Is the earth getting hotter?

I t sounded like nature’s own apocalypse. “The earth’s temperature would rise, melting the icecaps, raising the seas, flooding the land. Arisona would turn into a “rain forest” and the agricultural Midwest would become a desert”. At least, that was how weathermen interpreted researches of some environmentalists on the “greenhouse effect” that would begin altering the earth’s climate since the 1990s. The environmentalists predicted “catastrophic consequences” if contingency plans weren’t made with a “sense of urgency”.

Fortunately, the news improved later when the National Academy of Sciences said that although the greenhouse effect was very real, “cautions not panic” was in order.

In fact, the science of the phenomenon is more interesting that frightening. The greenhouse effect results when CO2 and certain other gases in the atmosphere allow the sun’s ultraviolet rays to penetrate and warm the earth but then absorb the infrared energy the earth radiates back into space − much as glass in a greenhouse does − forming a kind of “thermal blanket” around the planet. When huge amount of fossil fuels burns, it releases CO2 into the atmosphere, man has raised the CO2 level from 280 to more then 350 parts per million since 1860. And continued use of coal and other fossil fuels is expected to double the concentration of CO2 by the year 2050, elevating the earth’s temperature by 3 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. The greenhouse effect will mean much more than hotter summers and milder winters. It may alter rainfall, affect crop yields and eventually − as glaciers begin to melt − raise the level of the sea.

But the environmentalists predict that the temperature change will be greater in the Polar Regions than near the equator. In general, they speculate that snowfall will begin later, the growing season will lengthen and higher latitudes will get less rain. Scientists say that the sea level will probably rise at least two feet before the year 2100, which could flood some of major ports of the world, disrupt transportation network, alter ecosystems and cause major shifts in land development patterns.

However not all experts are convinced that the heat is coming. Some think that the use of primary energy sources such as coal could decline 60 per cent by 2050 and, perhaps, the opposite scenario is true. If the rate of fossil-fuel use is going down, the amount of CO2 we add to the air is getting less every year.

Exercise 8. Translate the following word combinations and sentences.

1. Plants absorb carbon dioxide. 2. If you add three and four you get seven. 3. Both buildings were badly affected by the fire. 4. We've had to alter some of our plans. 5. He paid regular amounts of money to a charity. 6. I hope the children haven't caused you too much trouble. 7. We need to proceed with caution. 8. Certain details in this article must be précised 9. Scientists think it unlikely that any species will actually become extinct as a consequence of the oil spill. 10. You must be able to deal with all possible contingencies. 11. I hope this will convince you to change your mind. 12. His interest in the project declined last week. 13. A heavy fall of snow disrupted the city's transport system.14. They want to elevate the status of physicists. 15. We are expecting a lot of applicants for the job. 16. Our washing machine broke down yesterday and flooded the kitchen.17. Fuels such as gas, coal and oil are fossil fuel. 18. An increase in the amount of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere is called greenhouse effect 19. They live in a huge house. 20. He did a lot to improve working conditions .21. It's difficult to interpret these statistics without knowing how they were obtained. 22. At these latitudes the sun does not rise at all on winter days. 23. There is a plan to lengthen the three-year course to four years. 24. The snow usually melts by mid March. 25. Amazingly, the bullet did not penetrate his brain.

Exercise 9. Find English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Температура землі зростатиме, новини стали кращими, дозволяє ультрафіолетовому випромінюванню проникати та нагрівати поверхню, велика кількість природних копалин, що утворює «термічну ковдру» довкола планети, випускає СО2 в атмосферу, тривале використання, очікують подвоєння концентрації СО2 до 2050 р., льодовики починають танути, експерти переконані.

Exercise 10. Find in the text antonyms for the following words.

Sound, apocalypse, rise, melt, begin, fortunately, allow, huge, continue, near, decline, disrupt.

Exercise 11. Fill in the gaps with the words given at the right side. There are two words you don’t need.

1. The earth’s temperature would _______, melting the icecaps	consequences
2. At least, that was how weathermen _______ researches of some environmentalists on the “greenhouse effect”	huge
3. The environmentalists predicted “catastrophic _______”	to penetrate
4. CO2 and certain other gases in the atmosphere allow the sun’s ultraviolet rays _______ and warm	to melt
5. Сontinued use of coal and other fossil fuels is _______ to double the concentration of CO2	alter
6. _______ as glaciers begin _______− raise the level of the sea.	convinced
7. Scientists say that the sea level will probably rise at least two feet before the year 2100, and could _______ transportation network,	shift
8. _______ could _______ ecosystems	rise
9. However not all experts are _______ that the heat is coming.	disrupt
10. Some think that the use of primary energy sources such as coal could _______ 60 per cent by 2050	decline
	expected
	interpreted

Exercise 12. Make the following sentences interrogative.

1. The greenhouse effect results when CO2 and certain other gases in the atmosphere allow the sun’s ultraviolet rays to penetrate and warm the earth but then absorb the infrared energy the earth radiates back into space. 2. When huge amount of fossil fuels burns, it releases CO2 into the atmosphere? 3. Continued use of coal and other fossil fuels is expected to double the concentration of CO2 by the year 2050, elevating the earth’s temperature by 3 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. 4. The environmentalists predict that the temperature change will be greater in the Polar Regions than near the equator. 5. In general, they speculate that snowfall will begin later, the growing season will lengthen and higher latitudes will get less rain. 6. However not all experts are convinced that the heat is coming.

Exercise 13. Match the words (1−10) with their definitions (a−l). There are two definitions that you do not need to use.

1. absorb	a. great care and attention
2. alter	b. to gradually become less, worse, or lower
3. caution	c. to take something in, especially gradually
4. consequence	d. to prevent something, especially a system, process or event, from continuing as usual or as expected
5. decline	e. the position north or south of the equator measured from 0° to 90°
6. disrupt	f. to get better
7. elevate	g. to move into or through something
8. improve	h. to persuade someone or make them certain
9. latitude	i. to raise something or lift something up
10. penetrate	j. to change something, or to cause the characteristics of something to change
	k. a result of a particular action or situation, often one which is bad or not convenient
	l. a collection or mass especially of something which cannot be counted

Exercise 14. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Яку кількість речовини необхідно взяти для проведення цього експерименту? 2. Які матеріали краще за все поглинають воду? 3. Радіація погано впливає на здоров’я людини. 4. За однією з версій, аварію на ЧАЕС спричинив не ядерний вибух реактора, а вибухи гримучої суміші в сусідніх приміщеннях. 5. Процес перетворення атомних ядер, обумовлений впливом на них швидких елементарних частинок (або ядер інших атомів), називається ядерною реакцією. 6. Всі ядерні реакції супроводжуються випусканням тих чи інших елементарних частинок (у тому числі і γ-квантів). 7. Під час дифузії молекули одного тіла проникають у проміжок між молекулами іншого тіла. 8. Радіоактивне випромінювання проникає глибоко в оточуючі тіла і спричиняє руйнування молекул та атомів тіла. 9. Крига тане при температурі вище 0◦С. Під впливом температури вода перетворюється на пару. 10. Зміна агрегатного стану відбувається в залежності від зміни температури тіла.

HOW DO YOU THINK?

1. Is air weightless? Why?

2. In what material does sound travel faster? Why?

3. Where is water pressure higher: at the top or at the bottom?

4. What is the name of the tube used to produce x-rays?

5. What bodies absorb all radiation?

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