National Network of Regional Coastal Monitoring Programmes

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Note that these are real-time data and are not quality-controlled. Long-range graphs are plotted from a randomised subsample of half-hourly data.

Folkestone

  

Additional Information

 Wave buoy location  51° 03.76' N  001° 07.67' E
 WMO code  6201017
 Approximate water depth  12.7 m CD
 Approximate spring tidal range  6.5 m
 Storm alert threshold  2.48 m
 Met station location  51° 04.77 N  001° 10.19' E

 

Wave parameters are recorded using a Datawell Directional WaveRider Mk III buoy. The buoy was deployed on 08 July 2003 from the MV Wessex Explorer, at which time the magnetic declination at the site was 2.1° west, changing by 0.14° east per year. Wave direction is reported following the nautical convention, meaning that the direction is where the waves come from, measured clockwise from magnetic north.

The met station was replaced with new equipment on April 2015.

 

01/05/2024 Scheduled service
22/03/2024 The shore station is offline due to a suspected power issue.
13/02/2024 The site is offline due to a fault found on the BT line.
28/12/2023 The shore station computer is offline due to a power cut over the holidays.
12/12/2023 The site is offline due to a fault on the BT line. This will be rectified asap.
22/06/2023 Scheduled service
21/01/2023 Scheduled service
04/01/2023 It is suspected that the buoy was hit at 19:30Z, causing data loss until 06:30Z on 05/01/2023
20/11/2022 It is suspected that the buoy was hit at 18:30Z, causing data loss until 21:00Z.
18/07/2022 Spurious data was being measured by the buoy from 10:30Z to 16:30Z. It is suspected that a boat was moored to the buoy during that time.
08/07/2022 Scheduled service during which the buoy was repositioned on its licensed location. 
18/02/2022 During Storm Eunice, the buoy dragged its mooring 380 m east of its charted position and has settled on 51° 3.80' N 001° 7.98' E
05/09/2021 Scheduled service
26/02/2021 Scheduled service
06/09/2020 Scheduled service
24/04/2020 Scheduled service
22/10/2019 Buoy redeployed
03/10/2019 The buoy was taken out due to poor signal issues. 
16/09/2019 Soon after the buoy was redeployed, it appears to have suffered from an impact. The buoy will be recovered again ASAP. 
16/09/2019 Buoy redeployed
13/09/2019 The buoy has been recovered. A replacement buoy will be deployed ASAP. 
04/09/2019 The buoy is having trouble communicating to the shore station. A team is out to investigate. 
19/03/2019 Scheduled service
03/08/2018 Scheduled service
12/01/2018 Scheduled service
15/08/2017 Scheduled service
18/01/2017 Scheduled service
18/07/2016 Scheduled service
27/04/2016 BT have now fixed a fault near the shore station and the data stream has resumed.
25/04/2016 Connection issues preventing data upload are being investigated.
16/02/2016   Scheduled service (wave buoy)
05/01/2016 Scheduled service (met station)
13/07/2015 No data being received due to computer issues at the shore station. Will be resolved ASAP.
20/06/2015 Scheduled service
03/02/2015 Buoy redeployed
20/01/2015 Attempted re-dployment today aborted due to adverse sea conditions
19/01/2015 Attempted swap out of buoy due to unexpected depletion of batteries at last service. Problems with GPS position of replacement buoy means redployment will have to occur after work has been done on buoys back at port tonight.
04/12/2014 Scheduled service
30/04/2014 Scheduled service
08/11/2013 Scheduled service
16/05/2013 Buoy redeployed
30/04/2013 Buoy came adrift but was recovered same day
01/11/2012 New rain gauge now operational
19/09/2012 Scheduled service and re-battery
01/03/2012 Scheduled service
16/07/2011 The buoy has become adrift and reported by Dover Coastguard as beached near Folkestone.  Attempts are underway to recover it.
06/01/2011 Scheduled service
27/04/2010 Scheduled service, buoy in good condition once cleaned
09/11/2009 Scheduled service. Due to poor paint coverage the hull was swapped, top hatch remained the same.
26/06/2009 Scheduled service and GPS antenna replacement
27/01/2009 Scheduled service
18/07/2008 Buoy came adrift at 13:00
29/01/2008 Scheduled service
10/01/2008 GPS position is not updating
04/01/2006 The GPS position is not being updated. The fault is being investigated.
09/08/2004 The buoy was re-deployed on 29 July, but there are problems with the receiver
01/07/2004 The buoy was located 36m east of Ipswich. It has been recovered and is being checked and serviced before re-deployment.
28/06/2004 The buoy was been located approximately 36 miles offshore and is being recovered. The bungee had been cleanly cut, so it appears that it was cut free, rather than the buoy breaking free in the storms.
23/06/2004 Buoy has moved off its mooring, recovery attempts are underway
13/05/2004 W@ves21 software has been updated and all wave parameters are being properly processed
30/03/2004 The buoy was serviced on 28/03/04 but the RxD receiver has become de-tuned
24/02/2004 There is a problem with the W@ves21 software, which is not storing the wave parameters properly. The data are recoverable, but are not available in real-time. Datawell are investigating the problem.
04/08/2003 Receiver replaced
30/07/2003 Fault found to be failure of receiver at shore station. Replacement ordered.
28/07/2003 Intermittent faults with data reported and investigated