This glossary of ocean terms defines words and phrases you may have heard but don't quite understand. The terms defined in the glossary are in parentheses below the letter links.

A
(Acretion, Alongshore, A-Zone)

B

(Backbarrier Flats, Backbarrier Marsh, Backrush, Backshore, Bar, Barrier Beach, Barrier Island, Barrier Lagoon, Barrier Spit, Bay, Beach, Beach Erosion, Beach Face, Berm, Berm Crest, Breakwater, Bypassing Sand)

C-E

(Current Littoral, Current Longshore, Cusp, Downdrift, Dredging, Dune, Ebb Tide, Erosion, Estuary, Estuarine)

F-H

(Fetch, Flood Tide, Foredune, Foreshore, Groin, Headland, High Tide, Hurricane)

J-M

(Jetty, Lagoon, Littoral Drift, Littoral Transport, Littoral Zone, Low Tide, Marsh, Mean High Water, Mean Low Water, Mean Sea Level)

N-S

(Neap Tide, Northeaster, Nourishment, Overwash, Riprap, Revetment, Salt Marsh, Scarp, Seawall, Sediment, Spring Tide, Surf Zone)

T-V

(Tide, Updrift, Upland, Uprush, Velocity Zone)