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听力文本
New Zealand Records Warmest-Ever June as Ski Resorts Struggle
New Zealand finished its warmest June on record. Experts say they expect the warming trend to continue and predict the country will experience shorter winters in the future.
The average temperature in June was 10.6 degrees Celsius, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, or NIWA, reported this week. That was 2 degrees Celsius above the 30-year average for June. It is also more than 0.3 degrees Celsius higher than previous records set in 2003 and 2014. Record-keeping began in 1909.
Gregor Macara is a climate scientist at the government-run NIWA. He told The Associated Press that one reason for the record was an increase in winds coming from the warmer north, rather than the Antarctic south. In addition, ocean temperatures are unusually warm.
Macara added that while the weather might change from month to month, "the underlying trend is of increasing temperatures and overall warming."
The average temperature in New Zealand has increased by about 1 degree Celsius over the past 100 years, Macara said. If this trend continues, people can expect later and warmer winters, followed by earlier springs.
The situation is putting pressure on ski resorts a week away from when many students take their winter school holidays. Photographs from several of the larger resorts showed rocks and earth under only a little bit of snow. Some resorts have used snowmaking machines to open some runs, but many lifts remain closed.
Paul Anderson is the head of NZSki, which operates Coronet Peak, Mt. Hutt and The Remarkables ski resorts.
"We'd always like a bit more snow on the ground," he said. "But we've got some good snow arriving tomorrow, and then a cool four or five days for snowmaking."
Anderson said his company has been dealing with the changing weather by investing in more snowmaking equipment and ski lifts that can handle high winds.
"It's really clear that climate change is a reality. You can't argue with that science," Anderson said. "But it is over a very long period of time."
Some farmers are happy with the warmer weather.
Jim Galloway is with the advocacy group Federated Farmers. He told the AP this year "has been a godsend."
The warmer weather and rain has finally permitted some grass to grow, providing food for sheep and cows, he said. His area has experienced two years of drought conditions.
"It's helped a lot, but there's a long way to go," Galloway said. "There's not a lot of ground water. The dams are still empty, basically."
Galloway added that droughts are nothing new for farmers. But he worries that a warming climate is making them happen more often.
I'm Dan Novak.
重点解析
重点讲解：
1. on record 记录在案的；有记录以来的
Americans drove more miles last year than any other year on record.
美国人去年开车的里程数超过了有记录以来的任何一年的数目。
2. be happy with 对...感到满意
Are you happy with that arrangement?
你对这一安排感到满意吗？
3. climate change 气候变化
Climate change is still very much a subject for debate.
气候变化很大程度上仍是一个争论的话题。
4. a long period of time 很长一段时间
This crisis might last for a long period of time.
此次危机可能会持续很长一段时间。
参考译文
新西兰“最热6月”让滑雪场苦不堪言
新西兰结束了有记录以来最热的6月。专家表示，他们预计全球变暖的趋势还将继续，并预计未来新西兰的冬天将会更短暂。
据国家水与大气研究所(NIWA)本周报道，6月份的平均气温为10.6摄氏度。这比30年来6月的平均气温高出2摄氏度。这也比2003年和2014年创下的纪录高出了0.3摄氏度。这项记录始于1909年。
格雷戈尔·马卡拉（Gregor Macara）是政府运营的国家水与大气研究所的气候科学家。他对美联社表示，气温创纪录的原因之一是来自较温暖的北方的风有所增加，而不是来自南极南部的风。此外，还有异常温暖的海洋温度。
马卡拉补充说，虽然天气状况可能每月都在变化，但“气温上升和整体变暖已经成为潜在趋势。”
马卡拉表示，在过去的100年里，新西兰的平均气温上升了大约1摄氏度。如果这一趋势持续下去，预计冬天会来的更晚、气候也更温暖，而且春天也会来的更早。
气候变暖也给滑雪场带来了压力，因为距许多学生放寒假仅剩一周时间。从几个较大的度假胜地拍摄的照片中不难发现，只有少量积雪覆盖着岩石和泥土。一些度假胜地使用造雪机开放了一些滑雪路段，但许多缆车设备仍然关闭。
保罗·安德森(Paul Anderson)是NZSki的负责人，该公司经营着Coronet Peak、Mt. Hutt和the remarkable滑雪度假村。
他说：“我们总是希望地面被厚厚的积雪覆盖”。“不过明天就要降雪了，那么（人工）造雪就能带来四五天的凉爽天气了。”
安德森表示，他的公司一直在通过投资更多的可承受强风的造雪设备以及滑雪缆车来应对不断变化的天气状况。
“很明显，气候变化是一个现实问题。我们无法否认这一科学事实，”安德森说道。“不过这需要很长一段时间。”
一些农民却对气候变暖喜上眉梢。
吉姆·加洛韦(Jim Galloway)就职于联邦农民倡导组织。他对美联社表示，今年是“天赐良机”。
他说，温暖的天气和雨水终于为草木生长提供了条件，为牛羊提供了饲料。他所在的地区已经经历了两年的干旱。
加洛韦说：“这帮了大忙，不过未来还有很长的路要走。”“当地的地下水资源有限。大坝基本上还是干涸状态。”
加洛韦补充说，干旱对农民来说已经见怪不怪了。但他担心气候变暖会使这种情况发生得更频繁。
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