《中英對照讀新聞》Southern Ocean officially recognized by National Geographic 國家地理學會正式承認南大洋
南極洲周邊海域的南大洋正式成為世界五大洋之一。(法新社)
◎陳成良
Anyone who thought the world had four oceans will now have to think again, after the National Geographic Society announced it would recognize a new Southern Ocean in Antarctica, bringing the global total to five.
認為世界上有四大洋的如今要再想想了。(美國)國家地理學會宣布,它將承認在南極洲的新「南大洋」,這樣一來,全球共有五大洋了。
The National Geographic, a non-profit scientific and educational organization whose mapping standards are referenced by many atlases and cartographers, said the Southern Ocean consists of the waters surrounding Antarctica, out to 60-degrees south latitude.
國家地理學會稱,南大洋由南極洲周圍的水域組成,向外延伸至南緯60度。國家地理學會是一個非營利科學與教育組織,許多地圖集和製圖師都參考該組織的製圖標準。
National Geographic Society geographer Alex Tait said scientists have long known that the waters surrounding Antarctica form a"distinct ecological region defined, by ocean currents and temperatures".
國家地理學會的地理學家亞歷克斯.泰特稱,科學家很早以前就知道南極洲周邊水域形成一個「由洋流和溫度界定的獨特生態區域」。
Tait told the Washington Post that the span of water is yet to be officially recognized as an ocean by the relevant international body: "But we thought it was important at this point to officially recognize it."
泰特告訴《華盛頓郵報》,相關國際機構尚未正式承認這片水域為海洋,「但我們認為此時正式承認它很重要。」
新聞辭典
cartographer:名詞,繪製地圖者;製圖員。例句:A cartographer is a person whose job is drawing maps.(繪製地圖者的工作是畫地圖。)
atlas:名詞,地圖集,地圖冊。例句:This is a standard atlas.(這是一本標準地圖冊。)
ecological :形容詞, 生態的; 生態學的。例句:The research looked into the ecological effects of mining.(該研究探究採礦的生態影響。)