極地降溫能力減弱 冰雪正加速融化

Climate change is damaging archaeological treasures which have been frozen for thousands of years, according to British scientists.
　　據英國學者稱，氣候變幻破壞那些冰凍封存上千萬年珍貴考古遺蹟。

Remains in some of the coldest places on earth are becoming exposed as warmer temperatures cause ice and hardened ground to thaw, research by experts at the University of Edinburgh's Business School has found.

愛丁堡商學院的專家們發現，那些存在於地球上極寒冷之地的考古遺蹟正因氣溫上升導致冰雪融化，從而曝露於“光天化日”之下。

Ancient relics at risk include tombs, artefacts and human remains.

這將使得包括人類遺蹟在內的衆多珍貴古蹟遭受破換。

The scientists, who studied cases of damage at three sites across the world, are calling for a global organisation to be set up to maintain a record of vulnerable sites and to co-ordinate efforts to conserve items that are at risk, particularly indigenous remains.

爲此，有相關領域的科學家呼籲成立一個全球性的保護組織，以便統一監控全球變暖對於歷史古蹟的破壞情況，以便於採取設當措施，加以保護。

Dr Dave Reay, who supervised the study, said: 'Warming climates are expected to lead to more melting ice, and we need to take action to safeguard ancient treasures.

該項目的戴夫·雷伊博士說：“氣溫升高將是的更多的凍土融化，我們必須採取措施，以使得那些歷史珍寶免於毀滅。”

'Long-term efforts are needed to locate archaeological remains that are at risk, and research how best to care for them.

“要定位那些正遭受隨還的遺蹟是一項長期性的工作，同時還必須探究出應對之策。”

'We must also consider the political and cultural implications of preserving important relics.'

“此外，我們還需要看到，保護這些考古遺址在政治與文化的層面上都具有重要意義。”

Permafrost in the Altai Mountains in central Asia, sea ice in Alaska and glaciers in the Rocky Mountains were studied for the research.

中亞的阿爾泰山凍土，阿拉斯加的海冰遺蹟，落基山山脈冰川等衆多地域均列於此項研究之中。

Scientists found that coastal erosion caused by retreating sea ice is damaging remains in an Inuit village in Alaska, including a fourth-century coastal cemetery.

科學家們還發現，受到侵蝕的海岸線已經威脅到了生活在阿拉斯加的因紐特人村莊，其中還有年久的沿海墓地遺蹟。

Melting glaciers in the Rocky Mountains were also found to be posing a threat to Native American human remains and artefacts such as hunting tools, weapons and clothing.

落基山脈冰川的融化對於當地原著民的遺骸，遺蹟例如狩獵工具本文物遺蹟造成了破壞。

The research also showed that thawing temperatures in the Altai Mountains put burial mounds at site contains the only frozen tombs in the world and is the resting place of Eurasian nomadic horsemen with links to modern-day Siberian nomads.

同時，氣溫升高還使得阿爾泰山古代遺冢的保存告急。

Katie Molyneaux, primary researcher on the study, said: 'There have been studies that climate change is a major factor affecting all of these sites.

'At the site in Alaska I was blown away by the rate of damage. The melting sea ice has meant large waves have caused the coast to retreat by metres every year.

主要研究人員凱蒂-莫里諾說：“阿拉斯加地區所遭受的破壞讓我相當震驚，海冰融化所形成的海浪對於海岸線的侵蝕相當嚴重。”

'A lot of these sites are undocumented and are only being studied as they protrude out of the ice when they are already starting to degrade.'

“不光是已經被髮掘了的遺蹟，還有很多尚未正式登記的地域也在遭受氣候變暖所帶來的危險。”