地球的力量 第4集 海洋(30):海洋酸化

You know, this is such a beautiful, idyllic spot.

这里是很美丽的田园之地

It's hard to believe that an ecological catastrophehappened here.

很难相信这里曾经发生过生态灾难

But in 1998, sea temperatures

但是在1998年，该地区海洋温度

throughout the regionincreased by almost two degrees.

升高了将近2度

For these jellyfish, it was a disaster.

对于这些水母来说是灾难

It's estimated up to 20 million of them perished.

据估计有2000万死亡

Just two degrees of warming

只是2度

was enough to almost annihilate an entire species.

就几乎消灭了整个物种

Fortunately, this was caused by a short-lived

幸运的是，这是由于当地温度

variation in the local climate.

发生短暂变化造成的

Once the waters began to cool, the jellyfish were able to recover.

一旦海水降温，水母就会恢复

But it's a stark warning of what could happen

但是这是个残酷的警告

if the world's oceans become too warm.

如果世界的海洋因为气候变化继续变暖后果将会是什么

The seas around Palau are also vulnerable

但是帕老地球的海洋

to another threat related to carbon dioxide.

很容易遭受另一个于二氧化碳有关的威胁

And it's potentially far more serious than increasing temperatures.

可能要比温度升高更严重

It's called ocean acidification.

那就是海洋酸化

It happens when carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

当大气中的二氧化碳

dissolves into the sea.

溶解到海洋中就会发生这种情况

In the past, levels of carbon dioxide changed very slowly.

在过去，二氧化碳的含量变化很慢

So the oceans had time to adjust to any increase in acidity.

所以海洋有时间适应酸度的增长