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Glossary of Terms

A cross-sectional plot of a shore-normal topographic and geomorphic beach survey, usually in comparison to other survey dates to illustrate seasonal and longer-term changes in beach volume.

Dune

A landform characterized by an accumulation of wind-blown sand, often vegetated.

Mean Sea Level (MSL)

The average height of the surface of the sea for all stages of the tide over a 19-year period, usually determined from hourly height readings. Not necessarily equal to mean tide level. It is also the average water level that would exist in the absence of tides.

Non-point sources of pollution

Multiple, not easily identifiable sources of pollution (e.g. agriculture, urban areas). Also called diffuse sources.

Photic Zone

The zone extending downward from the ocean surface within which the light is sufficient to sustain photosynthesis. The depth of this layer varies with water clarity, time of year and cloud clover, but is about 100m in the open ocean.

It may be considered the depth to which all light is filtered out except for about one percent and may be calculated as about two and a half-times the depth of a secchi disk reading.

Contamination

An anthropogenic increase in the concentration of a substance in the marine environment.

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