地球的力量 第1集 火山(18)火山的作用举足轻重

These, too, are the results of volcanic activity

这个系统同样也是火山活动的产物

but they are found in the deepest parts of theoceans.

存在于大洋最深的底部。

Today, they support an extraordinary diversity of life.

如今 它支撑着异常丰富的生命。

But four billion years ago,

有人认为40亿年前，

it's thought that the combination of high temperatures

这些喷口造成的高温和

and rich chemicals that the vents produce might have stimulated the emergence of life.

丰富化学物质刺激了生命的诞生。

but the role of volcanoes went beyond just kick starting life.

火山的作用远远不局限于推动生命的诞生。

they have played a critical role in nurturing and protecting it, too.

在养育与防护生命方面 火山的作用也举足轻重。

During Earth's infancy,

地球幼年时期

the sun wasn't burning as brightly as it does today.

太阳的亮度不比如今

In fact, it was about 30 percent cooler.

实际上 那时太阳比如今要冷30%

With a dimmer sun bathing the planet in weaker sunlight,

植物沐浴在黯淡的阳光里

Earth was actually in danger of freezing.

当时地球实际上面临冻僵的危险

It was the volcanoes that provided young,vulnerable planet

正是火山为年幼虚弱的地球提供了温暖

with a way to keep warm,but not in the way you might think.

不过具体的方式与您的猜想可能不同

Earth wasn't warmed up by all that hot lava spewing out,

温暖地球的并非火山喷出的熔岩

but by an extraordinary gas Nthat volcanoes pumped out.

而是火山喷出的某种非凡气体

And that gas was carbon dioxide.

这种气体就是二氧化碳