進入英語學習論壇下載音頻 去聽寫專區一展身手

It's cold out there. Blame global warming.

Weather experts say global warming not only warms the world, it also brings colder weather.

"It means a higher risk of more extreme weather like freezing winter, snowstorms and scorching hot in the coming five decades," said a professor with Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The professor said most regions that are located north of 40 degrees latitude are suffering from the freezing cold this year.

Beijing, at 39 degrees north latitude, witnessed its coldest morning in almost 40 years and its biggest snowfall since 1951. Britain is suffering through its longest cold snap since 1981, and the freezing cold is gripping millions in the deep south of the US.

According to the latest data from the National Meteorological Center, many provinces and municipalities in North China have suffered record cold temperatures since late last year with some regions hit by the hardest snowfall in half a century.

The professor said human activities are concentrated north of the equator, which quickens the global warming process in the northern hemisphere.

The heated air, carrying the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, rises and circulates to the southern hemisphere.

As the air loses its heat high in the atmosphere, the dense air, loaded with carbon dioxide, sinks and brings cold air from the upper atmosphere with it.

"And the cold air causes the south part of the Earth to become colder," the professor said.

When carbon dioxide builds up in the south, the process reverses, with cold air descending on the northern hemisphere.

Meanwhile, China forecasters say that the temperature will increase starting Thursday, but a new cold wave will bring gales and precipitation to most parts of the country from Saturday to next Monday.

Questions:

1. What cold weather records are being set in Beijing?

2. How do carbon dioxide buildups cause cold weather?

3. What’s the forecast for China later this week?

Answers:

1. Beijing witnessed its coldest morning in almost 40 years and its biggest snowfall since 1951.

2. Human activities, and carbon dioxide buildup, is concentrated north of the equator. This speeds up global warming. As the heated air rises, carrying the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, the air loses heat high in the air. The dense air, loaded with carbon dioxide sinks and brings colder air from the upper atmosphere with it.

3. There will be warmer weather starting Thursday, but another cold front arrives Saturday, according to forecasters.

去聽寫專區一展身手

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Renee Haines is an editor and broadcaster at China Daily. Renee has more than 15 years of experience as a newspaper editor, radio station anchor and news director, news-wire service reporter and bureau chief, magazine writer, book editor and website consultant. She came to China from the United States.