英语听力文摘 与火山抗争的小镇

The Town That Fought A Volcano, And Won

火山喷发(volcanic eruption)是一种奇特的地质现象，是地壳运动的一种表现形式，也是地球内部热能在地表的一种最强烈的显示。是岩浆等喷出物在短时间内从火山口向地表的释放。由于岩浆中含大量挥发分，加之上覆岩层的围压，使这些挥发分溶解在岩浆中无法溢出，当岩浆上升靠近地表时，压力减小，挥发分急剧被释放出来，于是形成火山喷发。

On this Moment of Science, learn about the town that fought a volcano, and won!

Like Hawaii, Iceland and its accompanying islands are volcanic. In 1973, a new volcano erupted on the small island of Heimaey, just off Iceland. This eruption was to last six months, spewinglava over Vestmannaeyjar(韦斯特曼纳群岛), the island’s main town and harbor, at a rate of up to one hundred and thirty cubic yards(立方码) of moltenlava per second.

The island’s inhabitants knew they could rebuild their town, but it soon became clear that flowing lava would completely (1)seal off the mouth of the only natural harbor on the island. Without a harbor, the livelihood of this fishing community would be ruined. What did they do? They called in the fire department.

While water can’t “put out” a volcano, the Icelanders acted on the theory that enough cold ocean water might cool the lava enough to prematurely solidify a wall, or crust, of lava. This wall of solidified lava could be used to change the direction of the rest of the lava’s flow, and direct it away from the harbor.

The fire department began pumping with the town’s pumps and hoses, and within two months there were enough water pumps(抽水机) and pumping ships in place to deliver over two hundred and fifty gallons of water per second to the advancing lava. It was a dangerous plan, as miles of pipe needed to be (2)laid up the side of the partially solidified lava wall to deliver water higher and higher.

Although half the town was destroyed, the plan to save the harbor was a success. Remarkably, when these firefighters battled a volcano, the firefighters won.

Notes:

(1)seal off 封闭;把…封锁起来

With this you can temporarily seal off any kind of evil.

用这个您可以暂时封住任何妖魔。

(2)lay up v.贮存;搁置;卧床不起

The bandits that lay up in those hills have all been rounded up.

潜伏在那些山里的土匪都已经被包围了。