英語聽力文摘 與火山抗爭的小鎮(zhèn)

The Town That Fought A Volcano, And Won

火山噴發(fā)(volcanic eruption)是一種奇特的地質(zhì)現(xiàn)象，是地殼運動的一種表現(xiàn)形式，也是地球內(nèi)部熱能在地表的一種最強烈的顯示。是巖漿等噴出物在短時間內(nèi)從火山口向地表的釋放。由于巖漿中含大量揮發(fā)分，加之上覆巖層的圍壓，使這些揮發(fā)分溶解在巖漿中無法溢出，當巖漿上升靠近地表時，壓力減小，揮發(fā)分急劇被釋放出來，于是形成火山噴發(fā)。

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(韋斯特曼納群島), the island’s main town and harbor, at a rate of up to one hundred and thirty cubic yards(立方碼) 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(抽水機) 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 封閉;把…封鎖起來

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

用這個您可以暫時封住任何妖魔。

(2)lay up v.貯存;擱置;臥床不起

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

潛伏在那些山里的土匪都已經(jīng)被包圍了。