Barrier Island –

Specific to Texas, a barrier island is a landform that is separated from the mainland by a bay (typically connected to the Gulf of Mexico by one or more inlets) or lagoon. Barrier islands are usually low lying, form parallel to the mainland, and contain a beach and dune system. They are subject to morphological changes on a geologic time scale, including erosion, overwash, and migration.

Bathymetry

– Bathymetry is the terrain of the seafloor including rivers, bay, estuaries, and oceans. Bathymetric elevations should be referenced to vertical and horizontal datums; for example, the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) and Texas State Plane coordinates.

Breakwater

– A breakwater is a coastal structure generally aligned parallel to the shoreline, usually placed within a few hundred feet of the shoreline. Breakwaters are intended to reduce the amount of wave energy reaching the shoreline by reflecting or absorbing some of the wave energy, although some of the wave energy may still pass over or through the breakwater. Breakwaters can be built using various materials, the most typical of which is rock armor stone and/or riprap.

Breaking Wave

– Breaking waves occur when a wave becomes overly steep and unstable based on the wave height compared to the wavelength. This occurs when waves reach shallower waters towards coastlines in an area known as the surf zone. Wave breaking dissipates wave kinetic energy by transferring some of that energy to turbulence. Wave breaking is a nearshore process.

Bulkhead –

A bulkhead is a partition placed along the shoreline as a soil retaining structure. A bulkhead is typically designed to prevent land movement only and would not be designed to protect against wave loads. Therefore, a bulkhead will typically offer less protection than a seawall.