Tapescript

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 566.

Ex. 3a

Lesson 7. A Journey to the Arctic.

Part I

Hello, my name is Dan Summerfield and I am a TV meteorologist and a member of the American Meteorological Society. I have a University education and I have worked in television since 1995. Before that I was a research meteorologist and did research in Spitsbergen ['spɪts"bə:g(ə)n] for two years. Spitsbergen has one of the longest meteorological records, covering 90 years. It means that meteorologists have been daily watching and recording weather in the Arctic for 90 years. Today I'd like to tell you about this wonderful place and to show you a little bit of the fascinating world that I love.

The Arctic Islands are characterized by a range of climates. The most extreme is the dry continental climate inside Greenland, but Spitsbergen's climate is relatively mild, with a strong maritime influence. Actually, this range of weather conditions is experienced mostly in summer. But not only weather and climate research attracted me to Spitsbergen. Midnight sun in late summer, which disappears only in late August, is somewhat really amazing and really attractive. A low evening sun beautifully shines onto the fjords, covered with fog, or makes ice-covered mountains reflect in the lake. Besides, polar nights attract me, too. They make a truly magical winter experience, when the sun stops shining and a period of darkness begins. With the moon and stars shining on the white snow you don't need any lamps while travelling by dog sled or snowmobile over the frozen landscapes. Snowstorms can happen at any time of the year in the Arctic. I'm also greatly attracted by the nature of these places. Wildlife is something absolutely fabulous here, and there is a lot to see and to enjoy.