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sea level

I suppose this is v wrong - but if i am at any beach /water along the UKs coast- am i therefore at exact 0 metres sea level?(ie not any meters above or below sea level)
Is there an online Uk sea level map?

tali1 Tue 05/08/08 01:05

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dundurn
Tue 05/08/08
07:34

All sea coasts are at sea level, the clue is in the question. Actually on the beach at any particular point and time, the local sea level is determined by the state of the tide, positions of the moon and sun, prevailing wind, recent rainfall etc, etc which is why maps usually show mean (i.e. average) sea level. Marine charts will show high and low water marks, and depths at low tide. As sea levels rise or fall generally, maps will become out of date. One you come back off the beach, you may drop below sea level - parts of Holland are examples.
For an online map I'd use streetmap.co.uk - the second- highest drill level gives ordnance survey data.

emeritus
Tue 05/08/08
07:40

In addition to the last post

In the UK, mean sea level has been measured at Newlyn in Cornwall and Liverpool on Merseyside for decades, by tide gauges to provide Ordnance Datum for the zero metres height on UK maps

R1Geezer
Tue 05/08/08
10:20

As "sea level" changes all the time, what we know as sea level for surveying purposes is as stated above the mean at arbitrary points. All the sea level points on maps etc are based on these. The actual sea level is largely irrelevant.

sddsddean
Tue 05/08/08
20:52

Here is a photo to get really excited about!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/448447313_1 9abeb65a0.jpg?v=0
The red and white building beside the lighthouse houses the tide gauge at Newlyn where MSL (mean sea level) is calculated. All bench marks in the UK refer back to this little hut!

J.JJ
Wed 06/08/08
18:09

The Proudman Oceanographic Institute has the longest history of UK tidal records dating back to 1768.

It calculates tidal tables for places throughout the world and puiblishes books of tide tables.

ou may find the following link useful

http://www.pol.ac.uk/

John L

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