Chinese meteorologists say the rise of the sea surface in the Indian Ocean resulting from global climate changes may potentially lead to deadly tsunamis similar to the one that ravaged eight southern Asian countries.
They point out that seismic waves sent from undersea earthquakes usually transmit from deep under the sea to the upper layers. And they can potentially generate tidal waves as high as large buildings when the seismic waves reach the sea surface and spread along to the coast.
They warn that higher sea surfaces almost always result in worse damages when natural disasters occur. Experts are also urging the government to set up an early warning system to closely monitor the climatic changes along China's coastal regions.
(CCTV January 4, 2005)