The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reported Monday that winter sea ice hit record lows in Antarctica this year.
美国国家冰雪数据中心周一报告称，今年南极洲冬季海冰创下历史新低。
Scientists say the lack of sea ice is evidence of serious climate change at the South Pole.
科学家表示，海冰的缺乏是南极气候变化严重的证据。
Researchers say the lack of sea ice will affect penguins, who mate and raise their young on the ice. In addition, a lack of ice speeds Earth's rising temperatures. A large amount of sea ice keeps the planet cool because it reflects sunlight back into space.
研究人员表示，海冰的缺乏将影响企鹅在冰上交配和养育幼崽。此外，海冰的缺乏会加速地球温度上升。大量的海冰使地球保持凉爽，因为它将阳光反射回太空。
The amount of sea ice was at its highest level on September 10, towards the end of the southern hemisphere's winter. However, it only covered 16.96 million square kilometers. That was the lowest coverage since satellite records began in 1979. The latest measurement breaks a low ice record from 1986 by about one million square kilometers.
9月10日，南半球冬季即将结束，海冰数量达到最高水平。然而，它只覆盖了1696万平方公里。这是自1979年有卫星记录以来的最低覆盖率。这次最新测量结果以大约为100万平方公里的差值打破了1986年以来的低冰记录。
Walt Meier is a top NSIDC scientist. "It's not just a record-breaking year," he said. "It's an extreme record-breaking year."
沃尔特·梅尔是美国国家冰雪数据中心的顶尖科学家。他说：“这不仅仅是破纪录的一年，这是严重破纪录的一年。”
The group said the ice measurement findings are not complete. It said a full report would come out in October.
该组织表示，这次海冰测量结果并不完整。它表示，一份完整的报告将于10月发布。
Sea ice reaches its peak, or highest level, in late September in the southern hemisphere. The ice melts to its lowest point during the hemisphere's summer in February or March.
南半球的海冰在9月下旬达到峰值或最高水平。这些海冰于2月或3月的南半球夏季融化到最低点。
The last summer measurement came about six months ago, which also set a new record for melting ice.
上一次夏季测量是在大约六个月前进行的，它也创下了融冰的新纪录。
I'm Caty Weaver.
我是凯蒂·韦弗。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，请勿转载，违者必究！)