Search the data

Dover site history

History summary

Station name Dover
Country UK
Latitude of measuring point Prior to 1976 51° 07' 1.0" N
1977 onwards 51° 06' 51.8" N
Longitude of measuring point Prior to 1976 01° 19' 5.0" E
1977 onwards 01° 19' 21.6" E
OS grid ref. of measuring point Prior to 1976 TR 3232 4053
1977 onwards TR 3264 4026
Datum reference All data refer to Admiralty Chart Datum (ACD)
ACD = ODN -3.67m
Time reference GMT (hours 00-23)
Contributor Environment Agency Anglian Regional Office,
Kingfisher House,
Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay,
Peterborough,
Cambridgeshire, PE2 5ZR
Instrument type 1894 - Cary Porter gauge in use.
1959 - Type No 1 Lege Gauge installed.
1965 - Munro gauge installed.
1976 - Building being demolished due to site refurbishment.
1978 - Munro gauge installed in new building.
1986 - Well head unit installed.
1986 - DATARING installed using the Munro and Well head unit.
1996 - Well head unit removed from service.
1996 - Temporary full tide bubbler installed prior to site refurbishment.
1997 - Munro gauge removed from service.
1997 - Two full tide and a mid tide bubbler system installed.
Site of measuring point The measuring points are mounted on a stilling well on the Prince of Wales Pier, Weston Dock.
Position of tide gauge building TR 3264 4026 - GRP Building, south side of the Prince of Wales Pier
Observational period (1894) 1924 - 2026

Benchmark descriptions

Benchmark OS grid ref. Description Height above ODN (m)
TGBM TR 3193 4074 Flush Bracket G4868, Building E side of works entrance 6.821
Aux1 TR 3195 4095 No 29 Waterloo Cresent SW face, S angle 6.666
Aux2 TR 3228 4053 Rivet pier wall NE side of pier F junction 8.523
Aux3 TR 3265 4026 Rivet steps NE side P of W pier 1.0M SE, W angle 6.303

ODN = Ordnance Datum Newlyn

Parameters

PLEASE NOTE: All parameters listed below are sea level measured in metres. Different parameter codes represent different gauges. For an explanation of the codes, please see the BODC parameter dictionary.

Period Parameters Completeness index (%) Sample interval
1924 ASLVZZ01 84 60 minutes
1926 ASLVZZ01 97 60 minutes
1928 ASLVZZ01 21 60 minutes
1930 ASLVZZ01 8 60 minutes
1934 ASLVZZ01 73 60 minutes
1935 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1936 ASLVZZ01 25 60 minutes
1938 ASLVZZ01 74 60 minutes
1958 ASLVZZ01 96 60 minutes
1959 ASLVZZ01 96 60 minutes
1960 ASLVZZ01 99 60 minutes
1961 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1962 ASLVZZ01 96 60 minutes
1963 ASLVZZ01 61 60 minutes
1964 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1965 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1966 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1967 ASLVZZ01 83 60 minutes
1968 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1969 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1970 ASLVZZ01 95 60 minutes
1971 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1972 ASLVZZ01 99 60 minutes
1973 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1974 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1975 ASLVZZ01 99 60 minutes
1976 ASLVZZ01 56 60 minutes
1977 ASLVZZ01 71 60 minutes
1978 ASLVZZ01 45 60 minutes
1979 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1980 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1981 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1982 ASLVZZ01 98 60 minutes
1983 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1984 ASLVZZ01 100 60 minutes
1985 ASLVZZ01 73 60 minutes
1986

ASLVZZ01

ASLVZZ02

19 (January to March)

80 (March to December)

60 minutes
1987 ASLVZZ02 99 60 minutes
1988 ASLVZZ02 80 60 minutes
1989 ASLVZZ02 96 60 minutes
1990 ASLVZZ02 95 60 minutes
1991 ASLVZZ02 100 60 minutes
1992 ASLVZZ02 100 60 minutes
1993 ASLVZZ02 100 15 minutes
1994 ASLVZZ02 93 15 minutes
1995 ASLVZZ02 100 15 minutes
1996

ASLVZZ02

ASLVZZ01

94 (January to December)

5 (December)

15 minutes
1997

ASLVZZ01

ASLVBG02

39 (January to May)

57 (May to December)

15 minutes
1998 ASLVBG02 81 15 minutes
1999 ASLVBG02 93 15 minutes
2000 ASLVBG02 98 15 minutes
2001 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2002 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2003 ASLVBG02 96 15 minutes
2004 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2005 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2006 ASLVBG02 96 15 minutes
2007 ASLVBG02 97 15 minutes
2008 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2009 ASLVBG02 96 15 minutes
2010 ASLVBG02 99 15 minutes
2011 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2012 ASLVBG02 94 15 minutes
2013 ASLVBG02 98 15 minutes
2014 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2015 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2016 ASLVBG02 95 15 minutes
2017 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2018 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2019 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2020 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2021 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2022 ASLVBG02 100 15 minutes
2023 ASLVBG02 99 15 minutes
2024 ASLVBG02 January - December 15 minutes
2025 ASLVBG02 January - December 15 minutes
2026 ASLVBG02 January - May 15 minutes

Quality assessment

All data have been compared with the current Harmonic Constants library, and the residuals checked. Records have been visually inspected for spikes, datum shifts and timing errors.
Where there are problems with the primary channel, data may be available from the backup channel. Please contact enquiries@bodc.ac.uk for more information.
In March 1986 the DATARING system was installed. There is a gap in the file where the gauge was changed.
In December 1996, the channel specifications were changed and the primary channel was altered from channel two (ASLVZZ02) to channel one (ASLVZZ01). There is a gap in the file where the channels were switched.
In May 1997, the backup bubbler gauge (ASLVBG02) became the primary channel, and what had been the primary gauge (ASLVZZ01) became the backup channel. There is a gap in the file where the gauge was changed.
February 2003 - File output has been altered so that all values fall on the quarter hour and gaps are filled in with null values, marked with an 'N' flag.
March 2003 - Residuals (observed minus predicted sea level values, measured in metres) now included in the file output.
On 26/01/2012 a new data logger was installed. Tests were carried out to ensure the logger was functioning correctly, resulting in some data being lost.
November 2012 - The file output has been altered to reflect the Contributor name change from Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory to National Oceanography Centre, Liverpool. Also, the Parameter code has been improved and now uses a controlled vocabulary.

Missing and suspect data have been reported on the following day numbers:-

Period Parameter Missing data Suspect data
1924 ASLVZZ01 001-006,082-090,215-236,332-356 026-036
1926 ASLVZZ01 001-003,142-149 None
1928 ASLVZZ01 077-366 None
1930 ASLVZZ01 001-334 None
1934 ASLVZZ01 001-097 349-352
1935 ASLVZZ01 None 014-024
1936 ASLVZZ01 093-366 None
1938 ASLVZZ01 001-092,218-222 None
1958 ASLVZZ01 038,069,082,095,153,155,161,201,258,263-265,316 014-018,046-053,064-069,069-072,088,095-102,139,251-258,258-262,282-294,311-316,316-320,327-333
1959 ASLVZZ01 051-066 001-003,151
1960 ASLVZZ01 366 None
1961 ASLVZZ01 None None
1962 ASLVZZ01 062-069,233-234,265-272 048
1963 ASLVZZ01 222-365 None
1964 ASLVZZ01 None None
1965 ASLVZZ01 None None
1966 ASLVZZ01 None None
1967 ASLVZZ01 015-075,145-146 None
1968 ASLVZZ01 None None
1969 ASLVZZ01 None None
1970 ASLVZZ01 028-042,332-334 None
1971 ASLVZZ01 None None
1972 ASLVZZ01 336-337 001,019-028,063-065,134-138,291-293
1973 ASLVZZ01 None None
1974 ASLVZZ01 None None
1975 ASLVZZ01 171-172 None
1976 ASLVZZ01 206-366 None
1977 ASLVZZ01 001-103,351-353 341-343
1978 ASLVZZ01 001-201 None
1979 ASLVZZ01 None None
1980 ASLVZZ01 None 021-022,079-080
1981 ASLVZZ01 None 138-139,191-192
1982 ASLVZZ01 071-072,076-078,119-120 None
1983 ASLVZZ01 None None
1984 ASLVZZ01 None None
1985 ASLVZZ01 185 233-235
1986

ASLVZZ01

ASLVZZ02

051

078-079

None

None

1987 ASLVZZ02 004-005,028-029,258-259 None
1988 ASLVZZ02 280-281,293-366 None
1989 ASLVZZ02 001-011,031,038-039,041-042,249 None
1990 ASLVZZ02 316-334 None
1991 ASLVZZ02 None None
1992 ASLVZZ02 None None
1993 ASLVZZ02 None None
1994 ASLVZZ02 305-327,347-348,354 None
1995 ASLVZZ02 None 290-365
1996

ASLVZZ02

ASLVZZ01

346

None

001-137

None

1997

ASLVZZ01

ASLVBG02

142

161,224-229,301-304,350-354,364

None

153

1998 ASLVBG02 035-040,045,077-114,119-124,132,174-180
251-254,279-289
None
1999 ASLVBG02 144-150,203-208,277-281,296-298,351-354 188-193
2000 ASLVBG02 060,130,158-161,243-244,339 None
2001 ASLVBG02 None 121-122
2002 ASLVBG02 None None
2003 ASLVBG02 134-142,168-172,245-246 070-072
2004 ASLVBG02 None None
2005 ASLVBG02 None None
2006 ASLVBG02 081-097 None
2007 ASLVBG02 017-023,199-205 None
2008 ASLVBG02 None None
2009 ASLVBG02 070,075,112,175-181,203,266,363-365 None
2010 ASLVBG02 001 335
2011 ASLVBG02 None 214,300,302-309,311-346,348-361
2012 ASLVBG02 025-031,352-366 053-058,151-157,181,183,187-352
2013 ASLVBG02 001-007 007,152-243,248-365
2014 ASLVBG02 None 001-012,014-031,060-365
2015 ASLVBG02 None 001-314,322,328,337-340,344,355-356,358-360,364
2016 ASLVBG02 244-264 002-003,022,027,029-030,032,037-041,045-046,050-053,059-062,069,074-076,087-088,097-098,100,106,120,156-171,174-178,180,182,185-190,192-202,233-234,266-267,278-281,286-287,289-290,293-304,306-334,338-339,345-347,356
2017 ASLVBG02 None 004-005,008-009,012-014,021,024,031-061,064-065,075-079
2018 ASLVBG02 None 031,038-045,146-365
2019 ASLVBG02 None 001-365
2020 ASLVBG02 None 001-366
2021 ASLVBG02 None 001-172,174-179,188-249,270-276,279-295,302-305,310,313-325,327-365
2022 ASLVBG02 None 001-032,047-053,061-109,137,145-149,151,153-169,171-318,320-321
2023 ASLVBG02 253 004,007,010-012,014,067-068,072,075,077,079-087,090,101-102,109,117,119-120,122,143,186-253,253-365
2024 ASLVBG02 None 001-185,204,207,270-272,274,279-280,283,286-290,292-316,318-366
2025 ASLVBG02 019,048-057,198 001-019,019-048,057-198,198-365
2026 ASLVBG02 029,090,096,099-101,105,111,114,134,137-138,140 001-029,029-090,090-096,096-105,105-111,111-114,114-134,134-137,138-140,140-151