Glossary
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Echosounder
Depth measuring device using sound waves.
Echo-sounding
A method of determining water depths by measuring the time lapse between the generation of an initial sound pulse on the ship and the return of the echo. With knowledge of the speed of sound in water, the depth of water can be calculated.
Ecosystem
Assemblage of flora and fauna and the inter-relationships of their life functions.
Ecosystem Approach
Approach taking into account all elements that make up the ecosystem (physical, chemical and biological variables) as well as activities taking place there to ensure that the biodiversity, health and integrity of the marine environment is maintained.
EEZ
See Exclusive Economic Zone.
Effect
An outcome, result or consequence to the environment brought about by some force, project or action.
EIA
See Environmental Impact Assessment
EIA Regulations
The provisions of the EC Directive 85/337/EEC concerning the environmental impact assessment of certain public and private projects (EIA Directive).
Elasmobranch
Fish with a cartilaginous, non-bony skeleton (sharks, skates and rays).
EMS
An Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) records the date, time and exact location of the dredging activities of every dredging vessel operating in UK waters.
English Heritage
English Heritage is the Governments statutory advisor on the historic environment, whose responsibilities include the preservation and promotion of maritime archaeology in English coastal waters.
Enhancement
Landscape improvement through restoration, reconstruction or creation.
Environmental Assessment
An assessment of the impacts (see Impact) and effects resulting from a development, such as a mineral working site.
Environmental Impact
The potential environmental benefits or disbenefits arising from a development.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Environmental Impact Assessment can be summarised as the process by which information about the environmental effects of a proposed activity is collected, analysed and presented to decision makers.
Environmental Protection Act (EPA)
Acronym for the Environmental Protection Act, 1990.
Environmental Statement (ES)
A document which presents the findings of an environmental assessment together with details of appropriate mitigation.
EPA
See Environmental Protection Act.
Epibenthic
Organisms occurring on, but not penetrating, the substrate at the seabed.
Epibenthos
The section of the benthos living on the sediment/rock surface.
Epifauna
Animals that live on the surface of a substrate.
ES
See Environmental Statement.
Estuary
A semi-enclosed coastal body of water freely connected to the sea. Fresh water from rivers mixes with saline water in the estuary by the action of tides, winds and waves.
European Union (EU)
An inter-governmental organisation currently made up of 25 democratic European countries, which work together for peace and prosperity.
Eustatic sea-level change
Refers to a global or worldwide change in sea level and is unrelated to local/regional effects. The most common cause of eustatic sea-level variation is change in the ocean water volume.
Evaluation
A limited programme of non-intrusive and/or intrusive fieldwork designed to ascertain the presence or absence, nature and character of the archaeological component of a specific site or area.
Evaporation
The process of liquid water becoming water vapour, including vaporization from water surfaces, land surfaces, and snow fields, but not from leaf surfaces, which is transpiration.
Evapo-transpiration
The combined effect of evaporation and transpiration.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
The sea zone extending 200 nautical miles out from the coast, over which a state has special rights over the exploration and the use of mineral resources.