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Australia's third hottest year ever was in 2017 with NSW and Queensland smashing all-time records

2017是澳大利亚史上第三热的一年， 新州和昆州的全年温度打破记录

Australia had its third hottest year on record in 2017, with Queensland and New South Wales experiencing their warmest in history.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the trend of warmer than average temperatures across the country continued last year. 

2018刚过了两个礼拜，你不知道的是，2017是历史上澳洲第三热的一年。根据气象局表示，去年全澳的平均气温持续高于往年。

'Despite the lack of an El Nino - which is normally associated with our hottest years - 2017 was still characterised by very warm temperatures,' head of climate monitoring Dr Karl Braganza said.  

气候检测主管Karl Braganza表示，尽管没有厄尔尼诺现象，但2017年气候普遍变暖的现象还是非常明显。

The national mean temperature of 22.76C - or 0.95C above the long-term average - was the third highest since records began in 1910. 

Both day and night-time temperatures were warmer than average, with the maximum for the year the second highest on record.

Prolonged high sea surface temperatures led to the first instance of back-to-back years of mass coral bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef.

去年澳州的平均气温是22.76度，比以往高出0.95度，是自1910年以来第三高的一年。日夜的气温都高于平均水平，长时间的海面高温更引致有史以来第一次的大堡礁大规模珊瑚褪色事件。

Dr Braganza said dry and cloud-free conditions across much of southeast Australia during June and July led to warm, sunny days and very chilly nights.

After a wet start to 2017, the middle of the year was notably dry 

Braganza说，6月和7月期间，澳大利亚东南部大部分地区干燥无云导致气候炎热，白天阳光灿烂，夜晚则较为寒冷。2017年刚开始的时候比较潮湿，年中的时候变得干燥。

He said there has been a gradual decline of about 10-20 per cent in rainfall during the cooler months of the year.

'Australia has been looking at an increased frequency of heatwaves and other extremes that have been positively associated with climate change,' he said.

他继续指出，雨量在全年中较冷的月份减少了10-20%， 澳大利亚会一直研究热浪和其他极端天气事和气候变化的关系。”

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Extreme heat drives up vegetable prices

极端高温天气导致蔬菜水果价格飙升

Capsicum and cauliflower supplies have wilted in the aftermath of extreme heat, pushing up prices at the checkout.

Shoppers are being charged as much as $10 a kilo for red capsicum and $6 per cauliflower.

Avocado lovers are also getting smashed with prices as high as $6 each at some greengrocers as the Hass variety season winds down. Costs should soon ease as more “green-skin” Shepard avocados hit shelves.

受高温天气影响，辣椒和花椰菜的供应大为减少，导致价格的飙升。红辣椒的售价高达$10/公斤；花椰菜售价$6/公斤

牛油果的爱好者也收到噩耗，价格甚至高达$6/个。不过随着更多“green-skin”牛油果的推出，其价格预期会下降。

Woolworths head of produce Paul Turner said that due to recent poor weather conditions in Queensland and extreme heat in South Australia, “we are currently seeing an impact on supply of capsicums which has caused a cost increase in the market”.

“Similarly, cauliflowers and iceberg lettuce are in limited supply due to the after effects of the extreme heat recently experienced in our growing regions.” The situation was expected to improve in coming weeks.

Woolworths产品负责人Paul Turner说，由于昆州近期的恶劣天气 和南澳地区的高温，辣椒供应严重受挫，导致市场价钱的上升。

他再补充， 种植区域经历的极端高温引致情况更加严重。但好消息是，预计在未来几周内，情况将会有所改善。

On the flip side, in-season stone fruit including peaches, plums, nectarines and cherries are bountiful.

Woolworths’ website last week advertised red capsicum at $8.90-$9.90kg and cauliflowers at $5.90 each.

Coles online had red capsicum at $8.90-$9.50kg, and cauliflowers for $6. Iceberg lettuce prices appeared stable. They ranged from $1.80 on special, to $2.90.

另一方面，季节性水果比如桃子和樱桃等供应量充足。上周，Woolworths官网上红辣椒的售价为$8.90-$9.90/公斤，花椰菜售价则是$5.90/公斤；而Coles的红辣椒售价为$8.90- $9.50/公斤，花椰菜是$6/公斤。生菜价格相对来说稳定，售价从$1.80-$2.90不等。

Luke Bartlett, store manager at Toscano’s in Richmond, said cauliflowers were “very hard to come by”. While winter was the peak season and therefore cheapest, at $6 the current cost was above average.

“Last weekend was the first time in recent memory that we completely ran out,” Mr Bartlett said.

Richmond的Toscano经理Luke Bartlett指出，现在的花椰菜供不应求，比起冬天时的便宜价格，目前的售价为$6/公斤，高于平均水平。

而红辣椒的售价为$6.99-$7.99/公斤，相较于平均水平依然“偏高”。

Tony Mecca, from Mecca Brothers in North Fitzroy, said hot weather stalled cauliflower growth, so consumers may notice that they are smaller. It had also impacted broccoli supply.

Mecca Brothers 的发言人 Tony Mecca， 花椰菜的成长因高温而停滞，所以现在市面上的花椰菜都比较小。另一方面，西兰花的供应也受到影响。

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Sydney train meltdown an 'act of God', no refunds for commuters, NSW Transport Minister says

新州交通部长称悉尼火车事故是“上帝的行为”，顾客不会得到补偿

Tuesday's Sydney train meltdown has been described as "an act of God" by New South Wales Transport Minister Andrew Constance, who says furious commuters will not get a refund.

周二的悉尼火车事故被新南威尔士州交通部长Andrew Constance 描述为“上帝的行为”，并称愤怒的乘客不会得到退款。

Sweaty commuters in the Harbour City have vented their frustration about the issue on social media, complaining of widespread delays and overcrowded carriages.

Travellers were also turned away from certain platforms at Central and Wynyard due to significant overcrowding.

通勤者们在社交媒体上发泄他们对这个问题的不满，抱怨大范围火车延误和拥挤的车厢。

由于过度拥挤，游客们也在Central火车站和Wynyard火车站的某些平台上被拒之门外。

So far, a combination of a higher-than-expected number of drivers on sick leave, wild weather and an increase in patronage have been blamed for the delays.

到目前为止，处于病假的司机数量高于预期、恶劣天气以及乘客数量的增加，这些是造成延误的原因。

The NSW Government last month overhauled the timetable, adding an extra 1,500 services per week. However, Mr Constance said a busier network was not the reason behind the delays.

新南威尔士州政府上个月彻底改动了火车时间表，每周增加1500趟车次。不过，Constance表示，更加繁忙的火车网路并不是延误的原因。

Mr Constance said Sydney Trains normally catered for about 40 drivers being off sick.

On Tuesday, Sydney Trains estimated between 65 and 70 train drivers were off due to illness, however the Transport Minister said he did not want to comment on that issue.

Constance表示，悉尼的火车一般都有40名司机因病请假。周二，估计有65至70名列车司机因病请假，但交通部长表示，他不愿就此问题发表评论。

Mr Constance said more than 200 train drivers had been employed since 2016, and 18 new drivers would start work in February.

However, Sydney Trains and the NSW Government appears to be at odds with their drivers over staffing numbers.

One driver, who did not want to be named, described staff shortages as "severe" and claimed there were now no emergency staff available to cover people who were sick.

They described the NSW Government as being "solely responsible" for the “chaos".

Constance称自2016年起其雇佣了超过200名火车司机，自2月开始有18名新的火车司机开始工作。

然而，悉尼列车和新南威尔士州政府似乎与他们的司机在员工数量上存在分歧。

一名不愿透露姓名的司机称，员工短缺情况“严重”，并声称目前没有急救人员来照顾生病的医生。他们称新南威尔士州政府对“混乱”负有“全权责任”。