EM 1110-2-1100 (Change 1)
31 Jul 03
CLIFF
A high, steep face of rock; a precipice. See also SEA CLIFF.
CLIMATE
The characteristic weather of a region, particularly regarding temperature and precipitation, averaged over some
significant internal of time (years).
CLOSING LINE
The line dividing inland waters and the territorial sea at the mouth of a river, bay, or harbor.
CLOSURE DEPTH
The water depth beyond which repetitive profile or topographic surveys (collected over several years) do not detect
vertical sea bed changes, generally considered the seaward limit of littoral transport. The depth can be determined from
repeated cross-shore profile surveys or estimated using formulas based on wave statistics. Note that this does not imply the
lack of sediment motion beyond this depth.
CNOIDAL WAVE
A type of wave in shallow water (i.e., where the depth of water is less than 1/8 to 1/10 the wavelength). The surface
profile is expressed in terms of the Jacobian elliptic function cn u; hence the term cnoidal.
CO-TIDAL LINES
Lines which link all the points where TIDE is at the same stage (or phase) of its cycle.
COAST
(1) A strip of land of indefinite width (may be several kilometers) that extends from the SHORELINE inland to the
first major change in terrain features. (See Figure A-1.) (2) The part of a country regarded as near the coast.
COASTAL AREA
The land and sea area bordering the SHORELINE. (See Figure A-1)
COASTAL CURRENTS
(1) Those currents which flow roughly parallel to the shore and constitute a relatively uniform drift in the deeper
water adjacent to the surf zone. These currents may be tidal currents, transient, wind-driven currents, or currents associated
with the distribution of mass in local waters. (2) For navigational purposes, the term is used to designate a current in coastwise
shipping lanes where the tidal current is frequently rotary.
COASTAL DEFENSE
General term used to encompass both coast protection against erosion and sea defense against flooding.
COASTAL FORCING
The natural processes which drive coastal hydro- and morphodynamics (e.g.winds, waves, tides, etc).
COASTAL PLAIN
The plain composed of horizontal or gently sloping strata of clastic materials, generally representing a strip of sea
bottom that has emerged from the sea in recent geologic time. May extend inland many km.
COASTAL PROCESSES
Collective term covering the action of natural forces on the SHORELINE, and near shore seabed
COASTAL STRIP
A zone directly adjacent to the waterline, where only coast related activities take place. Usually this is a strip of
some 100 m wide. In this strip the coastal defense activities take place. In this strip often there are restrictions to land use.
Appendix A Glossary of Coastal Terminology
A-15
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