地球的力量 第3集 冰川(23)宏伟的雅各布冰河

Greenland is an island covered by the second largestice sheet on the planet.

格陵兰拥有世界上第二大的冰原

On the west coast is the massiveJakobshavn Glacier.

宏伟的雅各布冰河便处在它的西海岸

It's become the front line in scientists' attempts tounderstand

这里已经成为科学家了解

what's happening to theworld's ice today.

全球变暖现象对世界冰层的影响的前沿阵地

Until as recently as 1997, the glacier was relatively stable.

直到1997年冰河都是稳定的

But since then, it's changed dramatically.

然而自此之后冰河变成变化剧烈

In the last five years, it's retreated over six miles.

过去5年冰河缩短了十公里那么多

It might seem strange, but the reason the glacier's retreated so much

但是它缩短的原因

is because it's started flowing faster.

是因为冰河的流速加快

The Jakobshavn Glacier is now moving at over 130 feet a day,

现在它一天流动四十米

the fastest in the world.

成为世界上

The faster it flows, the thinner it becomes.

流动得最快也最薄的冰川

This weakens the ice, causing it to break up.

这使得冰川断裂了

The result, the fjord is jam-packed with ice

结果，峡湾全是拥挤的冰块

that has broken off the front of the glacier and is drifting off to sea.

碎裂的冰山漂洋过海