Glossary of acronyms and technical terms

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ABS

Acoustic Backscatter System.  

ACCLAIM

Antarctic Circumpolar Current Levels by Altimetry and Island.   Contributes to the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) of the World Climate Research Programme.

ADCP

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler.  

algorithm

Arabic notation of numbers.

Process or rules for calculations.

altimeter

An instrument used to measure the height above sea level.

amphidrome

A point in the sea where there is zero tidal amplitude due to cancelling of tidal waves. Cotidal lines radiate from an amphidromic point and corange lines encircle it.

anthropogenic

Originated by man.

baroclinic

Atmospheric condition in which isobaric and constant-density surfaces are not parallel.

In the ocean when surfaces of constant pressure intersect surfaces of constant density.

barotropic

A state in a water mass in which the surfaces of constant pressure are parallel to the surfaces of constant density.

bathymetry

The charting of the ocean floor by taking soundings.

BPR

Bottom Pressure Recorder.  

calibrate

find calibre of; correlate readings of (instrument etc) with a standard.

CAMELOT

Coastal Area Modelling for Engineering in the Long-Term.   MAFF research programme.

CARTUM

Comparative Analysis and Rationalization of Second-Moment.   EU MAST III project.

COHERENS

Coupled Hydrodynamical-Ecological Model for Regional and Shelf Seas.   EU MAST project.

DORIS

Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite.  

ellipsoid

A solid of which all plane sections through one axis are ellipses and all other plane sections are ellipses or circles.

EMPHASYS

Estuarine Morphology and Processes Holistic Assessment System.   MAFF/EA/EN research programme.

geodesy

Science concerned with surveying and mapping the earth's surface to determine, e.g., its exact size, shape and gravitational field.

GLOSS

Global Sea Level Observing System.   Research programme coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

HOMER

Homing Marine Environmental Recorder.  

IES

Inverted Echo Sounder.  

INDIA

Inlet Dynamics Initiative: Algarve.   EU MAST III project.

interdecadal

Between ten years.

In groups of ten.

isostatic

In hydrostatic equilibrium from equality of pressure.

JERICHO

Impact of a Changing Wave Climate on our Coasts.   BNSC Earth Observation Link Project.

LOIS

Land Ocean Interaction Study.   UK NERC Project.

MAIA

Measuring Atlantic Inflow into the Arctic.   EU MAST V project.

morphodynamics

Related to form and force.

morphology

The study of the forms of things.

MYRTLE

Multi-Year Return Tidal Level Equipment.  

NOMADS

North Sea Model Advection Dispersion Study.   EU MAST project.

nepheloid layers

A body of water with a high concentration of suspended sediment found near the deep ocean floor, close to the base of a continental slope.

OMEX

Ocean Margin Exchange.   EU MAST project.

oscillatory

Moves to and fro between two points.

parameterise

To be constant in that case considered but varying in different cases.

pelagic

of, or performed on, the open sea/ belonging to the upper layers of open sea.

pelagic-benthic

Everything living in the sea.

POLCOMS

POL Coastal Ocean Modelling System.  

POLPRED

POL Offshore tidal prediction software.  Available from the Applications Group.

POLTIPS

POL Coastal tidal prediction software.  Available from the Applications Group.

potentiometer

An instrument for measuring or adjusting electrical potential.

PRARE

Precise Range and Range-rate Equipment.  

PROMISE

Pre-operational Modelling in the Seas of Europe.   EU MAST III project.

PROVESS

Processes of Vertical Exchange in Shelf Seas.   EU MAST III project.

PSMSL

Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level.  

scatterometer

An instrument which measures dispersal.

SCAWVEX

Surface Current and Wave Variability Experiment.   EU MAST II project.

seiche

The oscillation of a body of water at its natural period. Coastal observations of sea-level often show seiches with amplitudes of a few centimeters and periods of a few minutes due to oscillations of the local harbour, estuary or bay, superimposed on the normal tidal changes. Seiches can also occur in lakes.

SES

Shelf Edge Study.   Part of LOIS project.

sextants

Instrument with graduated arc of sixty degrees used in navigation and surveying for measuring angular distance of objects by means of mirrors.

STABLE

Sediment Transport And Boundary Layer Equipment.  

stochastic

Governed by the laws of probability.

STOWASUS

Storm, Wave and Surge.   EU MAST IV project.

TGI

Tide Gauge Inspectorate.   The UK Tide Gauge Network.

Tsunamis

Waves generated by seismic activity, sometimes called seismic sea waves. Tsunamis are also popularly, but inaccurately, called tidal waves. When they reach shallow coastal regions, amplitudes may increase to several metres.

turbidity

being thick, muddy, not clear, confused, disordered.