Biomass

The mass of living matter per unit of habitat (e.g. volume of water or area of bottom). Also referred to as standing crop or standing stock.

Glossary of Terms

Hurricane

An intense tropical cyclone in which winds tend to spiral inward toward a core of low pressure, with maximum surface wind velocities that equal or exceed 33.5 m/sec (75 mph or 65 knots) for several minutes or longer at some points.

Tropical storm is the term applied if maximum winds are less than 33.5 m/sec but greater than a whole gale (63 mph or 55 knots). Term is used in the Atlantic , Gulf of Mexico , and eastern Pacific.

Mangrove Forest

A community of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs, with many other associated organisms, that grows on some tropical and sub-tropical coasts in a zone roughly coinciding with the intertidal zone.

Incident wave

A wave moving landward.

Macro-tidal

Tidal range greater than 4 m.

Littoral Budget

The sediment budget of the beach consisting of sources and sinks.

Littoral Transport

The movement of beach material in the littoral zone by waves and currents. Includes movement parallel (longshore drift) and sometimes perpendicular (cross-shore transport) to the shore; Also referred to as littoral drift.

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Biomass