TIDE LEVELS & DATUMS

INTRODUCTORY HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING

SUG250

Lecture By :
PN. NAZIRAH MD. TARMIZI
TIDAL LEVELS and DATUMS
INTRODUCTION

This slides is intended to provide sufficient knowledge to

understand the principles of tidal datums and the theory to
establish a datum by all the recognised methods.
When conducting a survey, the surveyor needs to measure
heights and depths above or below certain fixed levels,
which are referred to as datums.
The datum to which depths are to be reduced is
fundamental to any survey and will contain details of how
this is to be established.
Before understanding datums we must first consider the
tidal levels in use.
 Tidal measurements are required to support the following:
 Shipping Movements. Real time observations are required in
ports to show how much water is available for berthing vessels.
 Tide Tables. Predicted tides are contained in tide tables. The
predictions are based upon the analysis of previous tides.
 Definition of the Coastline. In surveying and mapping the legal
definition of the coastline is related to particular tidal datums.
These can only be deduced from measurements of the tide.
 Mean Sea Level. The determination of mean sea level is
important to detect long term changes in climate and weather
patterns, (ice cap melting, etc.).
 Hydrography. The height of tide must be known and accounted
for charted heights and depths.
 Flood and Storm Warnings. To estimate storm surge and
flooding risks both in the long and short term. The knowledge
of the frequency of abnormal levels and the incidence of storm
surges is essential. This enables harbour works and coastal
protection to be properly designed.
DEFINITIONS OF DATUMS

Mean Sea Level (MSL)

MSL is the natural reference level of the geoid, and is
defined as the average level taken up by the sea over a
long period (18.6 years if possible).
In practice it is obtained from the mean of all tide readings
or MSL is the average level taken up by the sea.
It coincides very nearly with the geoid.
The accuracy MSL depend on a long period of tidal
observation.
The best result can be obtained with 18.6 years
observations
MSL is the best vertical reference level we have, and as
such is the BASIC REFERENCE LEVEL for tides.
Observed MSL is subject to change due to:
 Polar melting or glacial activities.
 Meteorological effects (rain, wind, pressure)
 Short period effects: sea, swell, surges etc.
 Tectonics (Crustal changes).
 Astronomical effects. (Changes in MSL due to the combined
effects likes seasonal meteorological variations)

MSL can only be determined by observation as follows:

 Mean of all tide readings over a long period (30 days to 18.6
years)
 Multiple of 25 hourly observations (preferably 3 days - 75 hours).
 Mean of 25 hourly observations (poorer value).
Mean Tide Level (MTL)
This must never be confused with Mean Sea Level.
Mean Tide Level is defined as the mean of all HWs and
LWs over a period of time.
It is not (at present) possible to convert simply from MSL to
MTL (or vice versa ) at any point.
MTL and MSL will only coincide when the tidal curve is a
perfect sine curve - and this rarely occurs.
Mean High Water Spring (MHWS)
The average, throughout a year when the average
maximum declination of the moon is 23.5o, of the high two
successive high waters during those periods of 24 hours,
when the range of the tide is greatest.

Mean Low Water Spring (MLWS)

The average height obtained by the two successive
low water during the same periods
Mean High Water Neaps (MHWN)
The average, throughout a year as defined in M.H.W.S., of
the heights of two successive high waters during these
periods when the range of the tide is least.
Mean Low Water Neaps (MLWN)
The average height obtain from the two successive low
waters during the same periods.
Mean Higher High Water (MHHW)
 The mean of the higher of the two daily high waters
experienced over a periods.
 For the area have a mainly diurnal tide.

Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW)

 For the area have a mainly diurnal tide also.
 The mean of the lower of the two daily low waters
experienced over a periods of time.
Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT)
By definition, LAT is the lowest level that can be predicted to
occur under average meteorological conditions and under any
combination of astronomical conditions.
There is no simple formula or rule available to calculate LAT
from observations or tidal constituents.
It can only be obtained properly by studying tidal predictions
covering several years (18.6 years ideally), as the level of LAT
will not be reached every year.
Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT)
 HAT is the highest level which can be predicted to occur
under average meteorology condition and under any
combination of astronomical conditions.
 The mean of the higher of the two daily high waters
experienced over a periods.
 For the area have a mainly diurnal tide.
Sounding Datum (SD)
This is the datum plane to which soundings are reduced in the
course of a hydrographic survey and is therefore the datum
used when compiling the Fair Chart or Final Tracing.
It is the datum which the field surveyor will ESTABLISH and
ADOPT.
Ideally Sounding Datum should be the same as Chart Datum,
but may well differ particularly when the original survey is very
old.
There are several methods of obtaining sounding datum. One of
these methods is to be used when establishing datum:
 Recover a previously established Sounding or Chart
Datum in the survey area by levelling from benchmarks.
 Transfer datum from a place close to the survey area where
CD or SD is already established, by taking simultaneous
tidal observations over a period.
 Establish a new datum from observations.
SELECTION OF SOUNDING DATUM
The following considerations should be borne in mind when selecting a
sounding datum:

•The datum should be low enough for the navigator/mariner to be

confident that, under normal weather conditions, there is always at
least as much water as is shown on the chart.

•The datum should not be so low that it gives an unrepresentative

idea of the least depth of water likely to be found.

•A change in datum must be made within an area whenever the

nature and range of the tide alter appreciably, eg. range changes by
>0.5m. If the tide falls to datum at one place, it should also fall to
datum at all other places in the survey area, and soundings will
therefore agree.

•The datum should agree with the established level of Chart Datum if
possible, but this should not delay the start of the survey. If necessary
the chosen datum can be amended in light of a long period of
observation and analysis.
•The datum should be in harmony with the datums of adjacent
surveys

•Beware of TIME DIFFERENCES. Although the range (and

datum) may be the same over the entire area, the TIMES of HW
and LW may differ from place to place. With a 6m tidal range, a
10 minute time error COULD cause a 0.5m reduction error at
half-tide. The remedy is to erect extra tide poles in successive
sub-areas to measure the time differences, or to use a co-tidal
chart.

•Care must be taken not to establish datum by erecting a

pole/gauge where the water becomes impounded at LW.
Impounding can be detected from the plotted tidal curve where
there is an apparent ‘stand’ at LW. It may only be apparent at
springs. To confirm suspicions set up another pole further to
seaward and compare the ranges and general shape of the
curves at the two poles.
METHODS OF OBTAINING SOUNDING DATUM
There are several methods of obtaining sounding datum.
One of these methods is to be used when establishing
datum:

• Recover a previously established Sounding or

Chart Datum in the survey area by levelling from
benchmarks.

• Transfer datum from a place close to the survey

area where CD or SD is already established, by
taking simultaneous tidal observations over a period.

• Establish a new datum from observations.

Chart Datum (CD)
This is the datum plane that is adopted by the national authority
for its published chart and tidal predictions.
The datum only is used around of tidal observation.
Its difference at each locations.
Depend on the range of tidal or water level.
It will only be the same as the Sounding Datum when the
Hydrographic Office has analysed the survey data and
confirmed the suitability of field surveyor’s choice. The surveyor
CANNOT establish Chart Datum in the field.
Chart Datum is defined by the International Hydrographic
Bureau (IHB) as a level below which the tide will but seldom
fall.
In non-tidal waters, CD is normally established at MSL.
Because LAT is so difficult to define precisely, chart datum for
Admiralty and Australian charts has been more broadly defined
as the level below which no predicted tide shall fall by
more than 0.lm.
Land Survey Datum (LSD)

 For the engineering project

 Usually use the vertical datum from established BM
 LSD is differing than MSL because reduced level from
established BM is refer MSL at Port Kelang.
 Reduced sounding refer to LSD can merge with land
details refer to vertical datum from established BM.
 MSL is difference at each location.
 Charted
Height

Benchmark

Highest Astronomical Tide HAT

Mean High Water Springs MHWS

Mean High Water Neaps MHWN

Levelled Height Mean Sea Level MSL

Difference Mean Tide Level MTL

Tidal
Heights Mean Low Water Neaps MLWN

Mean Low Water Springs MLWS

CHART DATUM CD
Lowest Astronomical Tide LAT
Charted Depths

Tide Levels and Datums

 Reduced Depth Refer to Chart Datum (CD)

Tide Gauge

Water level

LSD
Tide refer
to CD - Y Observed
depth - X

Chart datum (CD) LAT

Reduced
depth - Z

Reduced Depth = Observed Depth – Tide Refer to CD

 Reduced Depth Refer to Land Survey Datum

Tide Gauge

Water level
Tide refer
to LSD- Y LSD

Observed
Reduced depth - X
depth - Z
Chart datum (CD)

Reduced Depth = Observed Depth – Tide Refer to LSD

 BM
TBM
Tide Pole

Transferring Reduced Level from BM to on top of tide pole

Water level

TBM

Top-Pipe
Height of
Sensor
Tide reading

Sensor tide gauge

Seabed

Installation of digital tide gauge