Breaker Zone

The zone within which waves approaching the coastline commence breaking, typically in water depths of between 5 and 10 meters for ocean coasts, but sometimes in shallower water.

Glossary of Terms

Littoral Transport Rate

The rate of transport of sedimentary material parallel or perpendicular to the shore in the littoral zone. Usually expressed in cubic metres (cubic yards) per year. Commonly synonymous with longshore transport rate.

Biological Diversity

(Also called biodiversity) - The diversity of life, often divided into three levels: genetic (diversity within species), species (diversity among species), and ecosystem (diversity among ecosystems).

Beach Loss

A volumetric loss of sand from the active beach.

Bathymetry

The measurement of water depths in oceans, seas, and lakes; also information derived from such measurements .

Shoreline

The intersection of a specified plane of water with the shore or beach (e.g. the high water shoreline would be the intersection of the plane of mean high water with the shore or beach). The line delineating the shoreline on nautical charts and surveys approximates the mean high water line.

Ridge, beach

A nearly continuous mound of beach material that has been shaped by wave or other action. Ridges may occur singly or as a series of approximately parallel deposits.

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Breaker Zone