| DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT
TERMS |
| Accretion: |
Accumulation
of sand or other beach material due to the natural action of waves, currents and wind; a build-up of sand
or other beach material. |
| Back beach: |
The
section of beach extending landwards from the high water mark to the point where there is an abrupt change in
slope or material; also referred to as the backshore. |
| Beach: |
The
area or zone where the sea interfaces with the coastline. This usually consists of deposits (sand, pebbles,
etc.). |
| Beach nourishment: |
Artificial
process of replenishing a beach with material from another source that is located either inland or is
dredged offshore. |
| Beach profile: |
Side
view of a beach extending from the top of the dune line into the sea. |
| Beach recovery: |
Process
whereby accretion takes place at a beach, usually after a major storm or hurricane. |
| Beachrock: |
Ledges
of rock formed within the body of the beach consisting of sand grains cemented by calcium carbonate and
formed by chemical processes. Erosion of the sand leaves the beachrock
exposed. |
| Beach Segment: |
Any
part of a stretch of beach. |
| Berm crest: |
Ridge
of sand or gravel deposited by wave action on the shore just above the normal high water mark. |
| Dredging: |
Excavation,
digging, scraping, drag-lining, suction dredging to remove sand, silt, rock or other underwater
sea-bottom material. |
| Dune: |
Accumulations
of wind-blown sand in ridges or mounds that lies landward of the beach and usually parallel to
the shoreline. Dunes shift periodically. |
| Ecosystem: |
Organization
of the biological community and the physical environment in a specific geographical area. |
| Erosion: |
Wearing
away of the land, usually by the action of natural forces. |
| Foreshore: |
Zone
between the high water and low water marks. |
| Groyne: |
Shore
protection structure built perpendicular to the shore; designed to trap sediment. Also,
groin. |
| High water mark: |
The
highest reach of the water at high tide. It is sometimes marked by a line of debris, e.g. sea grass, pieces of
wood, etc, |
| Hurricane: |
Intense,
low-pressure, tropical weather system with maximum surface wind speeds that exceed 118 km/hr (74 mph). |
| Leeward: |
The
lee or sheltered side. |
| Leeward coast: |
Coast
sheltered from the waves. |
| Longshore current: |
A
movement of water parallel to the shore, caused mainly by waves. |
| Longshore drift: |
Movement
of material parallel to the shore also referred to as longshore transport. This results from the action of
longshore currents. |
| Low water mark: |
The highest reach of the water at low tide. |
| Monitoring: |
Systematic
measurement and recording over time. |
| Profile Area: |
Cross-sectional
area under the beach profile. |
| Profile Width: |
Horizontal
distance across the beach profile, measured from the base of the fixed reference point to the first
offshore step. |
| Revetment: |
Shore
protection structure made with stones laid on a sloping face. |
| Sea grass bed: |
Area
of the sea-bottom colonized by sea grasses.
|
| Seasonal deposition: |
Accumulation
of sand or other beach material, usually layered, resulting from seasonal variations in coastal
processes. |
| Seasonal erosion: |
Loss
of sand or other beach material resulting from seasonal variations in coastal processes. |
| Setback: |
Prescribed
distance landward of a coastal feature from a standard feature (e.g. the line of permanent vegetation),
within which all or certain types of development are prohibited. |
| Shore: |
Narrow
strip of land in immediate contact with the sea. |
| Shoreline: |
Intersection
of a specific water height with the shore or beach, e.g. the high water shoreline is the intersection of
the high water mark with the shore or beach. |
| Swell: |
Waves
that have traveled out of the area in which they were generated. |
| Topography: |
Configuration
of a surface including its relief and the position of its natural and man-made features. |
| Tropical depression: |
Organized
low-pressure system forming in tropical latitudes with wind speeds of between 37 km/h and 60 km/h (23 mph
and 37 mph). |
| Tropical storm: |
Low-pressure
weather system with maximum surface wind speeds between 61 km/h and 118 km/hr (38 mph and 74
mph). |
| Tropical wave: |
Low-pressure
system forming in tropical latitudes with wind speeds of up to 36 km/h (22 mph). |
| Tropical Weather
System: |
In reference to the Caribbean Region, any one
of or a combination of the following: Tropical wave, Tropical
depression, Tropical storm, hurricane.
|
| Wave breakpoint: |
The
point where the waves break. |
| Wetlands: |
Low-lying
areas that are frequently flooded and which support vegetation adapted to saturated soils e.g. mangrove
swamps. |
| Windward: |
Side
facing the prevailing wind. |
| Windward coast: |
Coast
exposed to wave action as a result of facing the prevailing wind. |
Executive Summary, Introduction, Background
