Abstract
THE simplicity of the harmonic methods of analysis and prediction of tides is very fascinating, and the invention of the tide-predicting machine by Lord Kelvin almost ensured the success of the methods. A predicting machine sums a number of harmonic variations, transmitted vertically to pulleys, round which passes a wire or chain which is fixed at one end and carries a recording pen at the free end. For the majority of ports the harmonic method of analysis is unrivalled in accuracy and cheapness; consequently we find machines in active use in the following countries: Great Britain (one at Broadstairs and one at Bidston Observatory), France, Germany, Portugal, United States, Argentina, Brazil, India, and Japan (2). In addition to these, three machines are no longer used: one was destroyed at Tokyo, and the Brazilian machine is being replaced by a model under construction at the present time. It is noteworthy that since the War five machines have been built at Glasgow by Messrs. Kelvin, Bottomley, and Baird.
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DOODSON, A. Tide-predicting Machines. Nature 118, 787–788 (1926). https://doi.org/10.1038/118787a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/118787a0