Environmental Topics
- ABC Process
- A method of purifying sewage which derived its name from the articles used: sulphate of alumina, blood, charcoal and clay.
- Abiotic Factor
- A nonorganic variable within the ecosystem, affecting the life of organisms, e.g. temperature, light, and soil structure.
- Aeration Tank
- A chamber used to inject air into water.
- Air Pollution
- The presence of contaminants or pollutant substances in the air that interfere with human health or welfare, or produce other harmful environmental effects.
- Air Pollution Episode
- A period of abnormally high concentration of air pollutants, often due to low winds and temperature inversion, that can cause illness and death.
- Air Quality Criteria
- The levels of pollution and lengths of exposure above which adverse health and welfare effects may occur.
- Algal Bloom
- Sudden spurts of algae growth, which can affect water quality adversely and indicate potentially hazardous changes in local water chemistry.
- Allergen
- A substance that causes an allergic reaction in individuals sensitive to it.
- Alluvial
- Relating to and/or sand deposited by flowing water.
- Alternative Energy
- Energy derived from non-fossil-fuel sources.
- Anthropogenic
- Resulting from or produced by human beings.
- Aquatic Ecotoxicity
- The study of how chemicals affect the water environment and the organisms living there.
- Aqueous Decontamination
- Removal of a chemical or biological hazard with a water-base solution.
- Biodegradeable
- Waste materials that can be broken down by organisms.
- Biomass
- Burning wood, crop residues and dung is the most widespread source of energy for heating and cooking in the rural developing world.
- Brakish Water
- Water having less salt than sea water, but undrinkable, having salinity values ranging from about 0.5 to 17 parts per thousand.
- CAA
- Abbreviation of Clean Air Act.
- Carbon Dioxide Emissions
- While CO2 levels in the Earth′s atmosphere have fluctuated over many eons, recent investigations have revealed a steady and rapid rate of increase in atmospheric CO2 during the past 100 years as a result of mankind′s industrialization.
- Carbon Sequestration
- The absorption and storage of CO2 from the atmosphere.
- Cellulosic Ethanol
- Ethanol made from agricultural refuse, grass, wood, municipal waste and a variety of feedstock, which is less expensive and more available than just corn.
- Chlorination
- The application of chlorine to drinking water, sewage, or industrial waste to disinfect or to oxidize undesirable compounds.
- Clean Air Act
- Signed into law in 1963, then amended in 1970, and again in 1990. Includes emissions standard for mobile and stationary sources. Enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Clean Diesel
- An evolving definition of diesel fuel with lower emission specifications.
- CO2 Equivalent
- The amount of carbon dioxide that would cause the same integrated radiative emission as the emitted amount of greenhouse gases.
- Concentrated Solar Power
- The sun′s energy is captured with mirrors and concentrated to heat steam that then drives a turbine to produce electricity.
- Drinking Water
- Water of sufficiently high quality that it can be consumed or used without risk of immediate or long term harm.
- Elutriation
- The process of separating the finer particles of an earthy substance from the coarser and heavier by washing with water.
- Emissions
- The gases and airborne particles produced during combustion.
- Energy Accounting
- System used within industry, where measuring and analyzing the energy consumption of different activities is done to improve energy efficiency.
- Energy Conservation
- Practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used.
- Energy Return on Energy Invested
- It is the ratio of energy generated divided by the energy required to build and maintain the equipment.
- Environmental Engineer
- An engineer who designs and operates systems to provide safe drinking water and to prevent and control pollution in water, in the air, and on the land.
- Equivalent Carbon Dioxide
- The amount of carbon dioxide that would cause the same integrated radiative emission as the emitted amount of greenhouse gases.
- EROEI
- Abbreviation of Energy Return on Energy Invested.
- Eutrophication
- The absorption of excessive nutrients in a body of water, which causes a dense growth of plant life.
- Evapotranspiration
- The combined process of evaporation from the surface of the Earth and transpiration from vegetation.
- Fertiliser
- A substance added to soil to provide nutrients for plants.
- Fossil Fuel Emissions
- Emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from the combustion of fuels from fossil carbon deposits.
- Fuel Cycle
- The processes involved in extracting a fuel in its native form, converting it to a useful product, transporting it to market, and consuming it at its final destination.
- Fungicide
- A substance that kill fungi.
- Gasification
- A process for converting materials such as coal, petroleum, or biomass, into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reacting the raw material at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen.
- Geothermal Energy
- Energy made by using underground steam; the steam produces electricity.
- Global Dimming
- A perceived widespread reduction of solar radiation received at the surface of the Earth.
- Global Warming
- The prediction that climate will warm as a result of the addition to the atmosphere of humanly produced greenhouse gases.
- Global Warming Potential
- A measure of how much a given mass of greenhouse gas is estimated to contribute to global warming relative to the same mass of Carbon Dioxide.
- Heat Island Effect
- A dome of elevated temperatures over an urban area caused by structural and pavement heat fluxes, and pollutant emissions.
- Heavy Metals
- Metallic elements with high atomic weights can damage living things at low concentrations and tend to accumulate in the food chain.
- Hydroelectricity
- Production of electricity by water power.
- Hydrothermal
- Pertains to hot water or the action of heated water, often considered heated by magma or in association with magma.
- Landfill Site
- A carefully designed structure built into or on top of the ground in which rubbish is isolated from the surrounding environment.
- LCA
- Abbreviation of Life Cycle Analysis.
- Life Cycle Analysis
- The investigation and evaluation of the environmental impacts of a given product or service caused or necessitated by its existence.
- PM10
- Particles measuring 10µm or less.
- PM2.5
- Particles measuring 2.5µm or less.
- Potable Water
- Another name for drinking water.
- PV Cell
- Abbreviation of Photovoltaic Cell.
- Pyrolysis
- Thermal degradation of waste in the absence of air to produce char, pyrolysis oil and syngas.
- Reservoir
- A container for storage of liquid in a fluid power system.
- Smog
- A visible haze caused primarily by particulate matter and ozone.
- Sour Water
- Waste waters containing fetid materials, usually sulphur compounds.
- Surface Water
- Rainwater collected and running on the surface of the land rather than being confined to drains and water courses.
- Syngas
- A gas mixture that contains varying amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen generated by the gasification of a carbon containing fuel to a gaseous product with a heating value.
- Toxic Emission
- Any pollutant emitted from a source that can negatively affect human health or the environment.
- Toxic Substance
- A generic term referring to a harmful substance or group of substances.
- Waste Water
- The used water and solids from industrial processes that flow to a treatment plant.
- Water Softener
- A device or system used to remove calcium and magnesium hardness minerals from a water supply.
- WL
- Abbreviation of Working Level.
- WLM
- Abbreviation of Working Level Month.
- Working Level
- A unit of measure for documenting exposure to radon decay products.
- Working Level Month
- A unit of measure used to determine cumulative exposure to radon.
- Zeolite Softening
- Refers to the process, where zeolite chemicals are capable to exchange ions with the hardness causing impurities of the water.
- Zero Air
- Atmospheric air purified to contain less than 0.1 ppm total hydrocarbons.
- Zone of Saturation
- The layer beneath the surface of the land containing openings that may fill with water.
