Term

Part of SpeechDefinition
Encyclopedic Entry
algae
Plural Noun
(singular: alga) diverse group of aquatic organisms, the largest of which
bacteria
Plural Noun
(singular: bacterium) single-celled organisms found in every ecosystem
barrier beach Noun
strip of coastal land that protects the inland area from being battered by
basalt
Noun
type of dark volcanic rock
beach
Noun
narrow strip ofEncyclopedic Entry: beach
beach berm Noun
part of a beach above the water, or only covered at high tide
beach pollutio Noun
debris or garbage that has washed ashore from a body of water
beach profile Noun
landscape of a beach, both above and below the water
characteristic Adjective
particular feature of an organism
clif
Noun
steep wall of roEncyclopedic Entry: clif
coastal erosionNoun
wearing away of earth or sand on the beach by natural or man-made me
cobble
Noun
large, smooth, rounded rocks
coral
Noun
tiny ocean animal, some of which secrete calcium carbonate to form ree
current
Noun
steady, predictEncyclopedic Entry: current
dam
Noun
structure built across a river or other waterway to control the flow of wat
debris
Noun
remains of something broken or destroyed; waste, or garbage
development Noun
growth, or chaEncyclopedic Entry: development
drainage pipe Noun
tube that carries wastewater or other material away from a home or bus
dredge
Verb
to remove sand, silt, or other material from the bottom of a body of wate
El Nino-SoutheNoun
climate pattern in which coastal waters become warmer in the eastern t
erosion
Noun
act in which eaEncyclopedic Entry: erosion
excavate
Verb
to expose by digging
exoskeleton Noun
the hard external shell or covering of some animals
fertile
Adjective
able to produce crops or sustain agriculture
fragment
Noun
piece or part
gem
Noun
mineral, rock, or organic material that can be cut and polished for use in
geologist
Noun
person who studies the physical formations of the Earth
habitat
Noun
environment wh
Encyclopedic Entry: habitat
intertidal zoneNoun
region between the high and low tide of an area
landscape
Noun
the geographicEncyclopedic Entry: landscape
lava
Noun
molten rock, or magma, that erupts from volcanoes or fissures in the Ear
living shorelin Noun
method of creaEncyclopedic Entry: living shoreline
marine mamma
Noun
an animal that lives most of its life in the ocean but breathes air and giv
medical wasteNoun
material thrown away from healthcare facilities such as hospitals, includ
meteorologist Noun
person who studies patterns and changes in Earth's atmosphere
mineral
Noun
nutrient needed to help cells, organs, and tissues to function
mining
Noun
process of extracting ore from the Earth
mouth
Noun
place where a E
r ncyclopedic Entry: mouth
nutrient
Noun
substance an oEncyclopedic Entry: nutrient
organism
Noun
living or once-living thing

particle
Noun
pebble
Noun
pollution
Noun
raw sewage Noun
reef
Noun
resort
Noun
sand
Noun
sandbar
Noun
sea level rise Noun
seawall
Noun
sediment
Noun
shingle
Noun
soil
Noun
storm surge Noun
tide
Noun
tide pool
Noun
tourism
Noun
toxic
Adjective
vegetation
Noun
volcanic islandNoun
weathering
Noun
weather syste Noun

small piece of material

very small, rounded rock
introduction o Encyclopedic Entry: pollution
liquid waste from homes and industry
a ridge of rocks, coral, or sand rising from the ocean floor all the way to
facility or space people go to relax in a luxury setting
small, loose grains of disintegrated rocks
underwater or low-lying mound of sand formed by tides, waves, or curre
increase in the average reach of the ocean. The current sea level rise is
barrier built to protect a beach or shoreline from erosion. Also called a b
solid material Encyclopedic Entry: sediment
large, flat pebble
top layer of the Earth's surface where plants can grow
abnormal rise iEncyclopedic Entry: storm surge
rise and fall o Encyclopedic Entry: tide
small pond created by an ebb tide and submerged by a high tide
the industry (including food, hotels, and entertainment) of traveling for p
poisonous
all the plant life of a specific place
land formed by a volcano rising from the ocean floor
the breaking dEncyclopedic Entry: weathering
movement of warm or cold air

ms, the largest of which are seaweeds

und in every ecosystem on Earth
a from being battered by waves and storm surges

d at high tide
a body of water

natural or man-made methods

m carbonate to form reefs

to control the flow of water

te, or garbage

way from a home or business

bottom of a body of water
warmer in the eastern tropical Pacific (El Nio), and

ut and polished for use in jewelry

oes or fissures in the Earth's surface

but breathes air and gives birth to live young, s

such as hospitals, including blood, tissue, and medi
th's atmosphere
es to function

cean floor all the way to or near the ocean's surf

by tides, waves, or currents

current sea level rise is 1.8 millimeters (.07 inch)
m erosion. Also called a bulkhead

nts can grow

ed by a high tide
inment) of traveling for pleasure