原文视听

These vast floods accelerate the breakup.
这些洪流加速了浮冰解体
Soon, an area of sea ice the size of Australia
不久之后 相当于澳洲这么大区域的海冰
will vanish from the Arctic Ocean.
便从北冰洋消失不见
The spring melt breaks the ice for visitors.
春季冰雪消融 为到访者打破了坚冰
Narwhals.
那就是独角鲸
The unicorns of the North are on a mission
这些北极的独角兽正在执行一项任务
to reach the new fishing grounds in
即到达处于海湾的新渔场
the bays that have been frozen up all winter,
这些海湾已封冻了一整个冬天
but are now opening up.
而现在刚开始解冻
To get to them, the narwhals must travel down leads,
独角鲸必须沿着冰上通道
temporary cracks in the ice.
即冰上暂时性的裂缝前行
But these new roads could close at any time,
但这些新的通道随时可能关闭
cutting off the air that they need to breathe.
并隔绝它们所需的空气
The road narrows,
这些通道不断变窄
until there's barely room for one-way traffic.
最后连单向通行都很勉强
Then, a surprise.
接着 出乎意料的是
Narwhals coming from the other direction.
它们遇到了从另一个方向过来的独角鲸
It's a stand-off.
狭路相逢
Each team faces an armoury of sharp tusks.
双方都以尖锐的长角相向

重点解释

the bays that have been frozen up all winter,这些海湾已封冻了一整个冬天

froze up:冻结

The cooking utensil were frozen up in the ice.

炊具都给冻在冰里了。

The water pipe froze up.

这水管冻结了。

but are now opening up.而现在刚开始解冻

open up:打开, 开发, 展现, 开始, 揭露, 开放

After a few drinks he began to open up a bit.

他喝了几杯酒话就多起来了。

The book will open up to readers new vistas on economic thinking.

这本书将为读者展现经济思想的新远景。

cutting off the air that they need to breathe.隔绝它们所需的空气

cut off:切断, 使隔绝

He was cut off from his fellows.

他和同伴失去联系。

The heavy wind cut off the wire.

大风刮断了电线。