Water vapour rather than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the main reason why Europe's climate is warming, according to a new study.
一項新研究顯示，歐洲氣候暖化主因在於大氣中的水氣而非二氧化碳。
The scientists say that rising temperatures caused by greenhouse gases are increasing humidity, which in turn amplifies the temperature rise.
科學家稱，溫室效應氣體引起的增溫使得濕度提高，後者則進一步強化溫度上升。
This is potentially a positive feedback mechanism which could increase the impact of greenhouse gases such as CO2. The research is published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
這有可能成為正面回饋機制，使得二氧化碳等溫室效應氣體的影響力加大。此研究發表於《地球物理研究通訊》期刊上。
The scientists involved have used research networks and weather stations across Europe to measure temperature, humidity and longwave radiation, which plays a key role in the greenhouse effect.
參與研究的科學家利用全歐研究網路和氣候站，測得溫度、濕度，以及在溫室效應中扮演關鍵要角的長波輻射。
"We observed that between 1995 and 2002, the amount of longwave radiation coming downwards to the Earth in Europe increased significantly, whereas solar radiation did not," said study leader Rolf Philipona, from the World Radiation Center in Davos, Switzerland. BBC
「我們觀察到歐洲於1995至2002年間，射向地球的長波輻射遽增，但太陽輻射則否」，這項研究的主導人、瑞士達沃斯全球輻射中心的羅夫?菲力波那表示。 英國廣播公司
amplify：擴大、增強。
mechanism：機制。
蔡佳慧譯
