Lomborg denigrates global warming and its future impact, while at the same time, through highly selective references to scientific research, coming to the conclusion that all is right with the world.但令人驚訝的是，這種可能性依然被淡化，并且被人有意隱藏，最近

54、被丹麥統(tǒng)計學家比約恩.隆伯格隱藏。在他廣受抨擊的一書令人懷疑的環(huán)境學家中，隆伯格詆毀全球變暖和它未來的影響。與此同時，通過對科學研究成果十分有選擇性地查閱，他得出結論說，世界一切都好。過去的70年間，地球比上個千年的任何時間都要熱，就在過去幾十年間這種變暖一直在急劇加速。毫無疑問每個人都至少有一位更年長的親戚，他經(jīng)?；叵脒^去某個時候，那時夏天更熱，天空更藍。Meteorological records show, however, that this is simply a case of selective memory, and in fact 19 of the hottest year

55、s on record have occurred since 1980s, with the late 1990s seeing the warmest years of all across the planet as a whole.但是氣象記錄顯示，這僅僅是選擇性記憶的情況。實際上，記錄中19個最熱的年份發(fā)生在1980年之后，而二十世紀九十年代末期見證了整個星球上最暖的年份。地球現(xiàn)在比它46億年歷史上90%多的時間都要暖。到21世紀末我們的星球將經(jīng)歷比過去15萬年來任何時候都更高的溫度。上升的氣溫趨勢不僅僅是氣候的小問題，也不能完全由太陽輸出的變化來解釋。盡管太陽輸出很顯然對氣候有顯著

56、影響。Rather, it is a consequence of two centuries of pollution, which is now enclosing the earth in an insulating blanket of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gases.實際上，這是兩個世紀污染的結果，這種污染現(xiàn)在把地球包圍在一個由二氧化碳、甲烷、一氧化二氮，還有其他溫室氣體構成的隔熱毯子當中。自從18世紀晚期以來，我們的種族一直在從事一項巨大的星球試驗，最終會有什么樣的結果我們也只能僅

57、僅靠猜測。不幸的是，對于我們而言，現(xiàn)在試驗進入了失控的階段，由于內在的慣性，我們不能馬上停下來，只能放慢速度。即使我們今天能夠使溫室氣體的排放穩(wěn)定下來，氣溫和海平面依舊會繼續(xù)上升幾百年。我們時代的大問題是：我們有決心做這些嗎？或者我們會避開這個問題，讓情況惡化到落后者遭殃的境地？We know from studies of polar ice cores that before the hiss of steam and grinding of metal on metal that heralded the arrival of the industrial world, the conc

58、entrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere had been pretty much constant since the glaciers retreated at the end of the last Ice Age我們從極地冰核的研究中知道，自從上一次冰川時代結束時冰川不斷消融以來，大氣中溫室氣體的濃度一直非常穩(wěn)定。這些都是在預示著工業(yè)世界的到來的嘶嘶的蒸汽聲和金屬之間的摩擦聲出現(xiàn)之前的狀況。但是，自前工業(yè)時代以來，大氣中的二氧化碳水平增加了30%，其它溫室氣體的含量也急劇增加，尤其是甲烷和一氧化二氮。現(xiàn)在大氣中二氧化碳的含量比持續(xù)

59、了42萬年的水平要高，過去兩千萬年來也沒有被超出過。氣體的增加的速度也是前所未有的，過去100年的增加率比過去兩萬年的任何時候要高。As these gases have accumulated in the earths atmosphere so they have, quite literally, caused it to act in the manner of a greenhouse, allowing heat from the sun in but hindering its escape back into space. In fact, our atmosphere has operated in this way for billions of years, moderating temperature swings