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The weather here has all the hallmarks of global weirding.

当地天气拥有全球怪象的所有特征

It may not rain as often

这里或许不常降雨

or as regularly,

雨水也不规律

which makes droughts possible.

这使干旱成为可能

But when it does rain,

但降雨来临时

it's heavier

雨量却更大

and more intense.

来势也更猛烈

One of the changes we've seen is that the average humidity

我们观察到的一个变化是全球平均湿度

of our planet has increased by 4%.

上升了百分之四

Warmer air holds more water vapour.

温暖的大气能容纳更多水蒸气

So, on average, our atmosphere is 4% more humid

因此平均来讲 大气较三四十年前

than it used to be 30 or 40 years ago.

湿度增加了4%

What does this mean for us in West Texas?

这对西德州的居民意味着什么呢

Our humidity's what, 10% probably,

这里的湿度大概是10%

so we don't feel that so much here.

因此没有感觉到太大变化

But what happens is there's more water vapour in the atmosphere.

但事实上大气中蕴含了更多水蒸气

So when storms come through,

因此当风暴过境时

there's more water for them to pick up and dump.

更多的水蒸气会进入风暴 形成降水

重点解释

Warmer air holds more water vapour.温暖的大气能容纳更多水蒸气

water vapour水蒸汽；水汽

Water vapour condenses to form clouds.

水蒸气凝结形成云。

When water changes to water vapour, we say it evaporates.

当水变成水蒸气时, 我们把这个过程叫做蒸发.

So, on average, our atmosphere is 4% more humid than it used to be 30 or 40 years ago.因此平均来讲，大气较三四十年前湿度增加了4%

on average平均

On average each report requires 1,000 hours to prepare.

准备一份报告平均需要1,000小时。

On average, American firms remain the most productive in the world. 总体来讲，美国公司在全球范围内还是产值最高。

used to（用于过去持续或经常发生的事）曾经

The Greeks used to worship several gods.

过去,希腊人崇奉好几种神。

They used to buy ten kilos of beef in one lump.

他们过去常买10公斤重的整块牛肉。