I am just a member of the general public who just wants to bring some clarifications after hearing some strange things on the news. I am a postgraduate student in Sciences, and I don?t want to create any problem but it just shocked me to hear the media broadcasting information about ?tsunami? threat. I certainly show great respect for the work done by METEO in surveying the security of the public with the help of other countries.

BUT, what I find regrettable is the dimension that the term ?tsunami? has got in Mauritius since the last time. The fact that METEO has broadcast messages for prevention of any accidents is well in its place. However, there is a great misconception, misinterpretation, and misuse of the term ?tsunami? by supposedly well informed journalists and even by members who gave the interview in the TV News of 12th Sept 2007. Every single disturbance or displacement of water in the ocean is not a tsunami.

It is deplorable that any small event associated with the ocean causing even insignificant waves are termed ?tsunami? ? this is not tsunami ? and people of this country are not being well informed. I found this analogous to the term ?stress? ? Nowadays, for any ailment that you go to see a doctor, they just attribute anything to stress.

I just think that the proper definition of tsunami should be explained to the public and this can only be done by the media who unfortunately sometimes are responsible for the spread of some misconceptions.

The phenomenon called ?tsunami? (soo-NAH-mee) is a series of travelling ocean waves of extremely long length generated by disturbances associated primarily with earthquakes occurring below or near the ocean floor or in coastal areas. Underwater volcanic eruptions and landslides can also generate tsunamis. The energy generated by the earthquake is transmitted through the water. In deep oceans the energy in these seismic sea waves can travel virtually unnoticed because the wave height may be only twelve inches. In the deep ocean, their length from wave crest to wave crest may be a hundred miles or more but with a wave height of only a few feet or less. They cannot be felt aboard ships nor can they be seen from the air in the open ocean. In deep water, the waves may reach speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour.

When this energy reaches the shallow waters of coastlines, bays, or harbours, it forces the water into a giant wave. Some tsunamis may reach heights of 100 feet or more.

As the tsunami attacks the coastline, the wave energy is compressed into a much shorter distance creating destructive, life-threatening waves.

Sometimes, coastal waters are drawn out into the ocean just before the tsunami strikes. When this occurs, more shoreline may be exposed than even at the lowest tide. This major withdrawal of the sea should be taken as a warning of the tsunami waves that will follow.

I think the phenomenon of tsunami should be explained more clearly to the public.

<B>Vicky RAMKISSOON</B>