Glossary
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Magnetometer
Also known as a fluxgate gradiometer. A remote sensing instrument capable of identifying sub-surface archaeological features by measuring the difference in their magnetic properties against the surrounding soils
Marine Bill
Legislation that will help deliver the UK Government's vision for a clean, healthy, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas, and for the delivery of sustainable development in the marine and coastal environment.
Marine Mineral Guidance 1
Marine Mineral Guidance 1 : Extraction by dredging from the English seabed.
MMG1 sets out the Government's policies on the extraction of marine sand and gravel and other minerals from the English seabed.
Marine Nature Reserves (MNRs)
UK designations established to conserve marine flora and fauna and geological or physiological features of special interest, while providing opportunities for study of the systems involved.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Network of areas planned for UK seas to ensure the sustainable use, conservation and protection of marine biological diversity and its ecosystems.
Marine regression
Periods of sea level fall, when areas of submerged seafloor are exposed above sea level by basin-ward migration of a shoreline.
Marine Spatial Planning
A planning system for the sea, which enables the strategic and integrated management of sea use at UK, national regional and local levels.
Marine transgression
Periods of sea level rise, where an influx of the sea covers areas of previously exposed land.
Mean Sea Level
The average level of the sea over a period of time, taking into account periodic changes due to tides and other fluctuations (such as wind waves).
Megaripples
Latitudinal sedimentary bedforms: small sand waves.
Mesolithic
The 'Middle Stone Age' period covering the years from about 10,000 to 5000BC, between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic Periods. This period is characterised by distinct environmental changes and climatic warming, afforestation, sea level rise and occupation by nomadic hunter-gatherer groups.
Metamorphic
These are rocks within the Earth’s crust which have been altered by heat, pressure or chemically active fluids.
MHW
Mean High Water.
Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology (MIST)
The Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology programme aims to deliver environmental benefit through development and demonstration of new technologies and approaches. It funds projects with money from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and is administrated by MIRO.
Minerals Planning Guidance (MPG)
Minerals Planning Guidance. These are the documents with which the Government lays out its national planning policy for minerals in England. Some are being replaced by Minerals Policy Statements.
MIRO
Mineral Industry Research Organisation.
MIST
See Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology programme.
Mitigate
To lessen or diminish the effects of an impact.
Mitigation
Measures adopted to avoid, reduce or remedy significant adverse effects of an activity.
MLW
Mean Low Water.
MMG1
See Marine Minerals Guidance Note 1.
MMG1
See Marine Mineral Guidance 1.
MNRs
See Marine Nature Reserves
Modiolus beds
Dense beds formed by the horse mussel Modiolus modiolus in moderately tide-swept areas located off northern and western parts of the British Isles.
Moraine
Deposit produced by the wasting (margin) of a glacier.
MPAs
See Marine Protected Areas.
MPG
See Minerals Planning Guidance.
MPG6
Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6, which advises mineral planning authorities and the operators on the sustainable development of the industry, taking into account market demands and impacts on society, the environment and the economy.
Multi-beam echo-sounding
Using the same principles as single-beam echo-sounding, multi-beam or swathe echo-sounding is a method of hydrographic survey using hull-mounted arrays which transmit sound beams perpendicular to the direction of the ships track, potentially providing 100% coverage of the seafloor.