Workshop on Sea-Level Measurements in Hostile Conditions, Moscow, Russian Federation, 13 – 15 March 2018.

Abstract

The international workshop on Sea-level Measurements in Hostile Conditions was held from 13 to 15 March 2018 at the N.N. Zubov State Oceanographic Institute (SOI) of Roshydromet, Moscow, Russian Federation. The workshop was co-chaired by Dr Alexander Postnov (SOI) and Dr Laurent Testut (Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Oceanographie Spatiales, LEGOS, France). The workshop was co-sponsored by the SOI and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. Sea level observations are needed for a number of scientific and practical applications. Such observations often need to be carried out in what can be characterized as harsh or hostile environmental conditions. A significant part of the seas on the planet are covered with ice on either a permanent or seasonal basis. Many of them, in addition, often experience storms, high waves and/or high tides. Biological/environmental/logistic factors as well as increasing requirements and expectations for performance can add to the challenges of operating a sea level measurement station in these conditions. The topic of sea level measurements in hostile conditions was first addressed by the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS) in 1988 at an IOC sponsored workshop in Bidston (UK) and a subsequent one in 1990 in Leningrad (former USSR). The topic has not been addressed since and the Group of Experts of GLOSS recommended at their 15th Session (8-9 July 2017, New York, USA) to revisit the issues and to convene a new workshop which would review inter alia new measurement systems, instrument-protecting technologies (e.g. robust mountings), data transmission methods and Global Navigati on Satellite System (GNSS) at tide gauges, and summarize the experiences gained. Experts from 10 countries (Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden, United Kingdom, and USA) attended the workshop and made a total of 19 oral presentations and 4 posters. As required, the presentations and discussions at the workshop focused on problems of sea level measurements in regions exposed to several different kinds of adverse environmental impact. Such regions primarily include the coastal zones of the polar regions, as well as the seas covered with ice during winter. The workshop addressed the impacts of extreme events, such as major storms and high wave conditions. The workshop also discussed new measurement systems and instrument protection technologies, together with methods for sustainable transmission of observational data. All presentations are available from: http://www.ioc-unesco.org/hostile-conditions-sea- level-workshop