Longshore

Parallel to and near the shoreline; Also referred to as alongshore.

Glossary of Terms

The section of the beach normally exposed to the action of the wave uprush. Also referred to as the foreshore of a beach.

Oversplash

The water that splashes over the top of a breakwater, seawall or other coastal defence structure.

Reef

An offshore consolidated rock hazard to navigation, with a least depth of about 20 metres (10 fathoms) or less. Often refers to coral fringing reefs in tropical waters.

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.

Coastal Zone

The transition zone where the land meets water; the region that is directly influenced by marine hydrodynamic processes. Extends offshore to the continental shelf break and onshore to the first major change in topography above the reach of major storm waves.

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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Longshore