East Coast Landscape

The relatively undeveloped East Coast of Barbados is renowned for its natural beauty and pounding waves. Spectacular vistas are easy to find on this coast, a large portion of which has been designated as a national park under the Physical Development Plan administered by the Town and Country Development Planning Office.

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Glossary of Terms

Sea

A large body of salt water, second in rank to an ocean, more or less landlocked and generally part of, or connected with, an ocean or a larger sea. Examples: Mediterranean Sea; South China Sea.

Waves caused by wind at the place and time of observation.
State of the ocean surface, in regard to waves.

Nearshore

In beach terminology an indefinite zone extending seaward from the shoreline well beyond the breaker zone.

The zone which extends from the swash zone to the position marking the start of the offshore zone, typically at water depths of the order of 20m.

Reference Point

A specified location (in plan elevation) to which measurements are refered.

In beach material studies, a specified point within the reference zone.

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).

Urban Runoff

The input of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemicals to the nearshore marine environment from densely populated areas.

Nutrients

Substances that are essential for the growth of marine organisms that perform primary production (algae, bacteria, and plants). Excess nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, can be major pollutants.

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East Coast Landscape