澳大利亞大堡礁珊瑚白化範圍已達三分之二

最新航空攝影測量顯示，澳大利亞大堡礁珊瑚白化範圍已達三分之二，中心地區的白化現象不斷加劇。導致這一現象的原因是全球氣候變暖引起的創紀錄性高溫。

UNPRecedented coral bleaching in consecutive years has damaged two-thirds of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, aerial surveys have shown.
航空勘測發現，近年連續發生的珊瑚白化問題空前嚴重，澳大利亞三分之二的大堡礁已遭到重創。

The bleaching - or loss of algae - affects a 1,500km (932 miles) area of the reef, according to scientists.
科學家指出，白化現象，即藻類的缺失，其影響範圍達到1500千米（900英里）。

The latest damage is concentrated in the middle section, whereas last year's bleaching hit mainly the north.
這次白化集中於大堡礁中部，去年則主要在北部。

Experts fear the proximity of the two events will give damaged coral little chance to recover.
有關專家擔心兩次白化的發生時間如此接近，會使受傷的珊瑚沒有機會恢復。

Prof Terry Hughes, from James Cook University, said governments must urgently address climate change.
詹姆斯庫克大學教授特里-休斯指出，政府必須儘快解決氣候變化問題。

"Since 1998, we have seen four of these events and the gap between them has varied substantially, but this is the shortest gap we have seen," Prof Hughes told the BBC.
休斯教授對BBC說道：“自1998年以來，共發生過四次珊瑚白化，其間隔時間相差很多，但這次卻是史上間隔最短的一次。”

"The sooner we take action on global greenhouse gas emissions and transition away from fossil fuels to renewables, the better."
“全球範圍內限制溫室氣體排放、尋找替代化石燃料的可再生能源，這些舉措越早實施越好。”

Almost 800 coral reefs over an 8,000km area were assessed in the surveys by the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.
澳大利亞研究理事會卓越中心在其開展的珊瑚礁研究項目中，測評了8000千米範圍內的珊瑚礁，數量接近800座。

The findings showed only the southern section was relatively unscathed.
結果顯示只有南部的珊瑚礁還相對完好。

Researcher Dr James Kerry said the damage was uNPRecedented.
研究員詹姆斯-克里博士指出此次白化空前嚴重。

"For those reefs that were hit two years in a row, it's effectively a double whammy. They have had no chance to recover from last year's events."
“對連續兩年遭到重創的珊瑚礁來說，這無疑是雪上加霜，根本沒有機會恢復。”

Mass coral bleaching
大規模珊瑚白化

Coral bleaching is caused by rising water temperatures resulting from two natural warm currents.
兩股自然界的暖流使海水溫度上升，造成了珊瑚白化。

It is exacerbated by man-made climate change, as the oceans are absorbing about 93% of the increase in the Earth's heat.
人類活動導致氣候變化，而海洋將吸收93%的地球增溫，加劇了珊瑚白化。

Bleaching happens when corals under stress drive out the algae known as zooxanthellae that give them colour.
珊瑚在壓力的作用下，會逐出一種賦予其顏色的蟲黃藻，從而發生白化現象。

If normal conditions return, the corals can recover, but it can take decades, and if the stress continues the corals can die.
如果迴歸正常狀態，珊瑚能夠自我恢復，但通常需要數十年的時間，而如果壓力持續下去，就會導致珊瑚死亡。

The latest damage happened without the assistance of El Niño, a weather pattern previously associated with bleaching events.
厄爾尼諾現象此前曾與珊瑚白化有關，但此次白化卻與厄爾尼諾現象無關。

The reef - a vast collection of thousands of smaller coral reefs stretching from the northern tip of Queensland to the state's southern city of Bundaberg - was given World Heritage status in 1981.
大堡礁北起昆士蘭州最北端，南達南部城市班德堡，成千上萬種小型珊瑚礁聚集於此，於1981年成爲世界遺產。

The UN says it is the "most biodiverse" of all the World Heritage sites, and of "enormous scientific and intrinsic importance".
聯合國贊大堡礁爲“物種最爲多樣性”的世界遺產地，“具有極大的科學價值和內在價值。”