Melting raises fears about Antarctic glacier collapse 冰川融化加剧对南极冰川崩塌的担忧

Scientists have warned that one of the most significant glaciers in Antarctica is at serious risk of collapse （崩塌） because of being loosened by warmer temperatures in the surrounding seas， with the potential for globally significant consequences.

Thwaites Glacier， also known as the Doomsday Glacier （末日冰川） due to the impact its melting would have， flows into the Amundsen Sea off western Antarctica and is around the same size as Great Britain or Florida.

“There is going to be dramatic change in front of the glacier， probably in less than a decade. Both published and unpublished studies point in that direction，” glaciologist Ted Scambos from International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration told BBC. “This will accelerate the pace and widen the dangerous part of the glacier.”

“Were watching a world thats doing things we havent really seen before， and the emission of carbon dioxide is significantly to blame，” Scambos explained.

According to Scambos， Thwaites Glacier is one of the widest glaciers in the world， and over the last 30 years， it has doubled the outflow speed of the water it has released. It holds enough water to raise global sea level by more than 60 centimeters， and were it to be significantly damaged， it could also impact on other surrounding glaciers， compounding （使恶化） the problem.

It was reported that the water in the area known as the grounding zone， where the glacier lifts off the sea bed， was extremely warm， and also salty， which is likely to increase the chances of significant melting from below the surface.

Another glaciologist， Erin Pettit from Oregon State University， told CNBC that rising sea level was a near inevitability （必然性） and the focus should now turn to how to manage its environmental impact.

“We are already on track for sea level rise in the next several decades that will impact coastal communities worldwide，” Pettit said. “We cant reverse this sea level rise， but we need to consider how to relieve it and protect our coastal communities now.”

Activity A Reading for understanding

Ⅰ. Text⁃centered chunks

be at risk of 有……的风险

be known as 被称为……

due to 由于;因为

the emission of carbon dioxide 二氧化碳的排放

be likely to 很有可能……

be on track for 走上……的轨道

Ⅱ. Text⁃centered sentences

一、定语从句的省略

Were watching a world thats doing things we havent really seen before. 我们正看着一个正在改变的世界，那些改变是我们从来没真正见过的。

【点石成金】things是先行词，we havent really seen before是定语从句，此处省略了关系代词that。关系代词在定语从句中充当宾语时通常可以省略。

【运用迁移】你正在看的那幅画作是我的一位朋友画的。

二、虚拟语气的倒装

Were it to be significantly damaged， it could also impact on other surrounding glaciers， compounding the problem. 假如它受到严重破坏，它也将影响周围其他的冰川，从而加剧这一问题。

【点石成金】此句省略了连词if。当虚拟语气中的if省略时，句中的谓语动词和主语要倒装。

【运用迁移】要是我处在你的境地，我会采取行动劝说你爸戒烟。

三、非限制性定语从句

It was reported that the water in the area known as the grounding zone， where the glacier lifts off the sea bed， was extremely warm， and also salty， which is likely to increase the chances of significant melting from below the surface. 据报道，在被称为“接地带”的区域，也就是冰川从海床上升起的地方，水非常温暖，而且含盐，这可能会增加地表以下的冰川大量融化的可能性。

【点石成金】which is likely to increase the chances of significant melting from below the surface是非限制性定语从句，起到补充说明的作用。此处which指代the water...was extremely warm， and also salty整个句子，作从句的主语。

【运用迁移】他在那么多人面前显得有点紧张，这是可以理解的。