Page 170 - Fundamentals of Ocean Renewable Energy Generating Electricity From The Sea

In Situ and Remote Methods for Resource Characterization Chapter | 7 159

FIG. 7.1 The 44 stations that comprise the UK tide gauge network.

Tidal Poles
The simplest way to measure tidal elevation is to mount a graduated pole on
a pier and record the position of water level over time. In calm conditions, it
should be possible to read a pole to within 0.02 m [5], but the accuracy will
reduce in the presence of waves. Although useful datasets have been obtained
using tidal poles for short duration surveys, they are unsuitable for long-term
measurements.

Stilling-Well Gauges
A well, called a stilling-well, is connected to the sea via a small hole or narrow
pipe. Because the well is partially separated from sea, the limited connection
dampens the short-period wave oscillations, and so the water surface inside
the well remains relatively calm [5]. A float on the sea surface, inside the