Definitions

• Backshore


  The area between the high water mark and the landward limit of marine activity.
• Foreshore


  The area lying between the high water mark and the low water mark. It is the most important zone for marine processes in times that are not influenced by storm activity.
• Inshore


  The area between the low water mark and the point where waves cease to have any influence on the land beneath them.
• Offshore


  The area beyond the point where waves cease to impact upon the seabed and in which activity is limited to deposition sediments.
• Nearshore


  The area extending seaward from the high water mark to the area where waves begin to break. It includes: swash zone, surf zone and breaker zone.
• Swash zone


  The area where a turbulent layer of water washes up the beach following the breaking of a wave
• Surf zone


  The area between the point where waves break, forming a foamy, bubbly surface, and where the waves then move up the beach as swash in the swash zone.
• Breaker zone


  The area where waves approaching the coastline begin to break, usually where the water depth is 5cm to 10cm