Rauschelbach, H.

English

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CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY OF THE HIGH SEA TIDE RECORDERbyD r . H . R A U S C H E L B A C H ,  o f  t h e  D e u t s c h e  S e e w a r t e , H a m b u r g .(Extract from the Annalen d.Hydr. u. M arit. Meteor., Berlin, 15th February, 1932, page 73)For recording variations of the sea level on the coast caused both by the attractive forces of the moon and the sun on the liquid masses on the earth, and by the atmos­pheric pressure and the wind on the surface of the sea, very varied types of tide-gauges have been independently devised during the last 80 or 90 years in Germany, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands and the United States of America.The registration of tides being of considerable importance, not only to science, but also to harbour and coastal works, to coastal hydrography and, above all, to navigation, as it must be the basis for tidal predictions, instruments for this purpose have been installed in gradually increasing numbers, at many points along the coast and in those parts of rivers where the tide is felt.The installation of a tide-gauge generally entails considerable expense, which does not appear justifiable unless the apparatus is likely to operate during a sufficiently long period at the same place. The use of such tide-recorders is naturally very limited on account of the fact that they are fixtures. It is only when situated on the coast or on constructions jutting out to seaward that these fixed tide-gauges can record the height of the water.For recording the variations in sea level, such as those occurring at greater distances from the coast and in the open sea, separate efforts have been made since about 1880 in Germany and France, and during the last ten years in Holland and Russia, to cons­truct a practical tide-gauge lying on the sea bottom. If these efforts have been partially unsuccessful for an extended period, it is probably owing principally to the fact that the technique is not as yet sufficiently advanced to solve the difficult problems presented. As an example, an idea of the difficulty of the problem may be gathered from the fact that, up to now, tidal records from the high seas are very rarely mentioned in biblio­graphies.Free tide-gauges are submerged from a vessel and moored on the bottom of the sea at suitable points ; therefore, they do not register the height of the water directly (as do most fixed tide-gauges), but the pressure to which the instrument, lying on the bottom, is subjected, thus constituting a kind of automatic tide-recorder enclosed in a watertight case, of which the interior or the exterior communicates directly with the water.Although such tide-gauges can be placed almost anywhere where fixed tide-gauges already exist, they are in no way intended to replace them ; their principal function is rather to obtain observations at such places where, for some reason or other, fixed tide-gauges cannot be set up, and to complete the observations obtained by these on the coast, by providing observations near the coast, some distance offshore or in the open sea.The first instrument which could be moved on the bottom of the sea —  which, however, did not give satisfactory results —  was constructed in 1879 by B e s s o n  (r) for the Hydrographic Service of the French Navy.I n  G e r m a n y , C . B ô r g e n , D ir e c to r  o f t h e  fo rm er Im p e r ia l O b s e r v a t o r y  a t  W ilh e lm s -  h a v e n , a c c o r d in g  t o  u n p u b lis h e d  p a p e rs  fo u n d  a fte r  h is  d e a th , h a d  b e e n  p e r s e v e r in g ly  e n g a g e d  sin ce  1880 in  t h e  c o n s tr u c tio n  o f a n  in s tr u m e n t fo r  re co rd in g  t id e s  in  t h e  o p en  sea, a  “ t id e  re co rd in g  m a n o m e te r ” . D u r in g  th ir te e n  y e a r s  h e  h a d  m a d e  a  w h o le  series  o f in v e s tig a tio n s  a n d  t e s t s  w it h  a n  in s tr u m e n t t o  b e  lo w e re d  t o  a n d  m o o r e d  a t  a  d e fin ite  d e p th  b e lo w  m e a n  se a  le v e l. T h e  first in s tr u m e n t w h ich  w a s  r e a lly  a b le  t o  g iv e  record s, th o u g h  y e t  n o t  q u ite  s a t is fa c t o r y  on es, w a s  t h e  F a v é  “ m a ré g ra p h e  p lo n g e u r ” (2) co n s ­tr u c te d  b y  D é m i c h e l  in  1887 fo r  t h e  F r e n c h  N a v y .  T h e  o rgan  fo r  m e a s u r in g  p ressu re  w a s  o r ig in a lly  co m p o se d  o f e la s tic  b o x e s  s im ila r  t o  a n e ro id  b o x e s  ; la te r , t h e y  w ere  r e p la c e d  b y  B o u r d o n  t u b e s . I t  w a s  n o t  u n til  1908, w h e n  J. R i c h a r d , o f P a r is , h a d(1) L. F a v é , Marégraphe plongeur. Appareil enregistrant les marées sur les côtes et au large. Annales Hydrographiques, 2e série, Tome 30, Paris, 1910, p. 383 (Foot Note)(2) L. F a v é , loc. cit., p. 413.improved the F a v é  tide-gauge (i), that the Hydrographic Service of the French Navy used it on various occasions for coastal surveys and in the colonies. The serious disad­vantage of the F a v é  tide-gauge was the extremely small scale of the record. For a range of tide of one metre the free ends of the B o u r d o n  tubes only moved 0.6 % with reference to each other. These movements were inscribed by means of two pins which pressed against a slowly rotating smoked glass plate, and the record had to be carefully measured afterwards with a micrometer.That none of B ô r g e n ’ s  schemes were ever carried out must be attributed to the fact that Captain A. M e n s i n g  (Retd.) developed a type of “pneumatic tide-gauge” in 1893 which was approved by the Nautische Abteilung of the Reichs-Marine-Amt ; the Wilhelmshaven Observatory, of which Captain M e n s i n g  was the Director, was directed to test the instrument.In its primitive form the instrument was a mercurial pressure gauge intended for use in a boat ; it was connected by an air-pipe to an air-bell on the bottom to which the sea-water had access.As a result of unsuccessful tests at Wilhelmshaven and of further suggestions from B ô r g e n , M e n s i n g  subsequently constructed a submarine tide-recorder to which he was the first to give the name of “high sea tide-recorder”. This instrument was tested in the Jade in 1897, by a committee appointed by the Reichs-Marine-Amt. After various alterations suggested by this committee had been made, the pressure-gauge, since 1899, consisted of three B o u r d o n  tubes, the movements of which were transmitted to an ins­cribing stylus (2).A s  th e  lo y a l fr ie n d  o f M e n s i n g , B ô r g e n  h a d  ca rrie d  o u t  e x p e r im e n ts  fo r  fifte e n  y e a r s, a t  th e  e x p e n s e  o f  t h e  R e ic h s -M a r in e -A m t, in  t h e  h o p e  o f fin a l tr iu m p h  b y  m ea n s  o f t h e  n e w  d e v ic e  in v e n te d  b y  M e n s i n g , a f te r  e a ch  u n s u cc e ss fu l t e s t  o f th e  g a u g e , t o  e lim in a te  e x is tin g  ca u se s  o f fa ilu r e  o r su ch  as  m ig h t  arise. B u t ,  a fte r  th e  in tr o d u c tio n  o f e a ch  a d d itio n a l d e v ic e , t h e  c o n s tr u c tio n  o f t h e  h ig h  sea t id e -r e c o r d e r  b e c a m e  m o re  a n d  m o re c o m p lic a te d .After obtaining the necessary funds, the Reichs-Marine-Amt received a new and improved model of the M e n s i n g  tide-recorder in 1907. Although isolated tests in the Jade gave utilisable results, the device was too delicate for use at sea.B ô r g e n ’ s  su ccessor, C o m m a n d e r  C a p e l l e  ( R e td .), w h o  la te r  on  b e c a m e  P r e s id e n t of  t h e  D e u ts c h e  S e e w a r te , g a v e  u p  te s tin g  th e  M e n s i n g  t id e -r e c o r d e r  in  19 1 3 . I n  c o lla b o ­r a tio n  w ith  T o r p e d o -O b e r s ta b s in g e n ie u r  K r e p l i n , h e  in v e n te d  a  fa r  s im p le r  h ig h  sea tid e  re co rd e r w h ic h  w a s  c o n s tr u c te d  b y  t h e  Im p e r ia l D o c k y a r d  a t  W ilh e lm s h a v e n . T h e  C a p e l l e - K r e p l i n  h ig h  se a  tid e -r e c o r d e r  in c o r p o r a te d  a n  id e a  o f B ô r g e n , c o n c e iv e d  in  1890. T h is  w a s  t o  u se, as  t h e  p re ss u r e -g a u g e , a  r u b b e r  m e m b r a n e  or a  r u b b e r  fu n n e l  to g e th e r  w ith  a  s p r in g -b a la n c e . B u t  th is  tid e -re co rd e r , a lth o u g h  r e la t iv e ly  e a s y  t o  la y  o u t, d id  n o t  fu lfil re q u ir e m e n ts , a s  t h e  fr ic tio n  o f t h e  s ty lu s  o n  t h e  p a p e r  w a s  to o  g r e a t.The same idea is found as the basis of the d e  V r i e s  free tide-gauge (3) ; in an improved form, it constitutes the Photographically registering Water-level Recorder of the firm of H . M. S m itt  of Bilthoven. This tide-recorder, which can only be used in shal­low water, and which in consequence can hardly be classed as a high-sea tide-gauge, also has a rubber membrane or a rubber plate ; by means of two spiral springs, the membrane or plate tends to counteract the pressure of the water. The movements of the membrane or plate, due to variations of water pressure, are transmitted to a wheel the translucent periphery of which is graduated ; every half-hour a part of this and an index are photographically recorded.From 1916, in his private capacity, and from 1920, as President of the Naval Obser­vatory at Wilhelmshaven, K . H e s s e n  undertook tests with the K u h l m a n n  tide-recorder(4) at the instance of the Marineleitung.This high sea tide-gauge was constructed by the firm of Franz K u h l m a n n , of Rüs- tringen-Wilhelmshaven. This firm, when preparing the M e n s i n g  tide-gauge, had become(1) L .  F a v é , loc. cit., p p . 3 8 3 -4 15 . L .  F a v é , Marégraphe plongeur. Appareil enregis­trant les marées sur les côtes et au large. Annales Hydrographiques, 3 e série, Tome 4, Paris 1 9 2 1, p p . 1 9 3 -2 3 7 .(2) A. M e n s i n g . Der Hochseepegel. Zeitschrift fü r Instrumentenkunde. Jahrgang 23,Berlin 1903, PP- 334'342-(3) J- J- DE V r i e s . Verplaatsbare zelfregistreerende peilchaal. Marineblad, 32e Jaargang, Helder 1918, pp. 380-386.(4) The K u l h m a n n  Submarine or High-sea Tide-gauge. Hydrographie Review, Vol. I V  N °  2, Monaco, pp. 169-177.familiar with questions relating to the construction of high-sea tide-gauges ever since 1909.In order to avoid the friction of the stylus on the paper, this instrument also regis­ters the difference of pressure phographically by means of a small rotating mirror moved by a set of six B o u r d o n  tubes. Although half a dozen such instruments have passed through the hands of the Marineleitung, except for several tests made at Wilhelmshaven and Heligoland, I do not know whether they have given any long-period tidal-curves.M e n s in g  him self, in spite of his ad vanced age, recom m enced afte r th e  w ar to  m ake  tests and plans for a new instrum ent, w hich he caused to  be constructed a t th e  expense  of th e M arineleitung b y  S c h a f f e r  &  B u d e n b e r g  of M agd eburg-B uckau. As a result of personal researches, on th is occasion he used in his recording pressure-gauge tw o  strong spiral B o u r d o n  tubes m ounted in parallel, the arc of w hich covered 4500.As this tide-gauge, the construction of which was scarcely less complicated than that of previous ones, did not work satisfactorily, A. W e r n e r  (i ), after the death of M e n s in g  which took place in 1929, essayed for the Nautische Abteilung of the Marineleitung to bring M e n s in g ’s  work to fruition by constructing a new high sea tide-gauge embodying the ideas and the essential parts or M e n s in g ’s device. Trials with this instrument are not yet concluded.Several years ago S h o u l e j k in  (2), in Moscow, succeeded in constructing a relatively small instrument, by using a slightly modified R ic h a r d  pocket barograph. Nothing is known as yet regarding the results of the tests of this instrument.As metal manometers, whatever their construction may be, cannot record the total hydrostatic pressure at great depths with sufficient accuracy, high sea tide-gauges are provided with special devices for measuring not the absolute pressure .but the differences of pressure engendered by the tide. Pressure equilibrium in the C a p e l l e - K r e p l i n  high sea tide-gauge was obtained by applying a tension to a spiral spring corresponding to the depth of water, before laying the instrument out, whereas, in the older tide-gauges of M e n s in g  and K u h l m a n n , it was necessary to fill tanks with air before submersion, either by means of a pump or by admitting compressed air, until the interior pressure corresponded approximately to the pressure on the sea bottom. In order not to over­load the B o u r d o n  tubes or risk damaging them by bad handling or valve failure, in the F a v e  and S h o u l e j k in  high sea tide-gauges the filling of the tanks with compressed air was done automatically by the gradual compression of the air contained in an appro­priately constructed antichamber, as the hydrostatic pressure increased during submersion. In the M e n s in g -W e r n e r  high sea tide-gauge, the air tank is gradually filled during sub­mersion by connecting several compressed air bottles to the tank and providing it with the necessary pressure compensation valves.A s metallic membrane and B o u r d o n  tube manometers are very sensitive to jarring and, also, as they are not free of elastic reaction, which reaction is greater the lower the temperature, in 1928 I tried using an air-gauge as a pressure recording device. The first instrument (which was constructed by the A s k a n ia -W e r k e  A . G . of Berlin-Friede- nau, using the tank of the C a p e l l e - K r e p l i n  tide-gauge, lent by the Marineleitung as a test apparatus) worked satisfactorily from the very first time it was laid out in the Outer E m s, and thus we can without apprehension work on the final model. This new instrument has already produced several tidal-curves at points off Nordemey and in the southern Kattegat.0 0 0(1) A. W e r n e r . E in  neuer Hochseepegel. Marine-Rundschau. Jahrgang 34. Berlin  1929, p p . 509-516.(2) W W. S h o u l e j k i n . A Maregraph for the open sea. Journal du Conseil, Vol. IV ,  Copenhague 1929, pp. 194-199.

Contribution to the history of the high sea tide recorder

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Contribution to the history of the high sea tide recorder

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