Antarctica’s Ice Shelves Get a Bounce from Ephemeral Lakes

Question 1

ephemeral

Answer 1

1. lasting for only a short time (adj.)

ephemeral truth
Antarctica’s Ice Shelves Get a Bounce from Ephemeral Lakes.
syn: transient,brief,temporary
transient guests, transient laborers, transient authority
atn: lasting, enduring, persisting
2. Having a short lifespan or a short annual period of aboveground growth. Used especially of plants. (adj.)

Question 2

backstop

Answer 2

a screen or fence to prevent balls leaving the playing area

GPS measurements reveal the flexing movement of one of the ice shelves that act as key backstops to sea level rise.

Question 3

culprit

Answer 3

1. One charged with an offense or crime.
   syn: offender, criminal, villain, sinner
2. the causes of a problem or bad situation
   Scientists have investigated a couple of possible culprits for shelf destabilization.

Question 4

exert

Answer 4

to use (influence, authority, etc) forcefully or effectively
exert press on
exert oneself (make an effort)

Question 5

fracture

Answer 5

1. a slight crack or break in something, such as a bone. (v.\n.)
   Computer models and laboratory simulations have shown stress from up to a couple million tons of meltwater can cause ice shelves to bend and potentially fracture.
2. Something such as an organization or society splits into several parts or stops existing (v.)
   syn: split, separate
   fractured culture

Question 6

snowmobile

Answer 6

A snowmobile is a small vehicle built to move across snow and ice.

Question 7

dub

Answer 7

1. name, call, nickname
   They also placed water pressure sensors near some of the GPS stations to measure water levels in the lakes, which were dubbed Peanut, Ring, Rift Tip and Wrong Trousers.
2. add a new soundtrack with actors giving a translation.
   It was dubbed into Spanish for Mexican audiences.
   a badly dubbed foreign film

Question 8

deflect

Answer 8

1. turn away, bend
   Banwell and her colleagues found that the ice underneath the lakes deflected downward as they filled with water during the summer melt season.
2. prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening.
   syn: forfend, avoid
3. distract
   He deflected his competitors.