Offshore

The portion of the littoral system that is always submerged.

Glossary of Terms

The mean of all individual waves in an observation interval of approximately half an hour.

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.

Groundwater

Water that occupies pores and crevices in rock and soil, below the surface of the Earth. The upper limit of the groundwater is the water table, whose level varies according to the quantity of water entering and extracted from the groundwater. (See also aquifers).

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.

Ecology

The branch of science studying the interactions among living things and their environment.

Fore Reef

The seaward side of a reef (usually coral); in places a steep slope covered with reef talus.

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Offshore