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coast
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The part of land that is in contact with a large body of water and effected by the action of the wave.
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tide
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The rise and fall of the water in the oceans due to the gravitational pull of the sun and moons.
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mean sea level
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The average height of the sea surface based upon hourly observation of the tide height on the open coast or in adjacent water that have free access to the sea. In the United States, it is defined as the average height of the sea surface for all stage of the tide over a nineteen year period. Mean sea level, commonly abbreviated MSL and referred to simply as sea level, serves as the reference surface for all altitudes in upper atmospheric studies.
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neap tide
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A tide cycle of unusually small amplitude, which occurs twice monthly when the lunar and solar tides are opposed-that is, when the gravitational pull of the Sun is at right angles to that of the Moon.
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ebb tide
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The part of the tide cycle during which the water level is falling.
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tidal current
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A horizontal displacement of ocean water under the gravitational influence of Sun and Moon, causing the water to pile up against the coast at high tide and move ourward at low tide.
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flood tide
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The part of the tide cycle during which the water is rising or leveling off at high water.
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geoid
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Level (or equipotential) surface at mean sea level. Surface of constant gravitational potential that is chosen to define the earth's shape. At sea the geoid corresponds to the time-averaged surface of the ocean (to an accuracy of 1-2 m).
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backwash
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The return flow of water down a beach after a wave has broken.
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brackish water
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Water that is lower in salinity than normal sea water and higher in salinity than freshwater ranging from 30 to 0.5 parts salt per 1000 parts water.
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longshore current
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A current that moves parallel to a shore and is formed from the momentum of breaking wave that approach the shore obliquely.
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longshore drift
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The movement of sediment along a beach by swash and backwash of wave that approach the shore obliquely.
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beach
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A narrow strip of land bordering a large body of water.
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alcove
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A large niche or recession formed in a steep cliff.
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wave-cut platform
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A gently sloping surface produced by wave erosion, extending far into the sea or lake from the base of the wave cut cliff.
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surf
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The breaking or tumbling forward of water wave as they approach the shore.
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surf zone
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An offshore belt along which the wave collapse into breaker as they approach the shore.
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sea stack
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Sea stacks are blocks of erosion-resistant rock isolated from the land by sea.
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headland
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Headlands are projections of land that stick out into a sea or lake.
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arch
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A mass of rock in the shape of an arch. Arches are commonly formed by erosion of stratified rocks where harder rock rests upon weaker rock.
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barrier island
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A long, narrow island parallel to the shore, composed of sand and built by wave action.
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barrier reef
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An elongate organic reef that parallels a coastline and is large enough to dissipate ocean wave, leaving a quiet-water lagoon on its landward side.
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fringing reef
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A coral reef that is directly attached to a landmass not made of coral.
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tidal flat
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A broad, flat region of muddy or sandy sediment, covered and uncovered in each tidal cycle.
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primary coast
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A young coast formed by erosion of a recent terrestrial activity such as erosion, deposition, volcanism, or fault movements.
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secondary coast
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A mature coast that has been carved by wave action over a long period of time.
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coastal plain
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A low plain of little relief adjacent to the ocean and covered with gently dipping sediment.
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bay
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A wide area of water extending into land from a sea or lake.
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marine terrace
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A level surface formed by wave erosion of coastal bedrock to the bottom of the turbulent breaker zone. May appear above sea level if uplifted.
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rip current
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A current that flows strongly away from the sea shore through gaps in the surf zone at intervals along the shoreline.
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