Coastal engineering

Coastal engineering

A branch of civil engineering that applies engineering principles specifically to projects within the coastal zone including areas nearshore, estuary, marine, and shoreline.

Industry: Engineering

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Coastal engineering

Beach width

Engineering; Coastal engineering

The horizontal dimension of the beach measured normal to the shoreline and landward of the higher-high tide line (on oceanic coasts) or from the still water level (on lake coasts)

Breastwork

Engineering; Coastal engineering

Vertically-faced or steeply inclined structure usually built with timber and parallel to the shoreline, at or near the beach crest, to resist erosion or mitigate against flooding.

Cross-bedding

Engineering; Coastal engineering

An arrangement of relatively thin layers of rock inclined at an angle to the more nearly horizontal bedding planes of the larger rock unit. Also referred to as cross-stratification.

Topographic survey

Engineering; Coastal engineering

A survey which has, for its major purpose, the determination of the configuration (relief) of the surface of the land and the location of natural and artificial objects thereon.

Eye

Engineering; Coastal engineering

In meteorology, usually the "eye of the storm" (hurricane): the roughly circular area of comparatively light winds and fair weather found at the centre of a severe tropical cyclone.

Equatorial tides

Engineering; Coastal engineering

Tides occurring semimonthly as the result of the moon being over the equator. At these times the tendency of the moon to produce a diurnal inequality in the tide is at a minimum.

Undercutting

Engineering; Coastal engineering

Erosion of material at the foot of a cliff or bank, e.g., a sea cliff, or river bank on the outside of a meander. Ultimately, the overhang collapses, and the process is repeated.