Glossory Category: A-E

Partially enclosed area where salty sea water meets river water.  

Natural processes or functions that add value to individuals or society. An example of an ecosystem service is providing food or acting as a tourist attraction. 

A community of animals, plants, or other organisms in one particular area.

A program that runs on a computer to create a model or simulation of a real- world feature, process or event.

Coastal erosion is the wearing away and breaking up of rock and other coastal features such as sand dunes. 

The land near to the sea. The term ‘coastal’ can refer to that land (e.g., as in ‘coastal communities’), or to that part of the marine environment that is strongly influenced by land-based processes.