150 years of French "Annales hydrographiques" (Hydrographic Annals) (1848-1998) - From the study of typhoons in 1848 to the production of electronic charts

1998 marked the 150th anniversary of the first publication of "Annales hydr ographiques" (Hydrographic Annals) by the French Hydrographic Service. Afte r a description of the layout and contents of the five series which have be en issued successively and without a break since 1848, this article sketche s, through the studies and papers published in the Annals, a panorama of th e sciences and techniques employed by French hydrographers during this peri od.