天气因为气候变化而变得更糟

天气因为气候变化而变得更糟

Climate change is one of the most serious public health issues facing America today. The annual average temperature in the United States has increased by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit from 1901 to 2016 and is expected to rise an additional 2.5 degrees, according to the U.S. Global Change Research Program. This has led to increased drought, more frequent wildfires, and other effects of climate change that can’t be stopped.

气候变化是当今美国面临的最严重的公共卫生问题之一。根据美国全球变化研究项目(U.S. Global Change Research Program)的数据，从1901年到2016年，美国的年平均气温上升了1.8华氏度，预计还将再上升2.5华氏度。这导致了越来越多的干旱，更频繁的野火，以及其他无法阻止的气候变化的影响。

According to the Fourth National Climate Assessment of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, it is extremely likely that greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are the dominant cause of the increase in the rate of global warming since the mid-20th century.

根据美国全球变化研究计划(U.S. Global Change Research Program)第四次国家气候评估报告，人类活动产生的温室气体排放极有可能是20世纪中叶以来全球变暖速度加快的主要原因。

In recent decades, a new branch of climate research has emerged that attempts to define the link between human activities and extreme weather events such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, and snowstorms. According to climate journalism site Carbon Brief, scientists concluded in 68% of the more than 230 extreme weather events they studied that human-caused climate change increased the likelihood or severity of the event.

近几十年来，出现了一个新的气候研究分支，试图定义人类活动与极端天气事件(如洪水、热浪、干旱和暴风雪)之间的联系。根据气候新闻网站Carbon Brief的数据，科学家在他们研究的230多个极端天气事件中，68%的案例得出结论，人为造成的气候变化增加了该事件发生的可能性或严重性。

Areas with already extreme climates tend to be more susceptible to climate change, and even more extreme weather events. The Southwestern United States, for example – the driest and hottest part of the country – is getting hotter and drier, leading to increased drought and wildfire.

已经处于极端气候的地区更容易受到气候变化的影响，甚至更容易发生极端天气事件。例如，美国西南部——这个国家最干燥、最热的地区——正变得越来越热、越来越干燥，导致干旱和野火增加。

In other parts of the country, global warming has led to rising sea levels and increased evaporation, ultimately leading to increased precipitation. Earlier this year, heavy rainfalls along the Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi River corridors have led to substantial flooding throughout the Midwest, leading to substantial property damage and dozens of deaths. Many of the places are also home to these popular summer getaways we’re losing to climate change.

在美国其他地区，全球变暖导致海平面上升和蒸发增加，最终导致降水增加。今年早些时候，伊利诺斯州、密苏里州、阿肯色州和密西西比州的强降雨导致整个中西部地区洪水泛滥，造成大量财产损失和数十人死亡。许多地方也是这些受欢迎的避暑胜地的家园，我们正因为气候变化而失去这些地方。

1. Alaska

The significant increase in wildfire activity in Alaska in recent decades is associated with man-made and natural factors. In 2015, wildfires burned through 5.1 million acres across the state, the second worst fire season since record keeping began in 1940. According to a report published by the American Meteorological Society in December 2016, human-induced climate change may have increased the risk of such a severe fire season in Alaska by 34% to 60%.

阿拉斯加

近几十年来阿拉斯加野火活动的显著增加与人为和自然因素有关。2015年，野火烧毁了全州510万英亩的土地，这是自1940年有记录以来第二严重的火灾季节。根据美国气象学会2016年12月发布的一份报告，人类引发的气候变化可能使阿拉斯加发生如此严重火灾的风险增加了34%至60%。

2. Arctic Ocean: Alaska

In 2016, the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska experienced its most intense marine heatwave – defined as at least five-day periods in which sea surface temperatures are extremely high for the region – since at least 1982, when satellite temperature records began. According to the American Meteorological Society, human-induced climate change increased the change of such an extreme weather event occurring by as much as 50 times.

北冰洋:阿拉斯加

2016年，白令海和阿拉斯加湾经历了至少自1982年卫星温度记录开始以来最强烈的海洋热浪——该地区至少有5天的海洋表面温度极高。据美国气象学会(American Meteorological Society)称，人类活动导致的气候变化使此类极端天气事件的发生频率增加了50倍之多。

3. Arizona: Phoenix

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in Phoenix averaged 77.3 degrees in 2017 – the hottest year on record. Phoenix is one of the fastest-warming cities in the country, and in 2018 there were a record 182 heat-related deaths confirmed in Phoenix and surrounding Maricopa County, the third consecutive year the death toll has reached a record high.

亚利桑那州:凤凰城

根据美国国家气象局(National Weather Service)的数据，2017年凤凰城的平均气温为77.3度，是有记录以来最热的一年。凤凰城是美国变暖速度最快的城市之一，2018年凤凰城及其周边马里科帕县确认的与高温有关的死亡人数达到创纪录的182人，这是死亡人数连续第三年创下新高。