LiMWA

– The Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA) is a FEMA-designated line that defines the inland limit of area expected to receive 1.5-foot or greater breaking waves during the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event. Waves of 1.5 feet or higher have been shown to cause significant damage to structures. A LiMWA is shown on some FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps for areas along coastlines.

Littoral Drift

– Littoral drift is the process by which sediment is transported along the shoreline by waves and currents. Sediment movement is typically longshore but can include cross-shore components. Littoral drift occurs within the littoral zone.

Littoral Zone

– The littoral zone is the area where sediment transport either onto or away from the beach occurs within the nearshore area. This zone typically extends from the depth of closure at a beach to the high-water mark at the shoreline. The depth of closure is the approximate location at which the beach profile taken over a series of months or years converge, indicating that the net sediment transport into or out of the littoral system is approximately zero. As sediment transport is caused by the nearshore process of wave breaking, the littoral zone encompasses and extends beyond the surf (breaker) zone.

Living Shoreline

– A living shoreline is a shoreline stabilization technique that is used to protect shorelines using a combination of structural (e.g., breakwater) and non-structural, nature-based (e.g., vegetation, sand) components. In many cases, the structural solution will use natural materials such as rock.

Longshore

– Parallel to the shoreline.