Glossary of Terms

Tidal range greater than 4 m.

A tropical tree with interlacing prop roots, confined to low-lying brackish areas.

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.

The cultivation of marine organisms.

A specially designed harbour with moorings for pleasure yachts and small boats.

A mark of permanent character close to a survey station, to which it is related by an accurately measured distance and azimuth (or bearing).

An object placed at the site of a station to identify the surveyed location of that station.

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.

A marsh periodically flooded by salt water.

The average height of the high water over a 19-year period. For shorter periods of observations, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the results to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value. All high water heights are included in the average where the type of tide is either semi-diurnal or mixed.

The average height of the low water over a 19-year period. For shorter periods of observations, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the results to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value. All low water heights are included in the average where the type of tide is either semi-diurnal or mixed.

The average height of the surface of the sea for all stages of the tide over a 19-year period, usually determined from hourly height readings. Not necessarily equal to mean tide level. It is also the average water level that would exist in the absence of tides.

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.

The mean of all individual waves in an observation interval of approximately half an hour.

Tidal range between 2m and 4m.

Tidal range less than 2m.

Periodic collection of data to study changes in an environment over time.

A fluid-to-plastic mixture of finely divided particles of solid material and water.