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Glossary

Glossary of Terms

Port

A place where vessels may discharge or receive cargo; it may be the entire harbour including its approaches and anchorages, or only the commercial part of a harbour where the quays, wharves, facilities for transfer of cargo, docks, and repair shops are situated. Protection may be provided by natural or artificial features.

Groyne Field

A series of groynes acting together to protect a section of beach. Also called a groyne system.

Pebbles

Beach material usually well-rounded and between about 4mm to 64mm diameter.

Climate

The characteristic weather of a region, particularly regarding temperature and precipitation, averaged over some significant internal of time (years).

Oligotrophic

Waters with low primary productivity because of limited supplies of nutrients.

Rip Current

A strong surface current flowing seaward from the shore. It usually appears as a visible band of agitated water and is the return movement of water piled up on the shore by incoming waves and winds. With the seaward movement concentrated in a limited band its velocity is somewhat accumulated. A rip consists of three parts: the feeder currents flowing parallel to the shore inside the breakers; the neck, there the feeder currents converge and flow through the breakers in a narrow band or "rip"; and the head of rip, where the current widens and slackens outside of the breaker line. A rip current is often miscalled a rip tide.

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