TIDES AND TIDAL DATUMS

UNDERSTANDING TIDES

UNDERSTANDING TIDES

by

Steacy Dopp Hicks

Physical Oceanographer

Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services Michael Szabados, Director

December 2006

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Ocean Service

The author, Steacy D. Hicks viewing the William Ferrel tide-predicting machine, the first tide predicting machine used in the United States (1885-1914). Photograph taken in early 1960s.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steacy Dopp Hicks

Mr. Hicks retired in December 1990 after 30 years of distinguished Federal Service, 28 years of which was providing the Nation with expertise in tides and currents. A graduate of UCLA in 1950 with a major in meteorology, Mr. Hicks received his Masters Degree in physical oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography of the University of California in 1952. From 1952 to 1962, Mr. Hicks was an Instructor and Assistant Professor of Physical Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. Since entering the Federal Government (old Coast and Geodetic Survey) in 1962, he has served in research positions; as Chief, Physical Oceanography Division; and Chief, Physical Oceanographic Research Group; until assuming duties as Senior Physical Oceanographer, all in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its predecessor organizations. He also has been an Associate Professorial Lecturer in Physical Oceanography at The George Washington University. Mr. Hicks was selected a Fellow in the first class (1964-65) of the Department of Commerce Science and Technology Fellowship Program. In the Program, he studied at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory of NOAA. Mr. Hicks is a 1970 graduate of the senior resident course (College of Naval Warfare) of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI. He received the Silver Medal of the U.S. Department of Commerce for his research on tides, long-period sea-level variations, and tidal datums; and has authored numerous papers in refereed scientific journals on these subjects. His nine military awards from WWII, while serving in the Destroyer USS Conway (DD507), include the Combat-Action Ribbon and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with six major engagement stars.

Michael Szabados Director, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services

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