MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Tsunami tidal effect recorded in Brazil

The effects of the sea bed earthquake and following tsunami that devastated southeastern Asian countries and the east African coast were recorded in Brazilian coasts according to Brazilian scientists.

The detection equipment in Rio do Janeiro's coast, --15,500 kilometers from the epicenter--, signaled abnormal rise and intervals in local tides, said oceanographer Rogerio Neder Candella from the Almirante Paulo Moreira Oceanic Studies Institute, and this can be attributed to the Indian Ocean connection with the South Atlantic.

"Even when the effect was very light, oscillations at sea level occurred similar to tides but at shorter intervals. This was imperceptible in the beaches", said Mr. Neder Candella who immediately added that "at no moment was there any danger for people or coastal buildings".

"This happened as waves extended from the Indian Ocean to the South Atlantic, which is a weaker link than that of the South Atlantic with the Pacific ocean", explained Mr. Neder Candella.

Actually the tsunami after effects had no negative impact in Brazil's long coastline but it was an "extraordinary" phenomenon that was detected at least in three states, Rio Grande do Norte, Bahia and Rio do Janeiro.

"Rio received waves similar to those of a tide but in intervals of forty minutes. The actual variation reached 30 centimeters compared to the normal forecasted tidal influx and recess. We haven't seen a similar perturbation since we began monitoring ocean levels", indicated Brazilian Navy Commander Marcelo Cavalcante.

However oceanographer Neder Candell insisted that the tidal variations, which undoubtedly impressed experts, must not be a matter of concern.

"The chances of a disaster as that experienced in southeast Asia, fortunately, are virtually zero", he underlined.