Glossary of Ocean Terms -- Beach-Net

Beach-Net!'s
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Tide

The periodic rising and falling of the water that results from gravitational attraction of the moon, the sun and other astronomical bodies acting upon the rotating earth.

Updrift

The direction opposite that of the predominant movement of sediment along the shore. The side of a groin, jetty or other structure where sand accumulates.

Upland

A general term for land or ground that is higher than the floodplain.

Uprush

The landward flow of water up onto the beach that occurs when a wave breaks.

Velocity Zone (V-Zone)

A zone subject to velocity-water flooding during storms that have a 100-year recurrence interval. In coastal areas the V-Zone generally extneds inland to the point where the 100-year flood depth is insufficient to support a 3-foot high breaking wave.