Name: _____________________
Tides & Water Level Monitoring
December 1, 2010
Go to the following website. Use it to answer the following questions.
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_tides/tides09_monitor.html
1. List three groups of people who need to have knowledge of tides and tidal currents.
Explain why knowledge of the tides might be necessary for each group
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Read the following passages. More information can be found by investigating the Old
System and New System, links on the NOAA website. When you have finished answer
the question on the back in complete sentences.
How Tides are Measured
The Old System
The New System
“In the past, most water level measuring
systems used a recorder driven by a float in a
“stilling” well. A stilling well calms the waters
around the water level sensor. A typical stilling well
consisted of a 12- inch wide pipe. Inside the stilling
well, an 8-inch diameter float was hung by a wire
from the recording unit above. Water level data
was recorded on a continuously running pen and
ink strip chart.”
Modern water level recorders use advanced
acoustics and electronics to “send audio signals
down a half-inch-wide sounding tube and
measuring the time it takes for the reflected
signal to travel back from the water’s surface.”
The new recorders are controlled by a
Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite (GOES) that transmits data hourly to
NOAA headquarters.
Reference: "Tides and Water Levels." NOAA Ocean Service Education. 25 Mar 2008. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association,
U.S. Department of Commerce. 29 Oct 2008 <http://www.oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/welcome.html>.
2. Compare the two methods for monitoring tides and water levels. Provide at least two
advantages that the new system provides over the old system.
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