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.

Glossary of Terms

Sediment Transport Paths

The routes along which the net sediment movement occurs.

Seawall

A structure, often concrete or stone, built along a portion of a coast to prevent erosion and other damage by wave action. Often it retains earth against its shoreward face.

A structure separating land and water areas to alleviate the risk of flooding by the sea. Generally shore-parallel, although some reclamation seawalls may include lenghts that are nromal or oblique to the (original) shoreline.
A vertical or near-vertical type of shoreline armouring characterised by a smooth surface.

Littoral Budget

The sediment budget of the beach consisting of sources and sinks.

Scarp, beach

An almost vertical slope along the beach caused by erosion by wave action. It may vary in height from a few cm to a metre or so, depending on wave action and the nature and composition of the beach.

A steep slope, usually along the foreshore and/or at the vegetation line formed by wave attack.

Scarping

The erosion of a dune or berm by wave attack during a storm or a large swell.

Wetlands

Lands whose saturation with water is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types of plant and animal communities that live in the soil and on its surface (e.g. Mangrove forests).

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Littoral Transport Rate