这个网络非常复杂
was graphically illustrated by a chance accident.
一次神奇的事故形象地说明了这一点
In 1992, a freighter hit a storm in the middle of thePacific Ocean.
1992年1月10日，一艘货轮在太平洋中间遭遇了一场暴风雨的袭击Containers of plasticbath toys were swept overboard.
装着塑料玩具的集装箱掉进了海里
29,000 plastic toys were now adrift in the ocean.
现在有29000多个塑料鸭子正在太平洋里游荡
The moment they hit the water,
它们掉进水里的那一刻
the toys joined a series of powerful ocean currents
塑料鸭子就被卷入了一系列强大的海洋洋流
which scattered them in different directions.
将它们分散到不同的方向
Since then, they've travelled over 17,000 miles,
从那时开始它们游荡了超过17000英里
and washed up in places as far afield as Hawaii and Alaska.
在遥远的夏威夷登陆了 甚至阿拉斯加
They even crossed the frozen Arctic, to the Atlantic,
他们甚至越过冰冻的北极进入了大西洋
where they came ashore on the coast of Scotland.
在苏格兰海岸登陆
The ducks' epicjourney vividly reveals the complex system of currents
你知道，这些坚强的小塑料鸭子 生动地揭示了复杂的洋流系统
that connect all the oceans together.
连接了所有的海洋
These currents are vital to life.
洋流对于地球上的生命来说至关重要
They carry nutrients and oxygen around the world's oceans.
它们可以带来滋养生命的养分和氧气
