资勘专业英语段落翻译.doc

Unit1 Cosmic Beginnings宇宙的起源 1Where and when does the history of the Earth begin? Only in the last few decades could this question be asked with any hope of a scientific answer. 地球的历史上是何时何地开始的?只有在过去的几十年里,这个问题才有了一个比较科学的回答来解释。Certainly one good point at which to start is the time when the materials that were to become the Earth became separated in space from materials that were to become other members of the solar system. 当然存在一个较好的说法是地球的起源时间是当组成地球的物质在宇宙中开始与太空中组成太阳系其它成员的物质分离的时候.Although the story could well commence here, a great many important questions would remain unanswered. 虽然故事很可能开始在这里,许多重要的问题仍悬而未决。 Something needs to be said about the materials that make up the Earth, and this pushes the question of origin to a more remote period. 一些有必要提及的物质构成了地球,这将推动更偏远的起源问题。Earths partners in space must also be considered. 地球在太空的合作伙伴也必须加以考虑。Now that we know from first-hand observations a great deal about physical conditions on other planets we can seek reasonable answers as to why early Earth was different from early Mars and early moon. 现在我们知道从其他星球上得到的第一手观察的物理条件，这让我们可以尽早寻求合理的答案，为什么地球是不同于早期火星和月球。To understand differences and similarities, we must study the entire solar system including the sun. 为了理解差异和相似之处,我们必须研究包括太阳的整个太阳系。To understand stars of the class to which the sun belongs, we need to know more about other bodies in the Milky Way Galaxy. 为了了解恒星太阳所属的类,我们需要知道更多关于银河系的其他天体。 4. The solar system occupies a vast, flattened, lens-shaped region of space, in which the planets and most of the smaller components move in an almost perfect plane around the sun. 4太阳系在太空中是一个巨大的,平坦的，透镜状的区域，行星和大部分的更小的组件沿着一个几乎完整的面绕着太阳转。This structure has naturally been compared to the spiral galaxies and to the planet Saturn with its satellites and puzzling rings. 这个结构好比与螺旋星系和土星和它的卫星或不明飞行体一样。Although the solar system is unlike either of these aggregations in detail, the concept of a large central body with flattened encircling rings or spiral arms remains as the starting point for modern theories of its origin. 虽然太阳系在细节上也不像这些集合体,但是带有平坦的螺旋圈或旋臂仍然是现代起源理论的起点。 Depositional Environment沉积环境1. The characteristic properties of sedimentary rocks are generated through the combined action of the various physical, chcmical, and biological processes that make up the sedimentary cycle. 沉积岩的特征性质是由各种物理、化学和生物过程的共同作用产生的，这些过程组成了沉积旋回。Weathering，erosion, sediment transport, deposition, and diagenesis all leave their impress in some way on the final sedimentary rock product. 风化、侵蚀、沉积物搬运、沉积和成岩作用以某种方式形成了最后沉积岩产物。 it is the sedimentary processes and conditions that collectively constitute the depositional environment and play the primary role in determining textures, structures, bedding features, and stratigraphic characteristic of sedimentary rocks. 沉积过程和条件,共同构成了沉积环境并在决定纹理、结构、层理特征,地层沉积岩的特征方面扮演主要的角色。This close genetic relationship between depositional processes and rock properties provides a potentially powerful tool for interpreting ancient depositional environments.沉积过程与岩性之间的继承关系提供了一个工具来为了怎样解释古沉积环境。 If geologists can find a way to relate specific rock properties to particular depositional processes and conditions, they can work backward to infer the ancient depositional processes and environmental conditions that created these particular rock properties.如果地质学家能找到一种方法将岩石特性与特殊的沉积过程和条件相关联，他们就能够反推造成这些特殊岩石性质的古代沉积过程和环境条件。4.Study of ancient depositional environments is important because the insight gained through environmental analysis allows us to reconstruct the paleogeography of previous geologic periods,that is, the relationship of ancient lands and seas.古沉积环境的研究是很重要的,因为该方法获得的信息通过环境分析使我们能够重建前地质时期的古地理学,也就是说,古老的陆地与海洋的关系。It helps us also to develop a proper understanding of sedimentary processes in the history of Earth and an improved ability to interpret complex stratigraphic relationships such as lateral and vertical variations in lithology and texture. 它也帮助我们开发一个正确理解地球历史上的沉积过程和一种改进的能力来解释复杂的地层关系如横向和纵向岩性和质地的变化。Furthermore, thorough understanding of depositional environments is an essential factor in evaluating the economic significance of sedimentary rocks,their potential reservior rocks and source rocks for petroleum,for example. 此外,彻底了解沉积环境在评估沉积岩的经济意义上是一个重要的因素,其潜在储层岩石和石油烃源岩,为例。Unit2 Superposition: A Fundamental Law of Geology地层叠覆律:地质学的基本定律1.The chief distinguishing characteristic of sedimentary rocks is that they are found in layers or beds. they are, in other words, bedded deposits. 沉积岩的主要特点是它们具有层理，换句话说，它们就是层状沉积物。This is because the materials of which they are composed have settled out of air or water so as to be more or less evenly distributed. 这是因为它们的材料解决了由空气或水,或多或少是均匀分布的。The settling process is not continuous, what goes on is somewhat like the successive snowstorms of winter that produce thick and thin layers of snow. 沉降过程不是连续的,发生的事情有点像冬天的暴风雪连续产生厚和薄层的积雪。Most sediments are made up of small particles of preexisting rocks that have been picked up,transported, spread out, and deposited by currents of air or water. 大多数沉积物由先前存在的岩石微粒,这些岩石微粒在气流和水流中不断分选、搬运、扩散、沉降下来。Other sediments such as salt are precipitated directly from water; 盐等其他沉积物直接从水中沉淀下来;others such as coal or coral reefs consist of organic material buried at the place of growth. 煤或珊瑚礁等由有机材料埋藏所致。2.Although sedimentary beds show a great range in thickness composition,color,internal structure, fossil content, and reaction to erosion, the characteristic of having layers that are (or were) originally level, or nearly so, is universal.虽然沉积岩层在厚度组分、颜色、内部结构、化石含量、对剥蚀的反应均表现较大的变化，但是原本是水平的具有岩层的特点这几乎是普遍存在的。 In the language of geology, a single bed is called a stratum: a group of beds are called strata.the study of strata is called Stratigraphy, and a person who specializes in the subject is a stratigrapher. 在地质语言中，一个单独的层称作岩层，一组层称作地层，而专门研究地层的学问称为地层学，非常精于这门学科的人称为地层学家。Stratigraphy is a very important branch of geology. 地层学是地质学的一个非常重要的分支。it concerns the recognition and interpretation of stratified rocks, the conditions of their formation, their characteristics, arrangements, sequence, age, distribution, and correlation,or matching, by the use of fossils and other means. 它包括层状岩石的识别和解释、其形成的条件,他们的特点、排列、顺序、时代、相关性,或匹配性,可通过使用化石和其他手段来进行研究。Plate Teaonics板块构造运动1. For almost 200 years, geologists have supported various theories of mountain-building,volcanism,and other major phenomena of Earth. 近200年来,地质学家们提出并支持不同的理论，如造山理论,火山活动,以及地球其他主要现象。 None was general enough to explain well the whole range of geologic processes.没有一个合理的说法能解释整个范围内的地质过程。Now, there exists a single, all-encompassing concept that interprets many of the major geologic features of the Earth. 现在,存在一个单一的、包罗万象的概念能解释许多地球的主要地质特征。Such topics as the classification and distribution of rocks, the history of sedimentary rock sequences,the position and characteristics of volcanoes, earthquake belts, mountain systems, deep-sea trenches, and ocean basins were formerly described in more-or-less unrelated fashion. 这些观点如岩石的分类和分布、沉积岩序列的历史、火山的位置和特征、地震带、山系、深海海沟以及海洋盆地等观点被描述成一种看似不相关的趋势。Today plate tectonics, in which the large-scale pattern,if not the underlying mechanism,is recognized. 今天大规模的板块构造,如果不是底层机制,是公认的。 To be sure, some geologists have found flaws in certain parts of the theory,but few reject it cntirely. Revolutions tend to be largely complete in twenty years.可以肯定的是,一些地质学家发现在某些部分的理论缺陷,但很少有人完全拒绝。革命往往是在二十年基本完成。 3. The central idea of plate tectonics is remarkably simple. The lithosphere is broken into about ten large rigid plates, each plate moving as a distinct unit. 板块构造的中心思想是非常简单的。岩石圈被分解为十大刚性板块,每个板块作为一种独特的单元移动。 The major plates and the directions in which they move are sketched inside the back cover. 主要的板块和他们移动的方向是在背面进行的。Many large- scale geological features are associated with the boundaries between the plates. Plates spread apart along divergent junctions typified by the crack-like valley at the crest of the mid-Atlantic ridge. 许多大规模地质特征与板块之间的边界相关联。板块沿着裂开点分散在不同的地方典型的如大西洋洋中脊的裂谷。This particular feature is the contact between the American plate on the one hand and the Eurasian and African plates on the other. 这个特点是美洲板块与欧亚板块和非洲板块相联系的。The divergent junction is characterized by earthquake activity and volcanism. 发散点的特点是地震活动和火山活动。The void between the receding plates is filled by melted, mobile material that rises from below the lithosphere. 后退板之间的空隙是由熔融的、移动的从岩石圈以下上升的物质填充的。 The material solidifies in the crack, and the plates grow as they separate . Since new sea floor is created, this part of the process has been dubbed sea-floor spreading.这物质在裂隙中凝固,板块独立运动。因为创建了新的海底,这过程被称为海底扩张。7. The theory of plate tectonics has been taking shape, our understanding of the internal and external heat engines of the Earth has also deepened. 板块构造理论已经成形,我们对地球的内部和外部的热引擎的理解也加深了。The many ways in which the internal and external heat engines are linked provide exciting new territory for geologists and oceanographers to explore. 内部和外部的热动力相互连接的许多方面为地质学家和海洋学家提供了激动人心的新领域进行探索。As we find out more about each engine. we find out more about their interactions. 当我们找到更多关于每种动力，以及我们找到更多关于它们之间的相互作用。Their interactions, too, can affect us drastically as when an earthquake, that happens to occur during Perus rainy season triggers a massive mudflow that kills thousands of people (1970), or when a volcano like Mt. St Helens erupts sending so much volcanic ash into the atmosphere that the quantity of atmospheric dust over the whole world is significantly increased (1980). 它们的相互作用也可以强烈影响到我们。当地震来临时,如偶然发生在多雨季的秘鲁中的地震触发大规模的泥石流, 泥石流杀死了成千上万的人(1970),或者如圣海伦斯火山爆发将许多的火山灰喷发到大气中使得大气尘埃的数量在全世界都显著增加(1980).Unit3 Fossils to Date Rocks 追溯岩石的化石1. All sedimentary rocks occur in beds, or layers, separated by bedding planes. 所有的沉积岩都出现在岩层或地层中，并且它们以层理面分开。The law of superposition, which states that in any pile of undisturbed sediments any bed is older than the overlying bed and younger than the underlying one, is of fundamental importance in reconstructing the past.地层叠覆律在重建过去是非常重要的，它说明了在任何未被扰动的沉积物中，上覆的岩层比下伏的岩层要年轻。 The original level condition of sediments may be disturbed by faulting, folding and sliding, and in extreme cases superposition may not apply. 沉积物的原始水平条件可能被断层,褶皱和滑动干扰,并且在极端情况下地层叠覆律可能不适用。However, in many cases fossils in sedimentary rocks become important to date rocks.然而,在许多情况下沉积岩中的化石对于追溯岩石显得很重要。最后一段： We now perceive that living things have little control over what goes on in the physical world. 我们现在认为,生物难以控制的物理世界。As climates shift, and lands rise, sink, or shift position, their occupants must adjust accordingly. 随着气候变化,陆地上升下降,或改变位置,当地居民也必须相应地做出调整。Within the last decade, much attention has been given to the ponderous forces that have split continents apart and welded them together in ever-changing aggregations. Without fossils we would be much less sure about what is going on. 在过去的十年里,人们一直十分关注那些让大陆不断分分合合的繁琐的动力。如果没有化石,我们就不知道是怎么回事。It is fossils that gave us the thought that India was once in the southern hemisphere, that Africa and South America were once joined, that Antarctica was once in a tropical zone, and that the rocks at the very summit of Mount Qomolangma were formed in the bottom of an ocean 400 million years ago.正是化石让我们认为印度曾经在南半球,非洲和南美洲曾经是连接起来的,南极洲曾经是在热带区域,在珠穆朗玛峰峰顶的岩石是形成于4亿年前海洋的底部。Unit4 Paleomagnetics: A Most Significant Synthesis of Earth Sciences古地磁学:一个组成地球科学最重要的综合学科Magnetism was probably discovered when it was first noted that certain natural minerals attracted or repelled each other. 当磁性首次被指出在某些天然矿物中出现相互吸引或排斥的性质就可能已经被发现了。This is most strongly shown in connection with the minerals magnetite (Fe304), hematite (Fe203), and ilmenite (FeTi03).其中在磁铁矿(Fe304)，赤铁矿(Fe203)和钛铁矿(FeTi03)中表现比较突出。Even rocks with a small content of these minerals are magnetic, and their magnetism can be measured. 甚至只含少量这些矿物的岩石都能具有磁性，且它们的磁性可以被测出来。Many rocks, including the lava known as basalt, and sediments with iron minerals are known to acquire magnetization when they are formed. 许多岩石,包括熔岩如玄武岩和含铁矿物的沉积物在它们形成时就具有磁性了。During the process of cooling of lava or magma, the susceptible iron minerals become magnetized in the Earths prevailing field. This is called thermoremanent magnetism (TRM). 在熔岩或岩浆的冷却过程中,易铁矿化的矿物地球的磁场中被磁化，这被称为热剩余磁性(TRM)。When iron minerals are being deposited as particles, they fall into place like freely swinging compass needles aligned in the direction of the Earths field. This is called depositional remanent magnetism (DRM).当铁矿物作为颗粒沉积时,它们沉降的位置像自由摆动的指南针与地球磁场的方向是一致的，这就是所谓的沉积剩磁(DRM)。4. As investigators began to study older iron-rich lavas and red (iron-rich) sediments, they were not surprised to find that the position of the magnetic poles has not been constant - it shifted considerably even in historic times. 当调查人员开始研究古老的富含铁的熔岩和红色(富含铁)的沉积物时,他们对发现磁极的位置不是固定不变的并不感到惊讶，磁极的位置在历史时期是变化的。What did surprise them was the fact that the Earths magnetic field has been reversed a great many times. 让他们惊讶的事实是地球的磁场已经倒转很多次了。The north magnetic pole has frequently become the south magnetic pole. The Earth did not tip over - only the invisible positive and negative poles took on reverse signs.磁北极频繁地成为磁南极。其实地球并没有倒转,只是无形的正负两极了扭转的迹象。These changes are, of course, worldwide and affect every magnetic mineral formed at any given instant. 当然,这些变化是全球性的,并且它影响每一个已经形成的磁性矿物。That this is true was proven by obtaining the actual ages of statistically significant numbers of specimens. 它们确实可以由许多数量的标本在数据上获得岩石真实年龄来证实。There could be no doubt of the theory; all specimens of the same age are either negatively or positively magnetized.There was no mixing of polarity signs. 毫无疑问所有同时代的标本是具有同一磁性的，要么正极性或者负极性，没有混合极的现象标志。Periods of magnetization like the present are termed normal;those oppositely magnetized are termed reversed. 磁化的时间像现在一样的称为正常的，反之为倒转的。 Volcanism火山活动2. For decades geologists have debated the source of magma, the hot and mobile material that is generated within the Earth and that solidifies into igneous rock. 几十年来,地质学家们讨论岩浆的来源,岩浆是炎热和移动性的，它们在地球内部生成,最后凝固成火成岩。There is now little doubt, so the seismologists tell us, that the asthenosphere, which extends from depths of about 75 t0 250 km, is the one large region in the mantle that is partially molten. 据地震学家告诉我们的,现在毫无疑问,软流圈是一个存在于地幔中的、部分熔融的大块的区域，它分布于约75到250公里的深度。It is reasonable, therefore, to identify this layer as a main source of magma.Remelting of sections of the lithosphere may provide another source of magma. 因而鉴定这一层作为一个主要的岩浆来源的说法是合理的。岩石圈的重熔的部分可以提供另一个岩浆的来源。At certain places, perhaps where the lithosphere is fractured or otherwise weakened, the magma rises, squeezed up by the weight of the overlying crust, some of it eventually reaching the surface where it erupts as lava. 也许容易发生在某些地方,如在岩石圈断裂或削弱、岩浆上升、或上覆地壳的挤压的地方,其中一些最终通过作为熔岩喷发到达表面。Lava differs from the parent magma in that lava has lost some volatile constituents(gases) to the atmosphere or ocean