Glossary of Terms
Dunes within the coastal upland, immediately landward of the active beach.
The wearing away of coastal lands, usually by wave attack, tidal or littoral currents, or wind. Coastal erosion is synonymous with shoreline (vegetation line) retreat.
The low-lying, gently-sloping area landward of the beach often containing fossil sands deposited during previously higher sea levels.
Collective term covering the action of natural forces on the shoreline, and near shore seabed.
A zone directly adjacent to the waterline, where only coast related activities take place. Usually this is a strip of some 100 m wide. In this strip, coastal defense activities take place. In this strip often there may be restrictions to land use.
The low-lying area landward of the beach that sometimes contains unconsolidated sediments.
The coastal upland is bounded by the hinterland (the higher-elevation areas dominated by bedrock and steeper slopes).
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.
The integrated and general development of the coastal zone. Coastal Zone Management is not restricted to coastal defense works, but includes also coastal development in economical, ecological and social terms.
The line that forms the boundary between the coast and the shore. Commonly referred to as the line that forms the boundary between the land and the water (especially the water of a sea or ocean, also called the shoreline).
A rock fragment between 64 and 256 mm in diameter usually rounded.