DMI performs point measurements at tide gauge stations in Denmark. This is an automated process in which the water level and water temperature are measured simultaneous, and data is transmitted to DMI.
The DMI and the Danish Coastal Authority collaborate on the locations of tide gauge stations around Denmark, thereby ensuring that the network of tide gauge stations covers Denmark best possible. The data from the tide gauge stations owned by the DMI as well as the Danish Coastal Authority are available through the oceanographic observation (oceanObs) API service.
The data available through the oceanObs API service have not been subject to quality control nor processed in any way. Errors in measurements may occur. Errors are typically due to malfunction of instruments caused by wear and tear or exposure to weather and seawater and on rare occasions from vandalism. In addition, some instruments are sensitive to ice. Wear and tear of instruments are handled proactively by performing service checks at the stations on a regular basis and changing the instruments within a given period. Due to this, you have to be aware of the risk of erroneous measurements when using DMI’s oceanographic observations. DMI plans on making quality controlled oceanographic observation data available in 2022.
Some of the tide gauge stations meassure water temperature. Water temperature is a support value, which is required for calculating the sea level for a certain type of tide gauge. The water temperature is meassured inside the harbor at a depth of a couple of meters relatively to the undisturbed sea surface. The meassurement is therefore not standardized and should be used with this reservation.
DMI performs oceanographic measurements according to recommendations from UNESCO's International Oceanographic Commision (IOC). DMI continuously works on quality assurance and maintenance of measuring instruments according to recommendations of IOC. You can read more about the guidelines from ICO here.
If you have questions concerning the oceanographic data or tide gauge stations please contact the authority responsible for the station in question or the data derived therefrom.
Parameters
The parameters available for download are listed below along with a description and the unit of the parameter.
The difference in the three sea level parameters lies in the reference level.
Name | Unit | Description | Data update frequency | Available for Denmark | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sealev_dvr | cm | Sea level relative to DVR90 (Danish Vertical Reference 1990) | 10 min* | x | Recommended when looking at data from DMI's stations after January 1st 1997 |
| sealev_ln | cm | Sea level relative to local zero for the station | 10 min* | x | Recommended when looking at data from DMI's stations before Januar 1st 1997 |
| sea_reg | cm | Sea level registration | 10 min* | x | Recommended when looking at data from Kystdirektoratet / Coastal Authority. Data fra the Coastal Authority is measured in DVR90. |
| tw | °C | Water temperature | 10 min | x | Water temperature is a support value, which is required for calculating the sea level for a certain type of tide gauge. The water temperature is measured inside the harbor at a depth of a couple of meters relatively to the undisturbed sea surface. The measurement is therefore not standardized and should be used with this reservation. |
*Since medio 2001 sea level has been meassured every 10 minutes. Before that sea level was meassured every 15 minutes, 30 minutes and for the oldest data every hour on the hour.
Stations
Tide Gauges
The tide gauge stations around Denmark meassure the water level and at some stations the water temperature as well.
Endpoint
It is possible to get the station list through the oceanObs service by calling the station endpoint. See API documentation for endpoint.
The station list represents both present and historical data about a station - see Station Lists Explained.
List is also available here.
Historical availability
The oceanObs service provides data from 1889. However measurements are not available for all stations as far back as 1889. Click here for page displaying the historical availability for each parameter at each station. The noted year is the first year with observations for the given parameter and station.