地球的力量 第4集 海洋(15):生物的進(jìn)化

These crystals form when sea water trickling downfrom above

海水從上面留下來(lái)的時(shí)候

met hot waters coming up from below,

遇到了下方的熱水形成了這些水晶

and it was in this mineral-rich mixing zone

就是在這個(gè)富含礦物質(zhì)的混合地帶

that these fingers ofgypsum grew.

長(zhǎng)出了這些像手指的硫酸鈣

And they would have stayed there submerged

如果地中海的海平面不下降

if the level of the Mediterranean Sea hadn't dropped,

露出了這片地質(zhì)精華

revealing this geological gem.

它們將永遠(yuǎn)被埋藏在地下

Sadly, I can't stay inside the geode for too long

可惜我不能在這個(gè)晶洞里呆的時(shí)間太長(zhǎng)

as the moisture from my body will soon start to dissolve the gypsum.

因?yàn)槲疑眢w的濕度會(huì)很快融化這些碳酸鈣

It's astonishing enough to think that the Mediterranean evaporated once,

認(rèn)為地中海曾經(jīng)蒸發(fā)過(guò)這個(gè)想法已經(jīng)夠令人震驚的了

but, in fact, this sea has come and gone many times in the last few million years.

但實(shí)際上這片海在過(guò)去的數(shù)億年里 曾消失出現(xiàn)過(guò)很多次

And that has had some surprising effects,

這導(dǎo)致了很多奇異的影響

not just on the geology of this area,

不僅是影響這片海洋的地質(zhì)

but also on the evolution of some of the animals that lived here.

同時(shí)還導(dǎo)致了居住在這里的生物的進(jìn)化

During one drop in sea level, elephants roamed over the old seabed.

海平面下降后大象會(huì)在原來(lái)的海床上閑逛

But when water levels rose once more,

但是水平面一旦上漲

they were forced to take refuge on higher ground,

它們就必須到高地上避難

on land that was to become the island of Sicily.

這片高低就成為了西西里島