EM 1110-2-1100 (Change 1)
31 Jul 03
F
FAIRWAY
The parts of a waterway that are open and unobstructed for navigation. The main traveled part of a waterway; a
marine thoroughfare.
FAR-INFRAGRAVITY
The frequency band (nominally 0.001 - 0.02 Hz) occupied by SHEAR INSTABILITIES of the longshore current.
This band falls both below and in the lower part of the Infragravity band occupied by Infragravity waves.
FATHOM
A unit of measurement used for soundings equal to 1.83 meters (6 feet).
FATHOMETER
The copyrighted trademark for a type of ECHO SOUNDER.
FAULT
A fracture in rock along which there has been an observable amount of displacement. Faults are rarely single planar
units; normally they occur as parallel to sub-parallel sets of planes along which movement has taken place to a greater or
lesser extent. Such sets are called fault or fracture-zones.
FAUNA
The entire group of animals found in an area.
FEEDER BEACH
An artificially widened beach serving to nourish downdrift beaches by natural littoral currents or forces.
FEEDER CURRENT
The currents which flow parallel to shore before converging and forming the neck of a RIP CURRENT.
FEEDER CURRENT
See CURRENT, FEEDER.
FEELING BOTTOM
The initial action of a deepwater wave, in response to the bottom, upon running into shoal water.
FETCH
The area in which SEAS are generated by a wind having a fairly constant direction and speed. Sometimes used
synonymously with FETCH LENGTH. Also GENERATING AREA.
FETCH LENGTH
The horizontal distance (in the direction of the wind) over which a wind generates seas or creates a WIND SETUP.
FETCH-LIMITED
Situation in which wave energy (or wave height) is limited by the size of the wave generation area (fetch).
FILTER
Intermediate layer, preventing fine materials of an underlayer from being washed through the voids of an upper
layer.
FIORD (FJORD)
A narrow, deep, steep-walled inlet of the sea, usually formed by entrance of the sea into a deep glacial trough.
A-30
Appendix A Glossary of Coastal Terminology
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