Wave and sea level monitoring

In addition to temperature, the ReefTEMPS network has implemented wave and sea level monitoring using submerged pressure sensors and continuous sampling (at 1Hz). Waves, generated by wind locally or remotely, are one of the drivers of coastal hydrodynamics, and are at the origin of coastal hazards. High wave events, such as cyclones, cause coastal flooding and severe erosion. Wave height monitoring provides a better understanding of coastal hydrodynamics and provides a baseline for the validation of wave models. The current ReefTEMPS sea level measurement system does not allow for as accurate monitoring as coastal tide gauges (due to inadequate accuracy and temporal drift), but this system is sufficient to measure episodic arrivals of tsunamis, which are common in the region (Roger et al. 2019).