Water supplies around the planet are running dry at an alarming rate.
地球的水资源正在以惊人的速度枯竭。
Scientists say the world is experiencing a shortage of fresh water. It will only worsen as the population grows and the climate changes. People living in the western part of the U.S. are experiencing this now. For several years, there hasn't been much water there.
科学家表示，全球开始经历淡水短缺。随着人口增长和气候变化它只会变得愈发严重。居住在美国西部的人们现在就遇到了这种情况，这里一直缺水。
But the American West is not the only place thirsty for water.
但是美国西部并非唯一缺水的地方。
Jerry Schubel is president and CEO of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California.
杰里·舒贝尔（Jerry Schubel）是加州长滩太平洋水族馆的总裁兼首席执行官。
"More than half of the world's population lives in water-stressed areas and, according to the United Nations, that number will increase to two-thirds by 2025, fewer than 10 years from now."
舒贝尔说，“全球一半以上的人口居住在水资源紧张的地区。根据联合国所言，到2025年这一比例将会增长到三分之二，这一时间点距现在已经不足十年。”
Jerry Schubel says the amount of water on earth has not changed for billions of years, but the ratio of fresh to salt water has. He also says there are also other factors that are creating a fresh water shortage.
舒贝尔表示，地球上水资源总量数十亿年来没有发生变化，但是流入海水的淡水流比率也没有发生变化。他还表示，还有其它一些造成淡水资源短缺的因素。
"In much of the world, shortage of fresh water is a looming crisis that will only be exacerbated by climate change and a growing population."
舒贝尔说，“在全球大部分地区，淡水短缺是一种迫在眉睫的危机，它只会被气候变化和人口增加更加恶化。”
Schubel says most of the world's population live in countries that share bodies of water. Many of those countries don't have agreements on how to share that water.
舒贝尔表示，世界上大多数人口居住在水体共享的国家。其中许多国家没有如何共享水资源的协议。
"And many of these regions are in areas of political unrest: North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Southwest, Central and South Asia. The aggregate population in these areas is predicted to triple by the end of this century. So, water shortages could well become flashpoints for regional and international conflicts."
他说，“其中许多地区都位于政治动荡地区，例如北非、非洲之角、阿拉伯半岛和亚洲西南、中部和南部地区。预计到本世纪末，这些地区的总人口将会增加两倍。因此，水资源短缺可能会成为区域和国际冲突的热点。”
Water is Life
水就是生命
Scientists say conservation is the first step to solving the water crisis. Kevin Wattier, manager at the Long Beach water department says desalinating – removing salt from sea water -- is also an option. But that comes at a price.
科学家表示，解决水危机的第一步是保护自然环境。长滩水务部门主管凯文·瓦提尔（Kevin Wattier）表示，海水淡化也是一种选择。但是海水淡化是有代价的。
"It would cost at least twice or three times as much to desalinate sea water as it would cost to buy imported water. You will increase your global carbon footprint when you go to sea water desal."
他说，“海水淡化的费用是购买进口水花销的两到三倍。当进行海水淡化时，还会增加全球碳足迹。”
Schubel says the problem of global water shortage can be solved only if countries work together.
舒贝尔表示，全球水资源短缺的问题只有各国共同努力才能解决。
"We could supply everyone on this planet with safe drinking water and enough water to grow their food. But it will take money, technology, political will and cooperation. And learning how to share requires collaborative decision making at intergovernmental levels."
他说，“我们能够向地球上的所有人提供安全饮用水和足够的水来种植粮食。但是这需要资金、技术、政治意愿以及合作。并且学会如何在政府层面协同决策。”
Extreme Heat in Persian Gulf
波斯湾的酷热
Water shortages plague many parts of the world. Heat waves could become the norm in the Persian Gulf by the end of the century.
水资源短缺困扰着世界上很多地方。到本世纪末，热浪可能会成为波斯湾的常态。
Just this past summer, very hot high temperatures in Iran sent the heat index - a combination of temperature and humidity - up to 73 degrees Celsius.
就在今年夏天，伊朗的极度高温让热指数达到了摄氏73度。热指数是温度和湿度的组合。
The reason? Climate change.
原因就是气候变化。
According to a new research, the combination of intense sun and shallow waters makes the Persian Gulf area "a specific regional hotspot where climate change is a threat to human health.
根据一项新研究，强烈阳光和浅水水域结合使得波斯湾地区成为“气候变化威胁人类健康的特定热点地区”。
Heat could be so intense that in many regional cities, the temperature "could exceed a tipping point for human survival, even in shaded and well-ventilated spaces."
很多区域性城市都很热，气温可能会超出人类生存的临界点，即使是身处阴凉通风的地方。
A team of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Loyola Marymount University published their writing in the journal Nature of Climate Change.
来自麻省理工学院和洛约拉马利蒙特大学的一个科学家团队在《自然—气候变化》杂志上发表了他们的文章。
The study also found at high levels of heat and humidity, even a healthy young adult is at risk.
该研究还发现，在高水平的温度和湿度下，即使是健康成年人也有危险。
When temperatures soar, humans cool off by sweating. The evaporating sweat carries heat away. But when it's very humid, evaporation is slowed and it's harder for the body to cool down.
当温度急剧升高时，人体会排汗降温。汗水蒸发会带走热量。但是当非常潮湿时，蒸发减慢，很难为人体降温。
When heat and humidity are extremely high, the human body can lose the ability to regulate its temperature. That is called hyperthermia. The body's temperature rises, and if this condition goes on long enough, death occurs.
当温度和湿度都非常高时，人体会失去调节体温的能力。这就是所谓的体温过高。如果人体温度上升持续足够长时间就会死亡。
The tipping point means a combination of 35 degrees Celsius with enough humidity to make it difficult for humans to survive more than six hours.
临界点是指35摄氏度和足够的湿度结合，使得人类难以生存六个小时以上。
"It is an upper limit to adaptability to climate change due to heat stress," MIT researcher Elfatih Eltahir told reporters at a news conference called to discuss the findings.
麻省理工学院的研究人员埃尔法蒂赫·埃尔塔希尔（Elfatih Eltahir）在一场召集起来讨论这一研究结果的新闻发布会上对记者表示：“这是人体适应由热应激引起的气候变化的上限。”
The study that showed the consequences of a "business-as-usual" situation where nothing is done about greenhouse gasses, also points out that curbing emissions could prevent deadly temperature extremes.
该研究表明了对温室气体不采取任何措施的后果，它还指出了遏制热排放可以防止致命的极端温度。
The researchers predict that in cities like Doha, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Bandar Abbas, Iran, could exceed the 35 Celsius threshold several times over a 30-year period.
研究人员预测在卡塔尔的多哈，阿拉伯联合酋长国的阿布扎比和迪拜以及伊朗的阿巴斯港等城市，在30年期间会多次超出35摄氏度的临界值。
Extreme conditions could "characterize the usual summer day in the future," said Eltahir.
埃尔塔希尔表示，未来极端情况可能会成为普通夏日的典型特征。
I'm Jonathan Evans.
我是乔纳森·埃文斯。(51VOA.COM对本文翻译保留全部权利，未经授权请勿转载，违者必究！)