A vertical scale, usually enamelled or printed in centimetres or tenths of feet, fixed to a pile or wall so its zero can be tied to the bench marks by levelling. Observers read it at the same moments the gauge records to check the gauge's zero and detect drift. At temporary survey stations a staff may be the only measurement, read by hand at set intervals.
Level to the tide staff before you pull it, otherwise we lose the tie for the whole deployment.
Also heard as
- tide pole
- tide board
- staff gauge
Related terms
Staff shot
A set of tide staff readings taken alongside the gauge to check that the gauge is still reading true.
Station datum
An arbitrary fixed zero set below the lowest expected water at a station, used to record raw water levels.
Leveling
Precise measurement of height differences between bench marks and the gauge or staff using a level and rods.
Bench mark
A permanent, stable mark of known height near a tide station that preserves the station's datums.