Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Russian Fed. Service 
for Hydrometeorology & Environmental Monitoring
St. Petersburg, 199397
RUSSIAN FEDERATION

=========================== FOLLOWING PSMSL DOCUMENTATION ADDED 2003Jan23 :
Instrumental measurements of the sea level in the Russian Arctic
Seas began in the 1920s. Stationary observations began in the
Kara Sea (Dickson Island) in 1933, in the Laptev Sea (Tiksi Bay)
in 1934, in the Chukchi Sea (Cape Schmidt) in 1935, and in the East-
Siberian Sea (Ambarchik Bay) in 1939. There were 53 stations with
sea level observational program in the mid 1980s.
As a results of economical problems in Russia, many stations were closed in th
1990s, and at present, there are 7,7,5 and 2 stations in the Kara, Laptev,
East-Siberian and Chukchi Seas, respectively.
=========================== FOLLOWING PSMSL DOCUMENTATION ADDED 2003Jan23 :
Observations have been conducted according to the Manual for Stations
and Gauges of the Hydrometeorological Service (1968).
The observations with manual reading have been carried out four times
a day with an accuracy of 1 cm. Tide gauge stations have 1-hour
frequency of observations, and the same accuracy. Monthly data
quality control includes visual data control and statistical control
by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) scientists
and administration of RosHydromet.
Observations at some stations have had different locations in summer
and winter, some of which were interrapted during replacement.
=========================== FOLLOWING PSMSL DOCUMENTATION ADDED 2003Jan23 :
Therefor a lot of sea level data before 1949-50 in many cases
cannot be used because of absence of relible geodetic survey.
All stations have one or more  geodetic benchmarks installed
on stable ground. Periodic (usually annual but for some stations
every summer month) geodetic surveys are made to a gauge to
determine if any vertical changes in the gauge mount have
occurred. The Russian sea level network has a complete geodetic
history consisting of Revised Local Reference (RLR) sites.
Only 30-40 years ago, the sea level station benchmarks were related
to the Baltic System (Kronshtadt gauge) using geodetic methods.
=========================== FOLLOWING PSMSL DOCUMENTATION ADDED 2003Jan23 :
The monthly sea level data are calculated using daily data. The mean
monthly sea level data based on four measurements per day are very
close to the observations with 1-hour interval. It is estimated that
the error does not exceed 2 cm with probability of 99.7%. The annual
sea level based on 4-hour interval observations coincide with results
based on 1- hour observing intervals.

