PREFACE 



This report is published to provide engineers with a ready reference to information about 

 tidal datums and tide characteristics, and to provide information about the statistical 

 distribution of astronomical tidal heights which can be used in setting and measuring the 

 elevation of proposed engineering works or combined with similar statistics for storm surges 

 and tsunamis to estimate the probability of extreme water levels. The work was carried out 

 under the coastal engineering research program of tlie U.S. Army Coastal Engineering 

 Research Center (CERC). 



This report is one of a series of reports to be published to form a Coastal Engineering 

 Manual (CEM). 



The report was prepared by Dr. D. Lee Harris, formerly Chief, Coastal Oceanography 

 Branch, and Senior Scientist in the Research Division, now with the Coastal and Oceano- 

 graphic Engineering Department, University of Florida. The study could not have been 

 carried out without the active support of C. Thurlow and other members of the Oceanog- 

 raphy Division, National Ocean Survey (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- 

 tration (NOAA). Dr. R.M. Berry, NOS, was also extremely helpful in preparing the section 

 dealing with the International Great Lakes Datum (IGLD). Many co-op students, including 

 K. Quest, G. Grove, and L. Deskins, participated in the preparation of the graphs and tables. 

 C. Miller of CERC assisted in the computational aspects of the study; W.G. Grosskopf com- 

 pleted the computer program and made the final calculations presented in the report. R.A. 

 Jachowski, Chief, Coastal Design Criteria Branch, was the CEM project monitor for the 

 report. 



Comments on tliis publication are invited. 



Approved for publication in accordance with Public Law 166, 79^^^ Congress, approved 

 31 July 1945, as supplemented by Public Law 172, SS^/* Congress, approved 7 November 

 1963. 



^^ 



TED E. BISHOP 



Colonel, Corps of Engineers 

 Commander and Director 



