LICHENOMETRY The study of lichens, complex thallophytic plants 

 consisting of algae and fungus growing in symbiotic association, to 

 determine relative ages of sedimentary structures. 



LITHOLOGY The general character of a rock or sediment. 



LITTORAL DRIFT The movement of sediment alongshore. Also the mate- 

 rial being moved alongshore. 



MARSH A permanently or periodically submerged low-lying area that is 

 vegetated. 



MUD FLAT A level area of fine silt along a shore alternately covered or 

 uncovered by the tide or covered by shallow water. 



NATURAL TRACER A component of a sediment deposit that is unique to a 

 particular source and can be used to identify the source and transport 

 routes to a place of deposition. 



OVERWASH A process in which waves penetrate inland of the beach. 

 Particularly common on low barriers. 



PALEOECOLOGY The study of the relationship between ancient organisms 

 and their environment. 



PALEOSOLS A buried (possibly ancient) soil. 



PALYNOLOGY The study of pollen and spores in ancient sediments. 



PEAT Unconsolidated deposit of semicarbonized plant remains in a water- 

 saturated environment such as a bog. Peat is considered to be an early 

 stage in the development of coal. 



PEDOGENESIS Soil formation. 



PITCH Angle between the horizontal and any linear feature. 



PLEISTOCENE An epoch of the Quaternary period before the Holocene. It 

 began 2 to 3 million years ago and lasted until the start of the Holocene 

 epoch about 8,000 years ago. 



REEF Ridgelike or moundlike structure built by sedentary calcareous 

 organisms, especially corals. 



RELATIVE SEA LEVEL Elevation of the sea surface relative to a nearby 

 land surface. 



Appendix A 



A3 



