CORAL. (1) (Biology) Marine coelenterates (Madreporaria) , solitary or 

 colonial, which form a hard external covering of calcium compounds or 

 other materials. The corals which form large reefs are limited to warm, 

 shallow waters, while those forming solitary, minute growths may be found 

 in colder waters to great depths. (2) (Geology) The concretion of coral 

 polyps, composed almost wholly of calcium carbonate, forming reefs and 

 tree-like and globular masses. May also include calcareous algae and 

 other organisms producing calcareous secretions, such as bryozoans and 

 hydrozoans. 



CORE. A vertical cylindrical sample of the bottom sediments from which the 

 nature and stratification of the bottom may be determined. 



COVE. A small, sheltered recess in a coast, often inside a larger 

 embayment. (See Figure A-8.) 



CREST LENGTH, WAVE. The length of a wave along its crest. Sometimes called 

 CREST WIDTH. 



CREST OF BERM. The seaward limit of a berm. Also called BERM EDGE. (See 

 Figure A-1.) 



CREST OF WAVE. (1) the highest part of a wave. (2) That part of the wave 

 above still-water level. (See Figure A-3.) 



CREST WIDTH, WAVE. See CREST LENGTH, WAVE. 



CURRENT. A flow of water. 



CURRENT, COASTAL. One of the offshore currents flowing generally parallel to 

 the shoreline in the deeper water beyond and near the surf zone; these are 

 not related genetically to waves and resulting surf, but may be related to 

 tides, winds, or distribution of mass. 



CURRENT, DRIFT. A broad, shallow, slow-moving ocean or lake current. 

 Opposite of CURRENT, STREAM. 



CURRENT, EBB. The tidal current away from shore or down a tidal stream. 

 Usually associated with the decrease in the height of the tide. 



CURRENT, EDDY. See EDDY. 



CURRENT, FEEDER. Any of the parts of the NEARSHORE CURRENT SYSTEM that flow 

 parallel to shore before converging and forming the neck of the RIP 

 CURRENT. 



CURRENT, FLOOD. The tidal current toward shore or up a tidal stream. Usually 

 associated with the increase in the height of the tide. 



CURRENT, INSHORE. See INSHORE CURRENT. 



CURRENT, LITTORAL. Any current in the littoral zone caused primarily by wave 

 action; e.g., LONGSHORE CURRENT, RIP CURRENT. See also CURRENT, NEAR- 

 SHORE. 



A-8 



