| Term |
Description |
| EA |
Environment Agency |
| Ebb |
Period when tide level is falling. |
| Ebb-tidal delta |
Sediment deposited on the seaward side of a tidal inlet. |
| EC |
European Commission |
| EEC |
European Economic Community |
| EFCI |
Estuarine Fish Community Index |
| Effective Record Length |
Total record length multiplied by the data capture rate. |
| Effluent |
A complex waste material (eg liquid industrial discharge or sewage) that may be discharged into the environment. |
| EGA |
Expert Geomorphological Assessment |
| Electromagnetic Current Meter |
A device which measures current and water pressure variations. If deployed in shallow water current and pressure data can be converted to wave height, period and direction. |
| Embayment |
Sea area within a concave shoreline plan shape. |
| EN |
English Nature |
| Epoch |
A geological time unit. |
| Equatorial tides |
Tides occurring semi-monthly as a result of the Moon being over the Equator. At these times the tendency of the Moon to produce a diurnal inequality in the tide is at a minimum. |
| Equilibrium |
Balance of forces or state which is maintained over time |
| Erosion |
The removal of sediment from the seabed by water movement resulting in a lowering of bed levels The landward retreat of a shoreline due to this process. |
| Estuaries |
Semi-enclosed coastal bodies of water which has a free connection to the open sea and where freshwater mixes with saltwater |
| Estuarine |
Of estuaries. |
| Estuary |
A semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has a free connection to the open sea and where freshwater mixes with saltwater |
| EU |
European Union |
| Eulerian |
Observation of flow field from a fixed point of reference (e.g. using a fixed position current meter). |
| Euphotic zone |
Surface waters to a depth of approximately 80-100 m; the lit region that extends virtually from the water surface to the level at which photosynthesis fails to occur because of reduced light penetration. |
| Eutrophication |
Enrichment of waters with nutrients, primarily phosphorus, causing abundant aquatic plant growth. Frequently resulting in oxygen depletion below the surface layer of a water body. |
| Exponential |
Mathematical function defined as the limiting value of (1 + 1/m)m as m approaches infinity, e = 2.718. |
| Extreme |
The value expected to be exceeded one, on average, in a given (long) period of time. |
| Extreme high water |
The highest elevation reached by the sea as recorded by a tide gauge during a given period. |
| Extreme low water |
The lowest elevation reached by the sea as recorded by a tide gauge during a given period. |
