earth science

Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory

Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory is a earth science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory rather than just read about it. In short: The former Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL) is based in Brownlow Street, Liverpool, England. In April 2010, POL merged with the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) to form the National Oceanography Centre.

Key takeaways

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Reproduce the core statement of Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The former Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL) is based in Brownlow Street, Liverpool, England. In April 2010, POL merged with the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) to form the National Oceanography Centre. The Liverpool laboratory's scientific research focuses on oceanography encompassing global sea-levels and geodesy, numerical modelling of continental shelf seas and coastal sediment processes. This research alongside activities of surveying, monitoring, data management and forecasting provides strategic support for the wider mission of the Natural Environment Research Council. A leading world centre in tidal prediction (with related interests in earth tides and storm surges) and a leading European centre in modelling and forecasting shelf sea dynamics, it is home to the Coastal Observatory in Liverpool Bay; the National Tidal and Sea Level Facility, the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level and the British Oceanographic Data Centre.

History of tidal measurements The history of tidal measurements taken at Liverpool starts with Jeremiah Horrocks (1619–1641) who was born and died at Toxteth. While he is most famous for predicting, and then observing, the transit of Venus in 1639 at Much Hoole near Preston, he also had a great interest in understanding ocean tides, and in particular in verifying that tidal changes were closely related to variations in the Moon's orbit. Shortly before his death, he is known to have made measurements of high waters (probably the times and perhaps also the heights of high tide) on the Mersey coast near his home for at least a month. Unfortunately, his tidal measurements (but not his astronomical records) were lost in the civil war or possibly in the Fire of London. William Hutchinson (1716–1801) compiled the first extended set of sea level measurements in the UK, together with a comprehensive set of meteorological information. He established the Bidston Lighthouse in 1771. His measurements of the heights and times of every high water during 1764–1793 at the Liverpool Old Dock were of high quality and are still being used in scientific research today. Hutchinson's measurements of the tides during 1764–1767 were used by Richard and George Holden to derive the first reliable publicly accessible tide tables in the UK, first published in 1770 for over 200 years. To mark Liverpool 2007 and 2008, POL together with colleagues at Brock University, Canada will produce a CD containing copies of all Hutchinson's tidal and meteorological data sets and background information on his life.

19th century During the 19th century, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (MDHB) established a network of a dozen state-of-the-art sea level stations along the River Mersey, Dee and neighbouring coasts. They were used to provide the best possible tidal information to what became one of the most important ports in the British Empire, together with data for surveying and coastal engineering. The main Liverpool gauges were at George’s Pier, the present-day Pier Head, then Prince's Pier next to the ocean liner landing stage and now Gladstone Dock. Together these sites have provided data which make up the longest UK sea level record and one of the longest in the world. These data have been used to study long term changes in mean sea levels and in the sea level extreme levels which often result in flooding. In 1845, the MDHB established the Liverpool Observatory at Waterloo Dock, Liverpool to provide all the tidal, meteorological and astronomical information required by ship owners. In 1866, the expanding port resulted in the Observatory being relocated in 1866 to Bidston Hill on the Wirral, where Hutchinson had established Bidston Lighthouse in 1771. It was built with sandstone from excavating the deep cellars.

20th century In 1929, the Liverpool Observatory was merged with the Liverpool University Tidal Institute and its work became more focused on scientific research, rather than port operations. This combined institute (with a number of name changes and official owners) was to become a world-famous centre for sea level and tidal research with three Fellows of the Royal Society among its Directors: Joseph Proudman, Arthur Doodson and David Cartwright. The Institute concentrated on sea level monitoring and prediction around UK coasts, and indeed on understanding sea level changes worldwide: In 1933, the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level was established at Bidston by Proudman and remains important. Such understanding informs government departments on policies for coastal protection, and contributes to international scientific study groups such as those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The tide can be predicted at any location around the UK with several centimetre accuracy. Superimposed upon the astronomical tide, which is caused by the gravitational attraction of the Moon and Sun, is the storm surge caused by strong winds and low air pressures. In 1953, the major flood at Sea Palling and other parts of the north Norfolk Coast resulted from a large storm surge occurring at high tide. This disaster led to the development of the UK National Tide Gauge Network and the UK Storm Tide Forecasting System. The Institute led the development of computer models to predict UK storm surges several days ahead based on forecast weather information. Routine surge forecasts are now produced by the Met Office and result in flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency. In 1965, the Liverpool Tidal Institute became part of the Natural Environment Research Council. In 1970 it fused with the National Institute of Oceanography to form the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences. In 1979, a new building right next to the Observatory for staff and a computer mainframe was opened and named after Joseph Proudman; in 2004 it relocated to a new building at the University of Liverpool and the Proudman building on Bidston Hill was torn down in 2012. In 1987, the Liverpool Tidal Institute was renamed the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory.

21st century In 2004, it moved from Bidston to the campus of Liverpool University with sea level science, shelf sea science and numerical modelling of ocean processes as the three main areas of expertise of research.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In earth science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory

In research: Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory appears in earth science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Buildings and structures in Liverpool, Natural Environment Research Council, Oceanographic organizations, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory means in your own words.
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Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
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Frequently asked questions

What is Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory in simple terms?

Why does Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory matter?

Because it connects several earth science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory.