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The UK's Centre of Excellence for Sea Level Science

The National Tidal and Sea Level Facility (NTSLF) is the UK's centre of excellence for everything related to sea level. This includes monitoring sea level, forecasting coastal floods, running computer models of tides and storm surges, and analyzing extreme events. It's the main hub for sea level research and for translating that science into practical advice for policymakers, planners, and coastal engineers.

The NTSLF brings together data from the UK National Tide Gauge Network, geodetic networks (which monitor vertical land movements), and gauges in the British Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic and Gibraltar. The NTSLF is hosted right here at the National Oceanography Centre.

Visit NTSLF website for more information

NTSLF Services and Data

The facility's main role is to provide data, products, and information, which includes handling public inquiries. Some key services include:

Real-time data from the UK National Tide Gauge Network

Live sea level measurements from tide gauges located around the UK coastline.

Data from the UK South Atlantic Network

Sea level data collected from monitoring stations in the UK South Atlantic territories.

Tidal predictions

Predicted tidal levels for UK ports and coastal locations based on tidal models.

Operational surge model development and surge model outputs

Storm surge modelling and forecast outputs used to support coastal monitoring and flood preparedness.

Our History

The NTSLF was established back in 2002 and officially launched at the Royal Society in February 2004. Its primary mission was: "To provide sea and land-level data and derived products, and to make scientific and technical expertise available to the wider community."

Funding and Support

The facility was originally funded by Defra and later by the Environment Agency. It is now supported by NOC, with additional support also provided by the University of Liverpool.

The UK National Tide Gauge Network itself is owned by the Environment Agency, which operates the network on behalf of the UK Coastal Flood Forecasting (UKCFF) service.

Need sea level data, tidal predictions, or surge model outputs? Visit ntslf.org to access real-time data and products supporting coastal flood forecasting and sea level research