Water Level Data 



Collection 



63. The water level information was obtained from an NOS tide gage, 

 which produced a digital paper tape of instantaneous water levels sampled 

 continuously at 6-minute intervals. At the end of each month, the paper tape 

 was removed from the recorder and mailed to NOS in Rockville, Maryland, for 

 analysis . 



Analysis 



64. The digital paper tape records of tide heights taken every 6' min- 

 utes were analyzed by the Tides Analysis Branch of NOS. A Mitron interpreter 

 created a digital magnetic computer tape from the punch paper tape. This tape 

 was then processed on a Univac 732 computer. First a listing of the instanta- 

 neous tidal height values was obtained for manual checking. If errors were 

 encountered, a computer program was used to fill in or recreate bad or missing 

 data, using correct values from the nearest tide station and accounting for 

 known time lags and elevation anomalies. The data were plotted and a new 

 listing was generated and rechecked. ^lien the validity of the data had been 

 confirmed, monthly tabulations of daily highs and lows, hourly heights (in- 

 stantaneous height selected on the hour), and various extreme and/or mean 

 water level statistics were generated. The mean sea level (msl) reported is 

 the average of the hourly heights throughout the month, while the mean tide 

 level (mtl) is midway between mean high water (mhw) and mean low water (mlw) . 



Weather and Visual Observations 



Meteorological data collection 



65. Each instrument used for monitoring the meteorological conditions 

 at the FRF was read and inspected daily. For those instruments with analog 

 chart recording capabilities, (a) the pen was zeroed (where applicable), 



(b) the chart time checked and corrected, if necessary, (c) a daily reading 

 marked on the chart for reference, (d) the starting and ending chart times 

 recorded, as necessary, and (e) new charts installed when needed. Sample 

 chart records for the microbarograph (atmospheric pressure), rain gage, and 

 pyranograph (solar radiation) are presented in Figure 5. The daily reading 

 was recorded for all instruments except the pyranograph. Concurrent with the 



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