MIDA ontology for coastal erosion related topics, edited down ot display terms for existing or potenital data. It iintegrates the top ontology which was modified by consensus in ICAN conference call 20071003. 20080124 Monuments that are classified as National Monuments are those of considerable national importance that require preservation by the State. National Monuments The temperature of the ocean surface, the layer of seawater nearest the atmosphere. Sea Surface Temperature Climate The average pattern of weather for a particular region and time period, usually taken over a 30-year time period. A site designated under the European Community Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) to protect internationally important natural habitats and species in the European Community. SAC Special Area Of Conservation Intertidal wetlands that are found in sheltered coastal areas and estuaries. Saltmarshes A legally established land or water area under either public or private ownership that is regulated and managed to achieve specific conservation objectives. Protected Area Built Heritage An individual or group of buildings or structures, which are associated with architectural, cultural, social, political, economic, or military history. Marine Nature Reserves are set aside marine areas for the conservation and restoration of the natural environment, the protection care and study of indigenous flora and fauna, and the preservation of any feature of archaeological, historic or scientific interest. Marine Nature Reserve An area set aside for the protection of certain features and characteristics of that area. Reserves A series of satellites that produce images of the earth. The Landsat remote sensing satellite program was developed by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). LANDSAT A river is a natural waterway that transits water through a landscape from higher to lower elevations. Rivers Areas protected by the World Heritage Convention of 1972, which combined the conservation of both natural and cultural features of global importance. World Heritage Sites Terrestrial refers to things having to do with the land or the Earth. Terrestrial Jetties Piers Quays Access points to and facilities at the water. Coastline The line of ordinary low water along that portion of the coast that is in direct contact with the open sea which indicates the seaward limit of inland waters. It markes the boundary between the coast and shore, or land and water. SPA Special Protection Area Sites classified under the European Community Directive on Wild Birds to protect internationally important bird species. The Birds Directive identifies internationally important areas for breeding, over-wintering and migrating birds within the European Community. Tracks providing a runway for trains operated by a commercial organisation, who is responsible for the transportation of trains that pull passengers or freight. Railways Population per unit of land area e.g. persons per square kilometer. Population Density Natural Protected Areas Areas that are protected for the presevation of their natural assets and characteristics. Areas, where samples are taken in aquatic ecosystems to determine the existence of any element or compounds, such as phosphorus or nitrogen, that fuels abnormally high organic growth. Nutrient Sample Sites Birdwatch Ireland BirdWatch Ireland is the largest independent conservation organisation in Ireland, with the aim to conserve wild birds and their natural habitats. The average rate of wind movement in distance per unit time. AverageWind Speed Erosion The wearing away of coastal lands, usually by wave attack, tidal or littoral currents, or wind. Shipping Ports A facility for receiving ships and transferring cargo to and from them. Erosion Trends The general direction or rate of possible coastal erosion graded according to certain characteristics such as the underlying parent material of that area and the occurance of storms, wind, rainfall and flooding. The height of the surface of the sea midway between the average high and low tides Sea Level Position Digital Elevation Model A representation of the topography of the Earth in digital format by coordinates and numerical descriptions of altitude. SPOT (Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre) refers to a series of commercial earth observation satellites owned, operated, and marketed by Spot Image. The satellies were launched by the French Space Agency CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales)'s Ariane series of rocket launchers. SPOT Conservation The protection, improvement and wise use of natural resources to provide the greatest social and economic value for the present and future. Oceanography The scientific study and exploration of the oceans and seas in all their aspects, including all processes in the oceans and interactions and relations with Earth. BirdLife International BirdLife International (formerly known as the International Council for Bird Preservation) is the international conservation organisation working to protect the world’s birds and their habitats. Images taken from the sky. Aerial Images Flood Risk The tendency and possibility that a coastal area will suffer from flooding All Themes The amount of precipitation of any type per area. Rainfall Distribution The amplitude is a nonnegative scalar measure of a wave's magnitude of oscillation, that is, the magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium during one wave cycle. Amplitude National Monuments In State Care National monuments that are in public ownership. Natural Coastal Features Coastal Features are formed through erosional and depositional action of marine forces on the coastlines of land masses. The observed physical and biological cover of the land as vegetation or man-made features. Land Cover Past coastlines as oposed to contemporary ones. Historical Coastlines Local Ferry Ports Small ports that operate local ferries to mainly accomodate the transport of people and goods. Deprivation Indices A measure of material poverty based on a number of criteria such as income, economic circumstances and environment. The division of areas of any county or county borough into areas in Ireland that have been divided by government regulation. District Electoral Divisions The long-term trend of shoreline advance and/or gain of beach sediment volume over several decades. Accretion Waves generated by wind are usually half as deep as the wave height. Wind Generated Waves Light Detection And Ranging- a remote-sensing technique that uses a laser light source to probe the characteristics of a surface target. LIDAR Amount of the land area which is covered by physical man made structures. Built Up Areas Bedrock The solid rock beneath the soil and superficial rock. Waves And Tides Energy moving across the ocean's surfaces causes waves, where water particles only travel in small circles as the wave passes. Tides are the rising and falling of Earth's ocean surface caused by the tidal forces of the Moon and the Sun acting on the oceans. Assets At Risk Anything owned that is exposed to potential negative impact, where the value can be measured in terms of money. Development Rate The frequency, in relation to time, at which the economic well-being and quality of life for a community is growing or slowing down. Comercial Ferries Ports A port operating ferries for primarily comercial reasons. Built-up and industrial areas, major roads and other infrastructure are illuminated at night. These lights can be detected by a special scanner on board the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) series of satellites. Stable Lights Topography Topography is the study of Earth's surface features. Physical structures that form the foundation for development e.g. wastewater and water works, electric power, communications and transit and transportation facilities. Infrastructure Satellite An artificial platform placed into orbit around the earth, which often carries instruments to gather environmental data. A shipwreck or sunken ship refers to the remains of a wrecked ship. Shipwrecks Lines establishing the limits of an area determined by the local government, or the hierarchy of national and local government, that applies to a town, district or country limits. Administrative Boundaries Coastal typology refers to the study of coastal scientific information concerning the distribution, quality and quantity of various physical-geographical and biological features. Coastal Typology Landscape A landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including physical elements such as landforms, living elements of flora and fauna, abstract elements such as lighting and weather conditions, and human elements, for instance human activity or the built environment. The tendency and possibility that a coastal area will suffer from erosion. Erosion Risk SLNCI Sites Of Local Nature Conservation The UK designation of SLNCI identifies sites on the basis of their flora, fauna or earth science interest. Detailed descriptions of their characteristics are provided in the Countryside Assessment Technical Supplement. Bathing Water Areas A natural body of surface water e.g. inland water (rivers, lakes) or coastal water (the sea or part of the sea) where water quality and physical nature of the place allows bathing, swimming and other water based recreational activities to be carried out. Access Access refers to the right and facilitation to enter. The measurement of the depth of the ocean floor from the water surface; the oceanic equivalent of topography. Bathymetry Coastal Monitoring The observation of a coastal area to determine if certain standards are pertained. Area of relatively shallow, quiet water with access to the sea but separated from it by sandbars, barrier islands, or coral reefs. Coastal Lagoons Bathing Water Quality Standards set for the characteristics of water so that it is suitable for bathing. Rainfall Stations record rainfall on a daily basis. Rainfall Stations Wave Heights The height of a water-surface wave is generally taken as the height difference between the wave crest and the preceding trough. Depth Contour A line connecting points of equal depth below the hydrographic datum. Also called bathymetric contour or depth curve. Landscape Character Areas An area defined as having a distinctive character in terms of landscape following assessment of the geology, soils, topography, hydrology, land cover and land use, vegetation, historical and cultural influences, settlement and built form. Swell Generated Waves Waves which have travelled into the area of observation after having been generated by previous winds in other areas. The use of time in a non-profitable manner through an activity that amuses, stimulates or diverts. Recreation The blue flag is awarded annually to beaches which have excellent water quality, environmental management, safety and a specific range of facilities for users. Blue Flag Beaches Moorings Floats providing a tie off for a boat, usually set to a permanent anchor. Property Demand Property demand refers to the total of the property demanded by all potential costumers at any given price. AONB Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (UK legislation) for the purposes of preserving and enhancing their natural beauty. Soil Soil is an ecological dynamic system and the top layer of the Earth. Marine Transport The water based movement of people and goods from one place to another. A recreational activity associated with and/or dependent on water. Water Based Recreation Coastal Geomorphology refers to coastal landforms that are influenced by the underlying geology as well as the influence of dynamic processes, which are caused by wind, waves, currents and sea-level changes. Coastal Geomorphology Oblique Images Images that are taken at an angle that is not a multiple of 90 degrees. Common characteristics used for population division. Typical demographic data points include age, gender, postal code, and income. Demographics High Water Marks The high mark lines show the general location of high tides. All methods of production and management of livestock, crops, vegetation, and soil. Agriculture Geological processes determining relative age, composition, and relationships among rocks and sediments at and near the earth’s surface. Surface Geology Bathymetry Raster Bathymetric raster shows the bathymetry in a map based on grid cells or pixels, where each pixel contains a single value. Low Water Marks The low mark lines show the general location of low tides. Climatological Stations Climate Stations record meteorological elements on a daily basis, such as rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures. Some record soil and earth temperatures, sunshine, solar radiation and evaporation. A natural habitat which has been modified to a limited extent by human influence. Semi-Natural Habitat The people who inhabit a territory or state. Population Synoptic Stations Synoptic Stations record meteorological elements on an hourly basis, such as air and soil temperatures, rainfall, wind, pressure, weather, cloud, visibility, humidity, sunshine. Some have extra elements such as solar radiation, evaporation and soil moisture deficits. Wind is the rough horizontal movement of air (as opposed to an air current) caused by uneven heating of the Earth's surface. wind Property Property designates those things that are commonly recognised as being the possessions of a person or group of people. Coastal Protection Coastal protection concerns the protection of the coast from erosion and flooding by the sea. The classification of land according to how it is used; for example, agriculture, industrial, residential, urban, rural, or commercial. Natural features of the land such as forestry, pastureland, brush land and bodies of water are also often classifies in this manner. Land Use Wetland areas that are protected under the Convention on Wetlands signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. The intergovernmental treaty provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Ramsar Sites MODIS Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Coastal Stability Coastal stability concerns the ability of the coast to resist the influence of erosion and flooding by the sea. A tide gauge may be a simple instrument in a sheltered location, such as on a bridge support, where visual observation can be made, or it may be more elaborate and capable of recording the height of the tide continuously. Tide Guages Ocean Characteristics Qualities and features of the ocean. Established under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme, biosphere reserves are a series of protected areas linked through a global network, intended to demonstrate the relationship between conservation and development. Biosphere Reserves A facility located on a body of water which provides docking, storage, maintenance and other provisions for boats. Marinas A protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research. Nature Reserves ASSI Area Of Special Scientific Interest Area of Special Scientific Interest which needs to be protected and has been formally declared by the Department of Environment under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (NI) Order 1985. Water Quality A term used to describe the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water. A cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs The inundation of land areas along the coast caused by sea water above normal tidal actions. Flooding Changes of the land cover over time caused by human and environmental influences. Land Cover Change The transportation of goods and materials by waterway through a commercial enterprise. Shipping Land Transport The terrestrial movement of people and goods from one place to another. Images taken of an coastal area. Coastal Images Soil Types Soils are classified into different types according to different characteristic layers called soil horizons. Coastal Defence Structures Structures put in place for the protection of the coast from erosion and flooding by the sea. Roads Roads are identifiable terrestrial routes or ways between two or more places. Precipitation in the form of liquid water. Rainfall Sea Level Change The rise and fall of sea levels throughout time in response to global climate and local tectonic changes.