TRUTH OR LIE?
by Antonio C. Antonio
August 5, 2014
Typhoon Yolanda (or Typhoon Haiyan) is the strongest
recorded tropical cyclone (in terms of wind speed) to make landfall (Guiuan,
Eastern Samar, Philippines) in recent history.
It devastated portions of Southeast Asia most particularly the
Philippines. The typhoon battered the
City of Tacloban, Leyte where human fatality was highest… at least 8,000 people
were killed.
A month after Typhoon Yolanda, an on-line discussion was
conducted by students of environment and natural resources management of UP
Open University to intelligently assess what happen. What started as a friendly sharing of highly
technical information turned out to be a heated debate especially when it came
to the terminology used by government in warning the residents of the most-likely
areas to be affected by the typhoon. The
debate revolved around the propriety of using two related (in nature and effect)
but, at the same time, different (in origin and character) terms --- “storm
surge” and “tsunami”.
“A storm surge is a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon
of rising water commonly associated with low pressure weather systems (such as
tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones), the severity of which is
affected by the shallowness and orientation of the water body relative to storm
path, and the timing of tides. Most
casualties during tropical cyclones occur as the result of storm surges. The two main meteorological factors
contributing to a storm surge are a long fetch of winds spiralling inward
toward a storm, and a low-pressure-induces dome of water drawn up under and
trailing the storm’s center. The second
effect is responsible for destructive meteotsunamis associated with the most
intense tropical systems.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_surge)
On the other hand, “A tsunami is a
series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water,
generally an ocean or a large lake.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions (including
detonations of underwater nuclear devices), landslides, glacier “calvings”
(Meaning: Breaking off of chunks of ice at the edge of a glacier.), meteorite
impacts and other disturbances above and below water all have the potential to
generate a tsunami.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunami)
Part of the on-line group argued that the national and local
governments should have used the term “tsunami” which is a relatively popular
and understood word than “storm surge” that most are unfamiliar with... and the
unfamiliarity with the term “storm surge” caused people not to take the warning
seriously. Their argument was anchored
on the possibility of saving more lives.
The other group, however, stood strongly on moral high grounds and insisted
on telling the truth (therefore, “storm surge”) no matter what. The debate ended in a stalemate.
Allow me to throw this matter in the air or, more
appropriately, cyberspace for everyone to ponder about and guide us next time. In cases like this, what do we do?... tell
the truth or lie?
Just my little thoughts…
(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and
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