Unit II

Texts:

• 1. Changing climate changes soil

• 2. Mighty river, mighty filter

• 3. Potatoes wild with calcium

• 4. Not your grandfather’s cotton

Active Vocabulary 1

upredictability [ˌʌnprɪˌdɪktəˈbɪlɪti] – невозможность прогнозирования;

healthy natural ecosystem [ˈhɛlθi ˈnatʃ(ə)r(ə)l iːkəʊsɪstəm] – безопасная природная экосистема;

digital techniques [dɪdʒɪt(ə)l tɛkˈniːk] – цифровые технологии

soil organic carbon [ɔːˈɡanɪk kɑːb(ə)n] – органический углерод, находящийся в почве;

global climate outcomes [ˈɡləʊb(ə)l ˈklʌɪmət ˈaʊtkʌmz] – результаты климатических изменений во всем мире;

gains in soil carbon [ɡeɪnz] – увеличение количества углерода в почве;

altered soil condition [ˈɔːltəd kənˈdɪʃən] – измененное состояние почвы;

more accurate climate change model [ˈakjʊrət ˈklʌɪmət tʃeɪn(d)ʒ ˈmɒd(ə)l] – более точная модель изменения климата;

to store carbon or release it [stɔː ɔː rɪˈliːs] – накапливать углерод или высвобождать его;

mitigation strategy [mɪtɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n ˈstratɪdʒi] – компенсационная мера;

land use regimes [lænd ˈjuːs| reɪˈʒiːm] – характер использования земель.

1. Translate the following word combinations into Russian:

Effects of climate change, in drastic and unpredictable ways, ability to support productive farms, key findings of the study, globally applicable, findings will apply, are globally applicable, will be crucial, New South Wales, southeast Australia.

2. Read the following text and say:

a) what the term “healthy natural ecosystems” means;

b) what subjects are touched upon in the text.

Text 1. Changing climate changes soil

Climate change impacts lives across the world in drastic and unpredictable ways. This unpredictability also extends to the more subtle – yet still important – effects of climate change. For example, it is uncertain how climate change will affect soils and their ability to support productive farms or healthy natural ecosystems.

In a new study, researchers used digital techniques to predict how one vital soil characteristic, soil organic carbon, may be altered by climate change.

The researchers used 12 climate change models to predict how soil organic carbon levels vary with climate change. The models used in the study reflected a full range of projected global climate outcomes. They were also applicable to the specific study region of New South Wales in southeast Australia.

The researchers discovered that the extent to which soil organic carbon changes varied across soil types, current climate, and land use regimes.

“This knowledge can help us to better understand and predict where the greatest potential losses or gains in soil carbon may occur,” says Gray.

Predicting soil organic carbon changes is vital. “It would allow us to better prepare for and adapt to altered soil conditions,” he says. “That would ultimately improve how we manage both agricultural and native ecosystems.”

While this study focused on New South Wales, Gray thinks the findings will apply to areas beyond the study site as well. “The actual map of expected soil organic carbon change is of most relevance to New South Wales,” he says. “But the key findings of the study are globally applicable.”

Understanding how climate change affects soil properties may actually yield more accurate climate change models as well. “Being able to predict the potential of soils to store carbon or release it into the atmosphere will be crucial for future climate change modelling and mitigation strategies,” says Gray.

3. Using the text above, finish the following sentences:

1) It is uncertain how…

2) The researchers discovered that…

3) The researchers used 12 climate change models to predict…

4) They were also applicable to…

5) That would ultimately improve…

6) The key findings of the study are…

7) Being able to predict the potential of soils to store carbon or release it into the atmosphere will be crucial for…

4. Answer the following questions:

1) Hoe does climate change impact lives across the world?

2) What kind of techniques do researches use to predict how soil characteristics can be changed?

3) What regions are climate change models applicable to?

4) What conclusions did the researcher come to?

5) How can understanding of climate change influence the research being conducted?

5. Write the summary of the text above.

6. Retell the text “Changing climate changes soil”.

7. Translate from Russian into English:

1) Климатические изменения оказывают неблагоприятное влияние, которое трудно предвидеть, на все жизненные процессы, происходящие в мире.

2) Исследователи разработали 12 моделей климатических изменений, которые показывают, как уровень содержания углерода в почве меняется по мере изменения климата.

3) Эти модели применимы в отдельных регионах южной части Уэльса и на юго-востоке Австралии.

4) Возможность предвидеть изменения, происходящие относительно содержания углерода в почве, имеет жизненно важное значение.

5) Понимание того, как климатические изменения воздействуют на качество почвы, может способствовать разработке более точных моделей, характеризующих климатические изменения.