The Sewerage of Sea Coast TownsAdams, Henry Charles
Science
The Sewerage of Sea Coast Towns
Adams, Henry Charles
Sewerage
These observations show very little difference between the
spring and neap tides, and are interesting as indicating the
unreliability of basing general deductions upon data obtained
during a limited period only. At the time of the spring tides
at the beginning of June the conditions were not favourable to
big tides, as although the moon was approaching her perigee,
her declination had nearly reached its northern limit and the
declination of the sun was 22° IN The first quarter of the moon
coincided very closely with the moon's passage over the
equator, so that the neaps would be bigger than usual. At the
period of the spring: tides, about the middle of June, although
the time of full moon corresponded with her southernmost
declination, she was approaching her apogee, and the
declination of the sun was 23° 16' N., so that the tides would
be lower than usual.
In order to ensure accurate observations, the position chosen
for the tide gauge should be in deep water in the immediate
vicinity of the locus in quo, but so that it is not affected by
the waves from passing vessels. Wave motion is most felt where
the float is in shallow water. A pier or quay wall will
probably be most convenient, but in order to obtain records of
the whole range of the tides it is of course necessary that the
float should not be left dry at low water. In some instances
the float is fixed in a well sunk above high water mark to such
a depth that the bottom of it is below the lowest low water
level, and a small pipe is then laid under the beach from the
well to, and below, low water, so that the water stands
continuously in the well at the same level as the sea.
The gauge should be fixed on bearers, about 3 ft 6 in from the
floor, in a wooden shed, similar to a watchman's box, but
provided with a door, erected on the pier or other site fixed
upon for the observations. A hole must be formed in the floor
and a galvanized iron or timber tube about 10 in square
reaching to below low water level fixed underneath, so that
when the float is suspended from the recording instrument it
shall hang vertically down the centre of the tube. The shed
and tube must of course be fixed securely to withstand wind and
waves. The inside of the tube must be free from all projections
or floating matter which would interfere with the movements of
the float, the bottom should be closed, and about four lin
diameter holes should be cleanly formed in the sides near to
the bottom for the ingress and egress of the water. With a
larger number of holes the wave action will cause the diagram
to be very indistinct, and probably lead to incorrectness in
determining the actual levels of the tides; and if the tube is
considerably larger than the float, the latter will swing
laterally and give incorrect readings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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