A review of sea-level research from tide gauges during the World Ocean Circulation Experiment

This paper reviews the developments in tide gauge networks during the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) and provides an overview of the resulting contributions to the scientific aims of the programme. The 1990s saw the rapid development of the satellite radar altimetry technique (results from which have been reviewed elsewhere), which played the major role in the measurement of ocean circulation variability during WOCE. This paper describes the complementary roles of altimetric and conventional in situ methods of sea-level recording by gauges which have evolved during the programme. In addition, it highlights those areas of research in which tide gauges (or bottom pressure recorders) have played a particularly important role. A final section looks to the future age of altimetry wherein the sea level and ocean circulation community must strive to construct an efficient, unified, global tide gauge-plus-altimetry system for application to a range of scientific objectives.