A new study says up to one-half of the world's sandy beaches could disappear by 2100 because of climate change.

一项新的研究表明，由于气候变化，到2100年，世界上多达一半的沙滩可能会消失。

Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, China and the United States would be among the hardest hit, the research shows.

研究显示，澳大利亚、加拿大、智利、墨西哥、中国和美国将是受影响最严重的国家。

The study was published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

这项研究发表在《自然气候变化》杂志上。

Michalis Vousdoukas was the lead investigator.

米哈利斯·沃斯杜卡斯是首席调查员。

" Touristic areas which have sandy beaches as their main selling point will probably face strong consequences, " he said.

他说：“以沙滩为主要卖点的旅游区，可能会面对严重后果，”

Aside from economic value, beaches play an important environmental role.

除了经济价值外，沙滩还扮演着重要的环境角色。

"Sandy beaches are important habitats supporting a wide range of species.

“沙滩是多种物种的重要栖息地。

They also protect the coast from the effects of storms,

它们也保护海岸不受风暴的影响，

so without sandy beaches other inland environments can be affected by the effects of waves and saltwater intrusion," Vousdoukas added.

所以，如果没有沙滩，其他内陆环境就会受到海浪和盐水入侵的影响，” 沃斯杜卡斯补充道。

Global sea levels have increased in recent decades.

近几十年来，全球海平面一直在上升。

Major causes include melting glaciers and thermal expansion.

主要原因包括冰川融化和热膨胀。

Thermal expansion is the reaction of matter to increases in temperature. Water expands as it warms.

热膨胀是物质对温度升高的反应。水变暖时膨胀。

Researchers examined satellite images showing shoreline changes during the past thirty years.

研究人员检查了显示了过去30年海岸线变化的卫星图像。

They then used these trends in two different climate change situations.

然后，他们将这些趋势放到两种不同的气候变化情况中。

One situation predicted a small reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

有一种情况预测温室气体排放量会小幅减少。

The other situation predicted high greenhouse gas emissions.

另一种情况预测温室气体大量排放。

Greenhouse gas emissions have a link to climate change.

温室气体排放与气候变化有联系。

By 2050, the researchers projected beach losses of between 13 and 15 percent.

研究人员预测，到2050年，海滩损失将在13%到15%之间。

By 2100, the projected losses are from 35 to 49.5 percent, or 95,061 to 131,745 kilometers of beaches.

到2100年，预计损失会在35%到49.5%之间，或损失95，061到131，745公里的海滩。

Australia would lose more sandy shoreline than any other country, with 14,849 kilometers projected to be gone by 2100.

预计到2100年将减少14,849公里。

Canada is second in projected losses.

加拿大的预计损失排名第二。

The United States could lose up to 5,530 kilometers.

美国可能会损失多达5，530公里。

I'm John Russell.

约翰·拉塞尔报道。