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Damaged Coral

Corals and Coral Reefs

Sargassum Seaweed

Glossary of Terms

Monitoring

Periodic collection of data to study changes in an environment over time.

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.

Coastal Processes

Collective term covering the action of natural forces on the shoreline, and near shore seabed.

Bathymetric chart

A topographic map of the bed of the ocean, with depths indicated by contours (isobaths) drawn at regular intervals.

Alien Species

(Also called introduced, exotic, or non-indigenous species) - A species that has been transported by human activity, intentionally or accidentally, into a region where it does not occur naturally.

Leeward

The direction toward which the wind is blowing; The direction toward which waves are travelling.

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