Episode Details

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says changes in ocean temperature are the leading cause of coral bleaching around the world. 

美国国家海洋和大气管理局（NOAA）表示，海洋温度的变化是世界各地珊瑚白化的主要原因。 

From Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to the waters of Florida, it happens when warm water causes corals to expel their colorful algae and turn white. 

从澳大利亚的大堡礁到佛罗里达州的水域，当温暖的海水导致珊瑚排出彩色藻类并变白时，就会发生这种情况。 

Derek Manzello is the head of Coral Reef Watch, which is part of NOAA. He said at least 35 countries and territories across five oceans and seas reported coral bleaching. 

德里克·曼泽洛 (Derek Manzello) 是 NOAA 旗下珊瑚礁观察组织的负责人。他说，五个大洋中至少有 35 个国家和地区报告了珊瑚白化现象。 

He said that by the year 2040, all of the world’s coral will suffer from bleaching if water temperatures do not cool. He said coral needs extended periods of cooler water to recover from bleaching. If the water does not cool, he said, “the corals aren’t going to have a chance to recover.” 

他说，到2040年，如果水温不降温，世界上所有的珊瑚都将遭受白化。他说珊瑚需要长时间的凉爽水才能从白化中恢复过来。他说，如果水不冷却，“珊瑚就没有机会恢复。”

But in the Gulf of Mexico, about 160 kilometers south of Galveston, Texas, a large coral reef is still doing well. 

但在德克萨斯州加尔维斯顿以南约160公里的墨西哥湾，一大片珊瑚礁仍然状况良好。 

The reef is part of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The reef formation covers over 400 square kilometers. It started with just two reef areas, called banks, in 1992. It now has 17 banks. It is described as undersea mountains of yellow, orange and pink coral as far as the eye can see. 

该礁石是花园岸国家海洋保护区的一部分。珊瑚礁面积超过400平方公里。1992 年，它开始时只有两个珊瑚礁区（称为浅滩）。现在有 17 个浅滩。它被描述为一望无际的黄色、橙色和粉红色珊瑚的海底山脉。 

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