BBC | 《南太平洋》-无尽汪洋 04

Unable to sail directly east because of the prevailing winds,

受盛行风的影响不能直接向东航行

they were forced south and into the area of the South Pacific

他们被迫向南航行进入南太平洋

known then as the Desolate Region.

后被认为是荒凉的地区

A vast, uncharted, windless ocean the size of Australia.

一个巨大的、未知的、无风的海洋，和澳洲的大小

These beautiful blue waters are the clearest in the world.

这些美丽的蓝色海水是世界上最纯净的水

But they are a watery desert, clear and blue

但他们是水中沙漠，洁净湛蓝

because there is so little plankton,

浮游生物很少

the key to all marine food chains.

海洋食物链的关键

Plankton need nutrients,

浮游生物需要营养

but most nutrients are locked in the deep,

但大多数营养锁在海洋深处,

denied access to the surface by a layer of water called the thermocline,

被一层叫做温跃层水阻隔不能进入水面

around 200 metres down.

大约厚度200米

The little life that does exist at the surface seeks shelter,

小生物的确只能在表面寻求庇护

no matter how superficial it may be.

无论多么浅表的水面

In time, whole communities build on the flotsam. Barnacle larvae settle,

随着时间的推移,整个生物群体构建的漂浮物。藤壶幼虫,

along with miniature predators.

伴随着小型食肉动物

Frogfish. On just a piece of drifting rope,

襞鱼科。仅仅在一块漂浮的绳子上

tiny creatures may spend their entire lives.

微生物可能会过完他们的整个生命