Littoral Zone

In beach terminology, an indefinite zone extending seaward from the shoreline to just beyond the breaker zone.

Glossary of Terms

A corrugation or trough formed in the foreshore or in the bottom just offshore by waves or tidal currents (see ridge and runnel).

Backshore

The generally dry portion of the beach between the berm crest and the vegetation line that is submerged only during very high sea levels and eroded only during moderate to strong wave events.

Marsh

A track of soft wet land, usually vegetated by reeds, grasses and occasionally small shrubs.

Soft, wet area periodically or continuously flooded to a shollow depth, usually characterised by a particular subclass of grasses, cattails and other low plants.

Mean Tide Level

A plane midway between mean high water and mean low water. Not necessarily equal to mean sea level. Also referred to as half-tide level.

Territorial sea

The offshore belt in which a coastal state has exclusive jurisdiction. The territorial sea may not extend more than 12 nautical miles from the coastline.

Groundwater

Water that occupies pores and crevices in rock and soil, below the surface of the Earth. The upper limit of the groundwater is the water table, whose level varies according to the quantity of water entering and extracted from the groundwater. (See also aquifers).

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Littoral Zone