Scientists agree that the key player in this scenario is the West Antarctic ice sheet, a Brazil-size mass of frozen water that is as much as 7000 feet thick.

科学家们一致认为，这一情境中的关键推手是南极西部的冰层，这是一块跟巴西（面积）差不多大小的冰原，厚达7000英尺。

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Part of this change is down to the albedo effect, with white, reflective ice replaced by dark water, which absorbs more of the sun's heat.

这种变化趋势的发生部分是因为黑色的水与白色的冰相比，反射效应低，从而吸收了更多来自太阳的热量。

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"We now know that there is relatively warm water beneath this floating ice," observed Dr Dutrieux, "so this warm water could have been able to melt the base of the ice shelf."

“我们现在知道，这块浮冰下面水温相对较高，”杜特·里奥博士观察评论说，“所以这些温暖海水可能会融化冰架的底部。”

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I've been teaching long enough to know that doing derivations in class is equivalent to pouring ice water on the proceedings, so I do this sparingly.

我已经教了这么长时间书,所以我知道在课堂上讲推导,就好像泼冰水一样，所以我在讲这个的时候很小心。

麻省理工公开课 - 固态化学导论课程节选

But the scientists say this is unlikely to happen for several decades because much of the water is likely to percolate down the ice sheet and refreeze.

BBC: West Antarctic Ice Sheet warming twice earlier estimate

This fresh water is ultimately derived from enhanced melting at the base of the Antarctic ice shelves.

BBC: Melt may explain Antarctica's sea ice expansion

This warming is causing glaciers and ice shelves to melt, releasing large volumes of fresh water into the oceans which not only raises sea level, but also influences regional climate change.

BBC: Polar expedition to study Antarctica's climate history