Calibration or check data

 

These are water height measurements made simultaneously by the tide gauge and by another device considered as a standard, often a hand probe (sonic or luminous).

These check or calibration measurements are generally taken around the times of high and low water

When these measurements are made during a full tidal cycle (12 hrs 25), they enable a Van de Casteele diagramto be constructed. The form of this diagram is very instructive; it makes it possible to assess the tide gauge's performances and to identify operating faults. This type of check is recommended by the IOC/UNESCO. Research work conducted recently by the SHOM/GRGS team and the Université de la Rochelle have led to this type of complete check being generalized for modern tide gauges.

Reference

• Martin Miguez B., L. Testut, G. Wöppelmann (2008). The van de Casteele test revisited : an efficient approach to tide gauge error characterization. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technologies, 25(7), pp. 1238–1244.

 

Last update of the page : 20/08/2012