地球的力量 第2集 大氣(26)永久凍土

The best place to see what effect global warming ishaving on the permafrost

在永久凍土上是最好的觀察全球變暖影響的地方

is the many lakes found in this region.

在這一地區(qū)有很多湖泊

And that's what's brought ecologist Katey Walter tothis frozen wasteland.

這吸引了生態(tài)學(xué)家 凱蒂沃爾特 到來(lái)

She believes she's already detected the first signs

她相信她已經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)了第一個(gè)征兆

that methane is being released from the permafrost.

甲烷已經(jīng)開(kāi)始從永久凍土釋放

What's happening is that the permafrost is melting and thawing

永久凍土正在融化

and slumping into the bottoms of the lakes.

滑入湖泊的底部

Those dead plants thaw out,

這些死掉的植物解凍

and they ferment at the bottom of the lake

在湖底發(fā)酵

and methane is the by-product. Methane comes out.

甲烷同時(shí)產(chǎn)生，甲烷從湖里釋出

If Katey's right, then we should be able to find methane almost everywhere.

如果凱蒂是對(duì)的，我們應(yīng)該能發(fā)現(xiàn)到處是甲烷

Ah, this is the ice. I've got to the ice.

啊，這是冰，我觸到了冰

Look at that, that's beautiful! Oh, there's bubbles.

看那，真是漂亮噢，那是氣泡

The ice is over three feet thick

這冰有一米厚

and it's full of bubbles trapped inside it.

很明顯冰里面截留大量的氣泡

The trouble is it won't stay trapped in these bubbles for long.

問(wèn)題是冰不能截留這些氣泡太久

When the ice thaws in spring, the gas will escape.

當(dāng)冰在春天融化，氣體會(huì)逃走