LITTORAL TRANSPORT - The movement of littoral drift in the littoral 



zone by waves and currents. Includes movement parallel (longshore 

 transport) and perpendicular (on-offshore transport) to the shore. 



LITTORAL TRANSPORT RATE - Rate of transport of sedimentary material 

 parallel to or perpendicular to the shore in the littoral zone. 

 Usually expressed in cubic yards (meters) per year. Commonly 

 used as synonymous with LONGSHORE TRANSPORT RATE. 



LITTORAL ZONE - In beach terminology, an indefinite zone extending sea- 

 ward from the shoreline to just beyond the breaker zone. 



LONGSHORE - Parallel to and near the shoreline. 



LONGSHORE TRANSPORT RATE - Rate of transport of sedimentary material 

 parallel to the shore. Usually expressed in cubic yards (meters) 

 per year. Commonly used as synonymous with LITTORAL TRANSPORT 

 RATE. 



LOW WATER DATUM - An approximation to the plane of mean low water that 

 has been adopted as a standard reference plane. 



MARSH - An area of soft, wet, or periodically inundated land, generally 

 treeless and usually characterized by grasses and other low growth. 



MOLE - In coastal terminology, a massive land-connected, solid-fill 

 structure of earth (generally revetted), masonry, or large stone. 

 It may serve as a breakwater or pier. 



NEARSHORE (ZONE) - In beach terminology an indefinite zone extending 



seaward from the shoreline well beyond the breaker zone. It defines 

 the area of NEARSHORE CURRENTS. 



NEARSHORE CURRENT SYSTEM - The current system caused primarily by wave 

 action in and near the breaker zone, and which consists of four 

 parts: The shoreward mass transport of water; longshore currents; 

 seaward return flow, including rip currents; and the longshore 

 movement of the expanding heads of rip currents. 



NOURISHMENT - The process of replenishing a beach. It may be brought 

 about naturally, by longshore transport, or artificially by the 

 deposition of dredged material. 



OFFSHORE - (1) In beach terminology, the comparatively flat zone of 



variable width, extending from the breaker zone to the seaward edge 

 of the Continental Shelf. (2) A direction seaward from the shore. 



OUTFALL - A structure extending into a body of water for the purpose of 

 discharging sewage, storm runoff, or cooling water. 



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