Home CDEMA

Share |

Glossary

Search for glossary terms (regular expression allowed)
Begins with Contains Exact term Sounds like
All A B C D E H I L M O P R S T W
Term Definition
Sea

A large body of salt water, second in rank to an ocean, more or less landlocked and generally part of, or connected with, an ocean or a larger sea. Examples: Mediterranean Sea; South China Sea.

Seiche

A seiche is the term used to describe oscillations in a partially or fully enclosed body of water. It may be initiated by long period seismic waves (an earthquake), wind and water waves, or a tsunami.

Seismic Sea Wave

Tsunamis are sometime referred to as seismic sea waves because they are most often generated by earthquakes.

Seismic Waves

Vibrations that travel outward from the earthquake fault at speeds of several kilometres per second. While fault slippage directly under a structure can cause considerable damage, the vibrations produced by seismic waves cause most of the destruction during earthquakes.

Setback

A required open space, specified in shoreline master programmes, measured horizontally upland from a perpendicular to the ordinary high water mark.

Shore

The narrow strip of land in immediate contact with the sea, including the zone between high and low water lines. A shore of unconsolidated material is usually called a beach. Also used in a general sense to mean the coastal area (e.g. to live at the shore). Also sometimes known as the littoral.

Shoreline

The intersection of a specified plane of water with the shore or beach (e.g. the high water shoreline would be the intersection of the plane of mean high water with the shore or beach). The line delineating the shoreline on nautical charts and surveys approximates the mean high water line.

Significant Wave Height (Tsunami)

The average height of the one-third highest waves of a given wave group. Note that the composition of the highest waves depends upon the extent to which the lower waves are considered. In wave record analysis, the average height of the highest one-third of a selected number of waves, this number being determined by dividing the time of record by the significant period. Also called characteristic wave height.

Storm Surge

A temporary rise in sea level associated with a storm's low barometric pressure and onshore winds.

Swell

Wind-generated waves that have travelled out of their generating area. Swell characteristically exhibits a more regular and longer period and has flatter crests than waves within their fetch (seas).

All A B C D E H I L M O P R S T W
Back To Top
CDEMA USAID European Union Home Project Management Glossary Links Contact Us
Credits/Copyrights Sitemap Disclaimer
Acute Vision Incorporated