Terminologies

Aphotic zone: That portion of the ocean where light is insufficient for photosynthesis.

Bar: Offshore ridge or mound that is submerged at least at high tide.

Barrier beach : Bar parallel to the shore whose crest rises above high water.

Barrier reef : Reef that is separated from a landmass by a lagoon, usually connected to the sea through passes (openings) in the reef.

Basalt fine: Graned igneous rock, black or greenish black rich in iron, magnesium, and calcium.

Basin : Large depression of the sea floor.

Bank: Large elevation of the sea floor; a submerged plateau.

Bathymetry: Mapping of the ocean bottom. Beach seaward limit of the shore(limits are marked approximately by the highest and lowest water levels).

Beach seaward: limit of the shore (limits are marked approximately by the highest and lowest water levels).

Benthic:  that portion of the marine environment inhabited by marine organsisms that live permanently in or on the bottom.

Biogenous: Sediment containing at least 30% by volume of skeletal remains of organisms.

Conduction: Transfer of energy through matter by internal particle or molecular motions. Continental climate characterized by cold winters and hot summers where the prevailing winds come from large  areas.

Continental climate: climate characterized by cold winters and hot summers where the prevailing winds come from large areas. 

Continental rise: Gentle slope with a generally smooth surface, rising toward the foot of the continental slope.

Coastal ocean: shallow portion of the ocean (generally over-lying the continent shelf).

Coastal plain: estuary estuary in coastal plain

Deep Water: Waves water waves whose depth is greater than one-half the average wavelength.

Deep zone: Waters below the pycnocline.

Density mass: Per unit volume of a substance, usually expressed in grams per cubic centimeter. Density is numerically equivalent to specific gravity.

Fracture zone: elongate zone of unusually irregular topography of the ocean floor characterized by seamounts, steep-sided or asymmetrical ridges, troughs, or long, steep slopes.

Fringing reef : Reef attached directly to the shore of an island or continental landmass. Its outer margin is submerged and often consists of algal limestone, coral rock, and living coral.Front marked change in water properties.

Lagoon shallow: shallow, pond or lake, generally separated from the open ocean by a barrier beach.

Outer Lithosphere: Solid portion of the earth which includes the crust and part of the upper-mantile.

Littoral drift : Sand moved parallel to the shore by wave and current action.

Neritic ocean : Environment shallower than 200 meters.  

Ocean basin: Ocean floor that is more than about 2000 meters below sea level.

Oceanic curst : Mass of basaltic material, typically seven kilometers thick, that lies under the ocean basins.

Oceanography: Scientific study of the ocean.

Ooze: Fine grained, deep-ocean sediment containing at least 30% (by volume) undissolved sand- or silt-sized, calcerous or siliceous skeletal remains of small marine organisms, the remainder usually being clay-sized material.

Pelagic deposits deep-ocean sediments that have accumulated by setting out of the ocean particle-by-particle.

Photie zone or euphotic zone: Near surface layer of water that receives ample sunlight for photosynthesis which exceed respiration.

Sea-floor: Spreading process by which lithosphere is generated at midocean ridges. Adjacent lithospheric plates are moved apart as new material forms.

Seamount : Elevation rising 900 meters or more from the ocean bottom.

Sediment : Particulate organic and inorganic matter that accumulates in a loose, unconsolidated form. It may be chemically precipitated from solution, secreted by organisms, or transported from land by air, ice, wind, or water and deposited.

Shallow sill  : Portion of the ocean floor that partially restricts water flow; may be either at the mouth of an inlet, fjord, or similar structure, or at the edge of an ocean basin-for example, the Bering Sill separates the Pacific and Arctic portions of the Atlantic Ocean.

Tectonic estuary: Estuary occupying a basin formed by mountain buildings.