How about understanding the language of the sea here at the Istanbul TUDES Mareograf İstasyonu? It is more than just a measuring station. This station is a vital part of Turkey’s marine observation network.
The Istanbul TUDES Mareograf İstasyonu is part of the Turkish National Sea Level Monitoring System TUDES. TUDES has been watching our coasts since the 1930s. Initially, the General Command of Mapping was responsible for establishing geodetic control networks. In 1935, they set up the first tide gauge in Antalya harbor to determine the vertical datum.
Later, the job of sea level monitoring shifted to the General Directorate of Meteorological Affairs. They installed several float-operated tide gauges in other locations like Karadeniz Ereğlisi, İskenderun, Trabzon, Samsun and Bodrum.
By 1983, the responsibility returned to the General Command of Mapping. They replaced the old stations with new float-operated ones. Then in the late 1990s, TUDES was established. The existing float-operated tide gauges were swapped out for acoustic tide gauges.
The Istanbul TUDES Mareograf İstasyonu is one of eleven stations in the TUDES network. These stations gather important data about sea level and weather. They measure air pressure, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and direction. Every ten seconds a sample is taken. Then every 15 minutes, the data is averaged and saved. This information is then sent to a central data center via telephone lines.
At the data center, experts transfer, check, and analyze the tide gauge data. They look for unexpected anomalies, spikes, or instrumental errors. They also check for anomalous datum shifts. International guidelines are followed for quality control.
The data from the Istanbul TUDES Mareograf İstasyonu helps scientists study global weather patterns. It also helps to monitor average sea water levels and their trends. This is especially important in relation to global warming.
The Istanbul TUDES Mareograf İstasyonu contributes to a global understanding of our changing seas. Scientists use mareographs to measure tides and determine the size of tsunamis. Measurements allow the creation of an average sea level. Using this method, slopes of the sea level of up to 0.1 m/1000 km and more can be detected. Since a tsunami can occur when the sea level begins to rise, it is also useful to consider warnings from seismic activity.
The Strait of Istanbul is a narrow passage. It connects the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea. This station helps monitor sea level changes in this vital waterway. Dams and excessive water usage have decreased water flow into the Black Sea. The Istanbul TUDES Mareograf İstasyonu is essential for accurate, complete, long-term measurements.
Modern mareograf stations use acoustic or ultrasonic sensors. They can even transmit data wirelessly via solar-powered connections. This allows real-time tide information to be shared online.
Think of the Istanbul TUDES Mareograf İstasyonu as a silent guardian. It watches the sea. It gathers data and contributes to our understanding of the marine environment. It helps us prepare for the future.