地球的力量 第2集 大气(26)永久冻土

The best place to see what effect global warming ishaving on the permafrost

在永久冻土上是最好的观察全球变暖影响的地方

is the many lakes found in this region.

在这一地区有很多湖泊

And that's what's brought ecologist Katey Walter tothis frozen wasteland.

这吸引了生态学家 凯蒂沃尔特 到来

She believes she's already detected the first signs

她相信她已经发现了第一个征兆

that methane is being released from the permafrost.

甲烷已经开始从永久冻土释放

What's happening is that the permafrost is melting and thawing

永久冻土正在融化

and slumping into the bottoms of the lakes.

滑入湖泊的底部

Those dead plants thaw out,

这些死掉的植物解冻

and they ferment at the bottom of the lake

在湖底发酵

and methane is the by-product. Methane comes out.

甲烷同时产生，甲烷从湖里释出

If Katey's right, then we should be able to find methane almost everywhere.

如果凯蒂是对的，我们应该能发现到处是甲烷

Ah, this is the ice. I've got to the ice.

啊，这是冰，我触到了冰

Look at that, that's beautiful! Oh, there's bubbles.

看那，真是漂亮噢，那是气泡

The ice is over three feet thick

这冰有一米厚

and it's full of bubbles trapped inside it.

很明显冰里面截留大量的气泡

The trouble is it won't stay trapped in these bubbles for long.

问题是冰不能截留这些气泡太久

When the ice thaws in spring, the gas will escape.

当冰在春天融化，气体会逃走