More than 80 percent of global heat is absorbed by the ocean, which has a massive capacity to store and give off heat. High sea-surface temperatures are causing long-term damage to coral reefs (珊瑚礁). Corals are dying. The IPCC (政府间气候变化专门委员会) projects that up to 90 percent of coral reefs could disappear if global warming reaches 1.5℃. Another reason corals are in trouble is because of ocean acidification. Higher carbon dioxide levels have shift ed the chemistry of the ocean, making it more acidic, and corals and sea creatures have trouble growing in acidic conditions.
When ocean water warms, it expands in volume. This is a major cause of the rise in sea levels, along with the water added to the ocean by the melting of land-based glaciers (冰川). The sea level has risen by an average of 20 centimeters since the late 19th century, and the research by scientists studying the last 25 years of satellite data found that the ocean water is rising faster and faster. If it continues at its current rate, the rise in sea level by 2100 will be more than double the current estimates. Sea level rise leads to the destruction of coastal wetlands, flooding and damage to water ecosystems.
Temperature and precipitation (沉淀) are key elements of climate. A warmer climate means that more water rises from both the land and ocean, and a warmer atmosphere holds more of that water. Scientists have noticed that there are more heavy rainfall events. Additionally, higher water temperature in streams, lakes, and rivers lead to lower levels of dissolved oxygen in the water, which impacts the survival and populations of fish and other sea life.
Especially troubling are the extreme weather events that are happening more often around the world. Hurricanes are ramping up in intensity, particularly in North Atlantic. The year 2017 was a busy one for Atlantic hurricanes. Meanwhile, in the western United States, the state of California has had record-setting drought conditions, which began in 2012.
12. What does the author intend to tell us in Paragraph 1?
A.Global warming has little damage to the land. | B.Ocean acidification affects the sea temperature. |
C.Coral reefs are in danger of disappearing. | D.Corals and sea creatures need critical surroundings. |
13. What can be known from Paragraph 2?
A.Sea level rise has positive effect on sea animals. |
B.By 2100 the sea level will rise 20 centimeters. |
C.Global heating is the direct cause of wetlands destruction. |
D.The rise of sea level is beyond our imagination. |
14. What does the underlined part “ramping up” in last paragraph mean?
A.Increasing. | B.Failing. | C.Appearing. | D.Changing. |
15. Which is the suitable title for the text?
A.High Sea-surface Temperatures to Creatures | B.Global Warming, What Damages It Causes |
C.Ways to Stop High Sea-surface Temperatures | D.Extreme Weather Events and Global Warming |