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If the permafrost was to melt,
如果是永久冻土融化
it would significantly increase the amount of methane in the atmosphere.
那将有很大量的温室气体进入大气层
That would be certain to speed up global warming,
这肯定会加速全球变暖
but by how much and with exactly what consequences,
但要了解确切的结果
no one can really say yet.
目前没人能给出答案
It all comes down to the fickle nature of the atmosphere.
这全都取决于变化无常的大气层
A change in one ingredient. Like the LeveL of methane,
一个要素的改变，比如甲烷浓度
can mean a dramatic shift in climate.
会导致气候明显变化
It has taken billions of years to create the atmosphere that we have today,
创造我们今天的大气层花费了数十亿年
and during that time
从那时起
an interdependence between life and the atmosphere has emerged.
生命和大气层建立起了一种互相依赖的关系
We're the first species ever consciously to be changing the atmosphere,
我们是首个有意识改变大气层的物种
knowingly warming it on a grand scale.
刻意使大范围变暖
For Earth, a warmer atmosphere will be nothing new,
对于地球，一个暖些的大气层并无新意
but for us humans, this is uncharted territory.
但是对于我们人类，这是一个未知的领域
Now we're in the vulnerable position of having placed ourselves
我们把自己放在了一个容易受伤害的位置
at the mercy of the most unpredictable of forces, the atmosphere.
在大自然最不可预测的力量--大气层
