「熱穹頂」大氣高壓區
An unprecedented killer heatwave has struck Western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest.
前所未有的致命熱浪侵襲加拿大西部和美國太平洋西北地區。
unprecedented(adj.)前所未有的;史無前例的precedent(n.)先例;前例strike(v.)(strike-struck-struck)重挫;重創
In Canada, British Columbia has endured record-shattering temperatures, with the town of Lytton reaching a high of 49.6 degrees Celsius, triggering a wildfire that devastated 90 percent of the village.
在加拿大，英屬哥倫比亞省突破高溫紀錄，省內萊頓鎮的溫度高達攝氏49.6度，引發了野火，該鎮近九成區域遭到燒毀。
endure(v.)忍受;忍耐shatter a record=打破紀錄trigger(v.)引起;引發devastate(v.)摧毀;毀滅
In the American Northwest, the city of Portland, Oregon saw its highest ever temperature at 46.1 degrees Celsius.
在美國西北，俄勒岡州波特蘭市的氣溫達到攝氏46.1度，為有史以來最高溫。
In the Washington state, asphalt on a highway began to soften and crack as the temperature hit 40.5 degrees Celsius.
而在華盛頓州，當地溫度達到攝氏40.5度時，高速公路的瀝青開始變軟，甚至裂開。
crack(n.)裂縫;裂口(v.)(使)產生裂痕;(使)破裂
In fact, the typically mild areas have never experienced such extreme weather events. One cannot help but wonder what lies behind these extreme weather phenomena.
事實上，這些通常氣候溫和的地區從未經歷過如此極端的天氣事件，令人不禁好奇這些極端天氣現象背後的原因究竟是什麼。
mild(adj.)輕微的;些微的extreme(adj.)極端的cannot help but RV=忍不住;不禁做某事
While the main cause of the extreme heat was an unusual but natural condition, scientists say that human-induced climate change has contributed to the phenomenon.
雖然極端高溫的主要成因並不尋常，但這仍屬自然的氣候現象，不過科學家表示，人類引起的氣候變遷使得極端高溫現象變得更嚴重。
induce(v.)引發;誘使contribute to=造成;促成
They say the scorching temperatures in the US and Canada were caused by an atmospheric high-pressure zone known as a “heat dome.”
他們表示，美國和加拿大的高溫是由一個被稱為「熱穹頂」的大氣高壓區所致。
scorching(adj.)極熱的;灼熱的atmospheric(adj.)大氣相關的
These conditions arise when the jet stream, narrow bands of wind that circle the Earth flowing west to east, develops a large wave pattern that keeps the dome locked in place.
當高速氣流（即環繞地球從西向東流動的狹窄風帶）形成大規模氣流，使穹頂鎖定在適當位置時，就會出現「熱穹頂」。
arise(v.)發生;出現;產生jet stream=高速氣流
Now with climate change altering and weakening the jet stream, high pressure is more likely to stall in place and create a heat dome that prevents warm air from escaping.
現在隨著氣候變遷改變及削弱高速氣流，高壓更有可能一直停留在一個地區不動，形成熱穹頂，使當地的熱空氣難以散發。
alter(v.)改動;修改;(使)變化weaken(v.)弱化;削弱;使…衰弱stall(v.)擱置;拖住
As high-pressure fronts continue to push the trapped hot air back to ground inside the dome, it heats up even more, causing soil to lose moisture, creating further warming and increasing the likelihood of wildfires.
隨著高壓鋒面持續將被困在熱穹頂內的熱空氣推回地面，熱空氣會進一步升溫，導致土壤失去水分，讓天氣變得更熱，並提高野火發生的機率。
moisture(n.)濕氣;水分likelihood(n.)可能性
Much of the US west coast is bracing for yet another severe wildfire season.
美國西海岸許多地區正準備迎接另一個嚴重的野火季節。
brace for=做好準備severe(adj.)慘重的;嚴重的;劇烈的=very serious
Half of the area destroyed by wildfires in the western US in recent years had been attributed to the effects of rising temperatures caused by climate change, according to Brad Udall, a climate research scientist at Colorado State University.
科羅拉多州立大學氣候研究科學家布拉德·烏達爾表示，近年來美國西部被野火燒毀的地區有一半被歸咎於氣候變遷引起的溫度升高。
A is attributed to B=A被歸因於B