Coal Glossary

8/8/2019 Coal Glossary

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Coal Glossary

ABD "all but degree" or "all but dissertation"

Not a formal degree; applies to someone who has completed all the requirements for a Ph.D.except the dissertation.

Abiotic

Nonliving. Compare biotic.

Abiotic factors

Non living; moisture, soil, nutrients, fire, wind, temperature, climate

Absorption

The taking in or soaking up of one substance into the body of another by molecular or chemicalaction (as tree roots absorb dissolved nutrients in the soil).

Absorption Field

A system of properly sized and constructed narrow trenches partially filled with a bed of washedgravel or crushed stone into which perforated or open joint pipe is placed. The discharge from theseptic tank is distributed through these pipes into trenches and surrounding soil.While seepagepits normally require less land area to install, they should be used only where absorption fieldsare not suitable and well-water supplies are not endangered.

Absorption of radiation

The uptake of radiation by a solid body, liquid or gas. The absorbed energy may be transferred orre-emitted. See radiation.

Academic Advisor

The officer (a member of the faculty or another professional) who provides academic advice andguidance to students.

Acceleration

Completion of a college program of study in fewer than the usual number of years, most often byattending summer sessions and carrying extra courses during regular academic terms.

Accreditation (see also "regional accreditation" and "professional accreditation")

A process of granting recognition to academic institutions and professional programs offered bythose institutions for meeting established standards of performance, integrity and quality andwhich entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public.

Achievement Tests (ACH)

Subject examinations, administered by the College Board, used to measure academicachievement and for student placement.

Acid


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A substance that dissolves in water with the formation of hydrogen ions, contains hydrogen whichmay be replaced by metals to form salt, and/or is corrosive.

Acid deposition

A complex chemical and atmospheric process whereby recombined emissions of sulfur andnitrogen compounds are redeposited on earth in wet or dry form. See acid rain.

Acid Rain

Any precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, hail, or fog) containing sulfuric and/or nitric acid, generallywith a pH value less than 5.6. The acids are a by-product of burning fossil fuels in automobilesand power plants. (A pH of 7 is neutral, normal rain is 7 to 5.5)

Acid rain

Rainwater that has an acidity content greater than the postulated natural pH of about 5.6. It isformed when sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides, as gases or fine particles in the atmosphere,combine with water vapor and precipitate as sulfuric acid or nitric acid in rain, snow, or fog. Thedry forms are acidic gases or particulates. See acid deposition, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides.

Acid Solution

Any water solution that has more hydrogen ions (H+) than hydroxide ions (OH-); any watersolution with a pH less than 7. See basic solution.

Acidic

See acid solution.

Acidity

The capacity of water or wastewater to neutralize bases. Acidity is expressed in milligrams perliter of equivalent calcium carbonate. Acidity is not the same as pH.

ACT

A standardized external battery of tests administered by the American College Testing Programand covering English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning. The tests are designed toassess the student's educational development and readiness for college-level study and mayused by institutions in lieu of the SAT.

Activated sludge

Sludge particles produced in raw or settled wastewater (primary effluent) by the growth oforganisms (including zoogleal bacteria) in aeration tanks in the presence of dissolved oxygen.The term "activated" comes from the fact that the particles are teeming with fungi, bacteria, andprotozoa. Activated sludge is different from primary sludge in that the sludge particles containmany living organisms which can feed on the incoming wastewater.

Adiabatic Process

A thermodynamic change of state of a system such that no heat or mass is transferred across theboundaries of the system. In an adiabatic process, expansion always results in cooling, andcompression in warming.


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Adjunct Faculty

Faculty members who teach part-time without appointments in the regular faculty.

Admissions Office

The office responsible for admitting students to the institution.

ADP

Adenosine diphosphate. See ATP.

Adsorption

The gathering of a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance on the surface or interface zone of anothersubstance.

Advanced Standing

The practice of placing a student in a course based on previous achievement levels, e.g., study atan another institution, by challenge examination, AP or CLEP examination results.

Aeration

The process of adding air to water. In wastewater treatment, air is added to freshen wastewaterand to keep solids in suspension.

Aeration tank

The tank where raw or settled wastewater is mixed with return sludge and aerated. This is thesame as an aeration bay, aerator, or reactor.

Aerobe

An organism that requires free oxygen for growth.

Aerobic

An environment containing (or an organism requiring) oxygen.

Aerobic

A life or process that occurs in and is dependent upon oxygen. See methanotrophic, anaerobic.

Aerobic decay

The first stage in the partial bacterial decay of peat. This occurs in the top one half meter of thepeat column where some 50% of the organic matter is lost within the first year. The product ishumic material which leads to a gel like substance (gytta) at the bottom of the peat column. Thedecay stops when the aerobic bacteria have used up the available oxygen. The decay productsare carbon dioxide, methane, tea colored water and acids.

Aerosol

Particulate matter, solid or liquid, larger than a molecule but small enough to remain suspended


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in the atmosphere. Natural sources include salt particles from sea spray, dust and clay particlesas a result of weathering of rocks, both of which are carried upward by the wind. Aerosols canalso originate as a result of human activities and are often considered pollutants. Aerosols are

important in the atmosphere as nuclei for the condensation of water droplets and ice crystals, asparticipants in various chemical cycles, and as absorbers and scatters of solar radiation, therebyinfluencing the radiation budget of the Earth's cl imate system. See climate, particulate matter,sulfate aerosols.

Afforestations

Planting of new forests on lands that have not been recently forested.

Air carrier

An operator (e.g., airline) in the commercial system of air transportation consisting of aircraft thathold certificates of, Public Convenience and Necessity, issued by the Department ofTransportation, to conduct scheduled or non-scheduled flights within the country or abroad.

Air pollutant

See air pollution.

Air pollution

One or more chemicals or substances in high enough concentrations in the air to harm humans,other animals, vegetation, or materials. Such chemicals or physical conditions (such as excessheat or noise) are called air pollutants.

Albedo

The fraction of the total solar radiation incident on a body that is reflected by it. Albedo can beexpressed as either a percentage or a fraction of 1. Snow covered areas have a high albedo (upto about 0.9 or 90%) due to their white color, while vegetation has a low albedo (generally about0.1 or 10%) due to the dark color and light absorbed for photosynthesis. Clouds have anintermediate albedo and are the most important contributor to the Earth's albedo. The Earth'saggregate albedo is approximately 0.3. See radiation, radiative forcing, photosynthesis.

Alkaline substance

Chemical compounds in which the basic hydroxide (OH-) ion is united with a metallic ion, such assodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). These substances impart alkalinity towater and are employed for neutralization of acids. Lime is the most commonly used alkalinematerial in wastewater treatment.

Alkalinity

Having the properties of a base with a pH of more than 7. A common alkaline is baking soda.

Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)

The group of Pacific and Caribbean nations who call for relatively fast action by developednations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The AOSIS countries are concerned by the effectsof rising sea levels and increased storm activity predicted to accompany global warming. Its planis to hold Annex I Parties to a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2005.See Annex I Parties.


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Angstrom

Abbreviated . A unit of length equal to 10-8 cm (one-hundredth of a millionth of a centimeter).An Angstrom is on the order of the size of an atom.

Anhydrous

Very dry. No water or dampness is present.

Anion

A negatively charged ion in an electrolyte solution, attracted to the anode under the influence of adifference in electrical potential. Chloride is an anion.

Annex I Parties

Industrialized countries that, as parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, havepledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2000 to 1990 levels. Annex IParties consist of countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment (OECD) and countries designated as Economies-in-Transition.

Anoxic

An environment low in oxygen

Antarctic "Ozone Hole"

Refers to the seasonal depletion of stratospheric ozone in a large area over Antarctica. Seeozone, ozone layer.

Anthracite

A hard, black, lustrous coal containing a high percentage of fixed carbon and a low percentage ofvolatile matter. Often referred to as hard coal. See coal.

Anthracite coal

The highest rank coal. It is very rare, found primarily in northeastern Pennsylvania. The thermalmetamorphism of the coal at this stage has begun to make the molecules unburnable, so whilethe carbon content is the highest of the coals, the BTU content may be slightly lower than thebest bituminous coal.

Anthropogenic

Human made. In the context of greenhouse gases, emissions that are produced as the result ofhuman activities.

AP (Advanced Placement Program)

A program offered by the College Board that allows students to take college-level courses whilein high school and then take standardized tests to demonstrate whether they have attainedcollege-level achievement. Universities and colleges grant students credit on the basis of AP testresults.

API separator


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A facility developed by the Committee on Disposal or Refinery Wastes of the American PetroleumInstitute for separation of oil from wastewater in a gravity differential and equipped with means for

recovering the separated oil and removing sludge

Application Deadline

The last date on which a college will accept applications for admission to the coming term.

Arable land

Land that can be cultivated to grow crops.

Arc Degree

A unit of angular measure in which there are 360 arc degrees in a full circle.

Arc Second

Abbreviated arcsec. A unit of angular measure in which there are 60 arc seconds in 1 arc minuteand therefore 3600 arc seconds in 1 arc degree. One arc second is equal to about 725 km on theSun.

Aromatic

Applied to a group of hydrocarbons and their derivatives characterized by the presence of thebenzene ring.

Aseptic

Free from living germs of disease, fermentation or putrefaction.

Ash

The residue remaining after the burning of coal. The most common ash is the sand and / or claywashed into the swamp and mixed with the peat. In addition, wind blown dust (often volcanic ash)may settle down into the peat. Coals commonly will have 3% to10 % ash which affects the BTUvalue and determines the grade of the coal.

Ash

The mineral content of a product remaining after complete combustion.

Asphalt

A dark-brown-to-black cement-like material containing bitumen as the predominant constituent. Itis obtained by petroleum processing. The definition includes crude asphalt as well as thefollowing finished products: cements, fluxes, the asphalt content of emulsions (exclusive ofwater), and petroleum distillates blended with asphalt to make cutback asphalt.

Assigned Reserves

Coal that can be mined on the basis of current mining practices and techniques by the minescurrently in existence or planned

Assimilate


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To take in, similar to eating food.

Assistant Professor

A junior member of the faculty who has not yet received tenure.

Assistantship

Award granted to graduate students and which consists of tuition remission and a stipend forpart-time teaching or research. (see also graduate assistant; research assistant; teachingassistant)

Associate Degree

Degree granted upon the completion of a two-year academic program mostly offered at two-yearinstitutions.

Associate Professor

A tenured member of the faculty.

Atmosphere

The mixture of gases surrounding the Earth. The Earth's atmosphere consists of about 79.1%nitrogen (by volume), 20.9% oxygen, 0.036% carbon dioxide and trace amounts of other gases.The atmosphere can be divided into a number of layers according to its mixing or chemicalcharacteristics, generally determined by its thermal properties (temperature). The layer nearestthe Earth is the troposphere, which reaches up to an altitude of about 8 km (about 5 miles) in thepolar regions and up to 17 km (nearly 11 miles) above the equator. The stratosphere, which

reaches to an altitude of about 50 km (31 miles) lies atop the troposphere. The mesospherewhich extends up to 80-90 km is atop the stratosphere, and finally, the thermosphere, orionosphere, gradually diminishes and forms a fuzzy border with outer space. There is relativelylittle mixing of gases between layers.

Atmospheric lifetime

See lifetime.

Atomic weight

The average weight (or mass) of all the isotopes of an element, as determined from theproportions in which they are present in a given element, compared with the mass of the 12

isotope of carbon (taken as precisely 12.000), that is the official international standard; measuredin daltons.

Atoms

Minute particles that are the basic building blocks of all chemical elements and thus all matter.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate. Chemical energy generated by substrate oxidations is conserved byformation of high-energy compounds such as adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) or compounds containing the thioester bond


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Attached growth processes

Wastewater treatment processes in which the microorganisms and bacteria treating the wastes

are attached to the media in the reactor. The wastes being treated flow over the media. Tricklingfilters, bio-towers, and RBCs are attached growth reactors. These reactors can be used forremoval of BOD, nitrification, and denitrification.

Auditing

Taking a class to acquire knowledge but not for credit or grades. Audited courses do not counttoward degree requirements.

Autotrophy

A unique form of metabolism found only in bacteria. Inorganic compounds (e.g., NH3, NO2-, S2,and Fe2+) are oxidized directly (without using sunlight) to yield energy. This metabolic mode alsorequires energy for CO2 reduction, like photosynthesis, but no lipid-mediated processes areinvolved. This metabolic mode has also been called chemotrophy, chemoautotrophy, orchemolithotrophy.

Aviation gasoline

All special grades of gasoline for use in aviation reciprocating engines, as given in the AmericanSociety for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification D 910. Includes all refinery products withinthe gasoline range that are to be marketed straight or in blends as aviation gasoline withoutfurther processing (any refinery operation except mechanical blending). Also included are finishedcomponents in the gasoline range, which will be used for blending or compounding into aviationgasoline.

AWT

Advanced Waste Treatment - any process of water renovation that upgrades treated wastewaterto meet reuse requirements.

Baccalaureate

Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's Degree

The first university degree awarded upon the completion of an undergraduate curriculum. Thedegrees are usually known as 'bachelor of arts'; 'bachelor of science'.

Bacteria

Living organisms, microscopic in size, which usually consist of a single cell. Most bacteria useorganic matter for their food and produce waste products as a result of their life processes.

Bacteria

One-celled organisms. Many act as decomposers that break down dead organic matter intosubstances that dissolve in water and are used as nutrients by plants.

Bacterial Photosynthesis

A light-dependent, anaerobic mode of metabolism. Carbon dioxide is reduced to glucose, which is


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used for both biosynthesis and energy production. Depending on the hydrogen source used toreduce CO2, both photolithotrophic and photoorganotrophic reactions exist in bacteria.

Barrel (bbl)

A liquid-volume measure equal to 42 United States gallons at 60 degrees Fahrenheit; used inexpressing quantities of petroleum-based products.

Base

A substance which dissociates (separates) in aqueous solution to yield hydroxyl ions, or onecontaining hydroxyl ions (OH-) which reacts with an acid to form a salt or which may react withmetal to form a precipitate.

Baseline Emissions

The emissions that would occur without policy intervention (in a business-as-usual scenario).Baseline estimates are needed to determine the effectiveness of emissions reduction programs(often called mitigation strategies).

Basic solution

Water solution with more hydroxide ions (OH-) than hydrogen ions (H+); water solutions with pHgreater than 7. See acid solution, alkalinity.

Batch process

A treatment process in which a tank or reactor is filled, the wastewater (or solution) is treated or achemical solution is prepared and the tank is emptied. The tank may then be filled and theprocess repeated. Batch processes are also used to c leanse, stabilize or condition chemical

solutions for use in industrial manufacturing and treatment processes.

Bench

A flat, working platform usually 50 to100 feet wide running the length of the highwall in a surfacemine. Used by trucks, shovels, and draglines. Benches may be in the coal or overburden.

Bench scale analysis

Also known as "bench test". A method of studying different ways of treating wastewater andsolids on a small scale in a laboratory. Alken-Murray offers several such test kits including AlkenClear-Flo Bench Test 1 and Alken PCB Bench Test.

Beneficiation

Washing or otherwise cleaning the coal to increase the BTU content (reduces the ash).

Benzene

An aromatic hydrocarbon which is a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid. Benzene is obtainedchiefly from coal tar and is used as a solvent for resins and fats in dye manufacture.

Berlin Mandate

A ruling negotiated at the first Conference of the Parties (COP 1), which took place in March,1995, concluding that the present commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention


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on Climate Change are not adequate. Under the Framework Convention, developed countriespledged to take measures aimed at returning their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels bythe year 2000. The Berlin Mandate establishes a process that would enable the Parties to take

appropriate action for the period beyond 2000, including a strengthening of developed countrycommitments, through the adoption of a protocol or other legal instruments. See United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change, Conference of the Parties.

Binary fission

During binary fission, a single cell divides transversely to form two new cells called daughter cells.Both daughter cells contain an exact copy of th geneticinformation contained in the parent cell.

Biocatalysis

Chemical reactions mediated by biological systems (microbial communities, whole organisms orcells, cell-free extracts, or purified enzymes aka catalytic proteins).

Biodegradable

Organic matter that can be broken down by bacteria to more stable forms which will not create anuisance or give off foul odors.

Biodegradable

Material that can be broken down into simpler substances (elements and compounds) by bacteriaor other decomposers. Paper and most organic wastes such as animal manure arebiodegradable. See nonbiodegradable.

Biofilm

A slime layer which naturally develops when bacteria attach to an inert support that is made of amaterial such as stone, metal, or wood. There are also non-filamentous bacteria that will producean extracellular polysaccharide that acts as a natural glue to immobilize the cells. In nature,nonfilament-forming microorganisms will stick to the biofilm surface, locating within an area of thebiofilm that provides an optimal growth environment (i.e., pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients). Sincenutrients tend to concentrate on solid surfaces, a microorganism saves energy through celladhesion to a solid surface rather than by growing unattached and obtaining nutrients randomlyfrom the medium. Pseudomonas and Nitrosomonas strains are especially well known for theirability to form a strong biofilm.

Bioflocculation

The clumping together of fine, dispersed organic particles by the action of certain bacteria and

algae.

Biofuel

Gas or liquid fuel made from plant material (biomass). Includes wood, wood waste, wood liquors,peat, railroad ties, wood sludge, spent sulfite liquors, agricultural waste, straw, tires, fish oils, talloil, sludge waste, waste alcohol, municipal solid waste, landfill gases, other waste, and ethanolblended into motor gasoline.

Biogenic methane

Natural gas (CH4) produced in the peat by bacterial decay.


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Biogeochemical Cycle

Natural processes that recycle nutrients in various chemical forms from the environment, to

organisms, and then back to the environment. Examples are the carbon, oxygen, nitrogen,phosphorus, and hydrologic cycles.

Biological oxygen demand (BOD)

Amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down the organicmaterials in a given volume of water at a certain temperature over a specified time period. SeeBOD5.

Biomass

A mass or clump of l iving organisms feeding on the wastes in wastewater, dead organisms andother debris.

Biomass

Total dry weight of all living organisms that can be supported at each tropic level in a food chain.Also, materials that are biological in origin, including organic material (both living and dead) fromabove and below ground, for example, trees, crops, grasses, tree litter, roots, and animals andanimal waste.

Biomass energy

Energy produced by combusting biomass materials such as wood. The carbon dioxide emittedfrom burning biomass will not increase total atmospheric carbon dioxide if this consumption isdone on a sustainable basis (i.e., if in a given period of time, regrowth of biomass takes up asmuch carbon dioxide as is released from biomass combustion). Biomass energy is often

suggested as a replacement for fossil fuel combustion. See biomass.

Biosphere

The living and dead organisms found near the earth's surface in parts of the lithosphere,atmosphere, and hydrosphere. The part of the global carbon cycle that includes living organismsand biogenic organic matter.

Biostimulation

Any process that increases the rates of biological degradation, usually by the addition ofnutrients,oxygen, or other electron donors and acceptors so as to increase the number ofindigenous microorganisms available for degradation of contaminants.

Biotic

Living. Living organisms make up the biotic parts of ecosystems. See abiotic.

Biotic potential

All the factors that contribute to a species increasing its number. Reproduction, migration,adaptation etc.

Bio-Tower

An attached culture system. A tower filled with a media similar to rachet or plastic rings in which


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Bunker fuel

Fuel supplied to ships and aircraft for international transportation, irrespective of the flag of thecarrier, consisting primarily of residual and distillate fuel oil for ships and jet fuel for aircraft.

Bursar

The university official responsible for collecting student fees.

Bus

A rubber-tired, self-propelled, manually steered vehicle that is generally designed to transport 30individuals or more. Bus types include intercity, school and transit.

Cannel Coal

A rare coal made up of microspores (pollen) settling underwater.

Captive Mine

A mine whose coal is used largely or totally by its owners. Usually burned in a power plant on-site.

Carbon black

An amorphous form of carbon, produced commercially by thermal or oxidative decomposition ofhydrocarbons and used principally in rubber goods, pigments, and printer's ink.

Carbon cycle

The movement and storage of carbon between the four major reservoirs; the atmosphere, thehydrosphere, the lithosphere, and the biosphere.

Carbon cycle

All carbon reservoirs and exchanges of carbon from reservoir to reservoir by various chemical,physical, geological, and biological processes. Usually thought of as a series of the four mainreservoirs of carbon interconnected by pathways of exchange. The four reservoirs, regions of theEarth in which carbon behaves in a systematic manner, are the atmosphere, terrestrial biosphere(usually includes freshwater systems), oceans, and sediments (includes fossil fuels). Each ofthese global reservoirs may be subdivided into smaller pools, ranging in size from individualcommunities or ecosystems to the total of all l iving organisms (biota).

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

A colorless, odorless, non-poisonous gas that is a normal part of the ambient air. Carbon dioxideis a product of fossil fuel combustion. Although carbon dioxide does not directly impair humanhealth, it is a greenhouse gas that traps terrestrial (i.e., infrared) radiation and contributes to thepotential for global warming. See global warming.

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CDE)

A metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upontheir global warming potential (GWP). Carbon dioxide equivalents are commonly expressed as"million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMTCDE)." The carbon dioxide equivalent for


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academic year (180 periods).

Catalog

see bulletin

Cation exchange capacity

The ability of a soil or other solid to exchange cations (positive ions such as calcium) with a l iquid.

Cess Pools

This system is similar to a septic tank. in performance. Sewage water usually seeps through theopen bottom and portholes in the sides of the walls. These can also clog up with overuse and theintroduction of detergents and other material which slow up the bacterial action.

CFU

Viable micro-organisms (bacteria, yeasts & mould) capable of growth under the prescribedconditions (medium, atmosphere, time and temperature) develop into visible colonies (colonyforming units) which are counted. The term colony forming unit (CFU) is used because a colonymay result from a single micro-organism or from a clump / cluster of micro-organisms. More Info.

CGS

Centimeter-Gram-Second (abbreviated cm-gm-sec or cm-g-s). The system of measurement thatuses these units for distance, mass, and time.

Chair/Chairperson

The head of an academic department.

Challenge Examination

Examination created by an institution as the equivalent to a course. Students who pass challengetests are commonly exempted from, or given credit for, the course counterpart of the examination.

Chemical precipitation

Precipitation induced by addition of chemicals; the process of softening water by the addition oflime and soda ash as the precipitants.

Chemical reaction

Interaction between chemicals in which there is a change in the chemical composition of theelements or compounds involved.

Chemoautotroph

An organism that obtains its energy from the oxidation of chemical compounds and uses onlyorganic compounds as a source of carbon. Example nitrifiers.

Chemotroph

An organism that obtains its energy from the oxidation of chemical compounds.


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Chloramines

Compounds formed by the reaction of hypochlorous acid (or aqueous chlorine) with ammonia.

Chlorination

The application of chlorine to water or wastewater, generally for the purpose of disinfection, butfrequently for accomplishing other biological or chemical results.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Organic compounds made up of atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. An example is CFC-12(CCl2F2), used as a refrigerant in refrigerators and air conditioners and as a foam blowing agent.Gaseous CFCs can deplete the ozone layer when they slowly rise into the stratosphere, arebroken down by strong ultraviolet radiation, release chlorine atoms, and then react with ozonemolecules. See ozone depleting substance, fluorocarbons.

Chromosphere

The layer of the solar atmosphere that is located above the photosphere and beneath thetransition region and the corona. The chromosphere is hotter than the photosphere but not as hotas the corona.

Ciliates

A class of protozoans distinguished by short hairs on all or part of their bodies.

Clarification

A process in which suspended material is removed from a wastewater. This may be

accomplished by sedimentation, with or without chemicals, or filtration.

Clarifier

Settling tank, sedimentation basin. A tank or basin in which wastewater is held for a period oftime, during which the heavier solids settle to the bottom and the lighter material will float to thewater surface.

Class Rank

The relative position of a student in his or her graduating class, determined by grade average.

CLEP (College Level Examination Program)

A program offered by the College Board designed to offer students the opportunity to earn collegecredit by examination.

Climate

The average weather, usually taken over a 30 year time period, for a particular region and timeperiod. Climate is not the same as weather, but rather, it is the average pattern of weather for aparticular region. Weather describes the short-term state of the atmosphere. Climatic elementsinclude precipitation, temperature, humidity, sunshine, wind velocity, phenomena such as fog,frost, and hail-storms, and other measures of the weather. See weather.

Climate change


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The term "climate change" is sometimes used to refer to all forms of climatic inconsistency, butbecause the Earth's climate is never static, the term is more properly used to imply a significant

change from one climatic condition to another. In some cases, climate change has been usedsynonymously with the term, global warming; scientists however, tend to use the term in the widersense to also include natural changes in climate. See climate, global warming, greenhouse effect,enhanced greenhouse effect, radiative forcing.

Climate feedback

An atmospheric, oceanic, terrestrial, or other process that is activated by direct climate changeinduced by changes in radiative forcing. Climate feedbacks may increase (positive feedback) ordiminish (negative feedback) the magnitude of the direct climate change. See climate, climatechange, radiative forcing.

Climate lag

The delay that occurs in climate change as a result of some factor that changes only very slowly.For example, the effects of releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere may not be knownfor some time because a large fraction is dissolved in the ocean and only released to theatmosphere many years later. See climate, climate change.

Climate model

A quantitative way of representing the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, andice. Models can range from relatively simple to quite comprehensive. See General CirculationModel.

Climate modeling

The simulation of the climate using computer-based models. See climate model, GeneralCirculation Model.

Climate sensitivity

The equilibrium response of the climate to a change in radiative forcing, for example, a doublingof the carbon dioxide concentration. See climate, radiative forcing.

Climate system (or Earth system)

The atmosphere, the oceans, the biosphere, the cryosphere, and the geosphere, together makeup the climate system.

Clinker

Baked shale lying directly above a naturally burned coal seam. Clinker is hard and red and oftenused for road surfacing in mining areas.

Closed Course

Fully-subscribed course which is no longer enrolling students

Coagulants

Chemicals which cause very fine particles to clump (floc) together into larger particles. Thismakes it easier to separate the solids from the water by settling, skimming, draining, or filtering.


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Coal liquefaction

Conversion of solid coal to a liquid fuel such as synthetic crude oil or methanol.

Coal Resource

The total coal resource both identified and estimated.

Coal tar

A black, sticky, liquid residue formed during the formation of coke. About eight gallons of tar canbe made from each ton of coal. Important in the chemical industry where it is used to make awide variety of products used in daily life including linoleum, creosote, medications, detergents,perfumes, etc

Coal, Types of

Soft coal - Subbituminous coalBrown coal - Lignite or subbituminous coalHard coal - Bituminous and anthracite coalsBoghead coal - Coal derived primarily from algaeCannel coal - Coal made up of microspores, (often windblown pollen)Humic coal - Coal derived primarily from woody tissueSapropelic coal - Coal derived primarily from spores and algae

Coalbed methane

Methane that is produced from coalbeds in the same manner as natural gas produced from otherstrata. Methane is the principal component of natural gas.

Coalification

A progressive process (bacterial decay and heat) that turns decayed plant material (peat) into thevarious ranks of coal. The first stage (peat to l ignite) is decay and the remaining stages arethermal. The major by-products are methane, carbon dioxide, and water.

Co-control benefit

The additional benefit derived from an environmental policy that is designed to control one type ofpollution, while reducing the emissions of other pollutants as well. For example, a policy to reducecarbon dioxide emissions might reduce the combustion of coal, but when coal combustion isreduced, so too are the emissions of particulates and sulfur dioxide. The benefits associated withreductions in emissions of particulates and sulfur dioxide are the co-control benefits of reductions

in carbon dioxide.

COD

Chemical oxygen demand - the amount of oxygen in mg/l required to oxidize both organic andoxidizable inorganic compounds.

Cogeneration

Production of two useful forms of energy such as high-temperature heat and electricity from thesame process. For example, while boiling water to generate electricity, the leftover steam can besold for industrial processes or space heating.


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Coke

A fuel produced by partially burning coal in a reduced oxygen atmosphere. This removes most of

the gasses leaving a solid that burns at a higher temperature than coal.

There are two grades of coke: Chemical grade coke is a lower grade and is used for reducingphosphate rock in electric furnaces and in the production of calcium carbide. Metallurgical gradecoke produces a much higher temperature and is used as the heat source in blast furnaces formaking steel etc.

Coliform bacteria

Non-pathogenic microbes found in fecal matter that indicate the presence of water pollution; arethereby a guide to the suitability for potable use.

College

A general term for post-secondary education. It often refers to institutions which offerundergraduate programs or to the undergraduate divisions of large universities.

Colloids

Very small, finely divided solids (particles that do not dissolve) that remain dispersed in a liquidfor a long time due to their small size and electrical charge.

Combined available chlorine

The concentration of chlorine which is combined with ammonia (NH3) as chloramine or as otherchloro derivatives, yet is still available to oxidize organic matter.

Combined sewer

A sewer designed to carry both sanitary wastewaters and storm or surface-water runoff.

Combustion

Chemical oxidation accompanied by the generation of light and heat.

Commencement

Graduation ceremony, usually held in May or June at the end of the academic year.

Commensalism

When two organisms coexist, one organism benefits, the other is not affected.

Commercial sector

An area consisting of non-housing units such as non-manufacturing business establishments(e.g., wholesale and retail businesses), health and educational institutions, and governmentoffices.

Comminution

Shredding. A mechanical treatment process which cuts large pieces of waste into smaller piecesso that they won't plug pipes or damage equipment.


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Contact stabilization

Contact stabilization is a modification of the conventional activated sludge process. In contact

stabilization, two aeration tanks are used. One tank is for separate reaeration of the return sludgefor at least four hours before it is permitted to flow into the other aeration tank to be mixed withthe primary effluent requiring treatment.

Continuing Education

Educational programs offered by colleges and universities to adults in the community during theevening and on weekends. It usually refers to non-credit course work.

Continuous miner

A mining machine designed to remove coal from the seam face and load it onto cars orconveyors without the use of drilling and explosives.

Contour Map

A map showing the intensity of radiation as a function of position. Each contour line correspondsto a specific intensity of radiation, with inner contours corresponding to higher intensities thanouter contours. Therefore, a closed contour encircles a region where the intensity of the emittedradiation is greater than or equal to the intensity on the contour line. The contours outline theshape of the emitting source.

Convection

The physical upwelling of hot matter, thus transporting energy from a lower, hotter region to ahigher, cooler region. A bubble of gas that is hotter than its surroundings expands and rises.When it has cooled by passing on its extra heat to its surroundings, the bubble sinks again.

Convection can occur when there is a substantial decrease in temperature with height, such as inthe Sun's convection zone.

Convection Zone

A layer in a star in which convection currents are the main mechanism by which energy istransported outward. In the Sun, a convection zone extends from just below the photosphere toabout seventy percent of the solar radius.

Conventional treatment

The preliminary treatment, sedimentation, flotation, trickling filter, rotating biological contactor,activated sludge and chlorination of wastewater.

Conversion

Changing from one substance to another. As food matter is changed to cell growth or to carbondioxide.

Cooperative Education

Educational program requiring students to alternate periods of full-time study and full-time work intheir major.

Core curriculum


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General education requirements set as a defined series of interdisciplinary courses that must betaken by all undergraduates enrolled in degree programs at an institution.

Corona

The outermost layer of the solar atmosphere. The corona consists of a highly rarefied gas with alow density and a temperature greater than one million degrees Kelvin. It is visible to the nakedeye during a solar eclipse.

Course

A discrete subject studied during one semester or quarter.

Credit

Time-based quantitative measure assigned to courses or course-equivalent learning. One creditis usually defined as 50 minutes of instruction over a semester (semester credit) or a quarter(quarter credit). 'Unit' is another term for credit.

Credit-by-Examination

The practice of awarding students college credit for satisfactory performance on an examination.

Criteria pollutant

A pollutant determined to be hazardous to human health and regulated under EPA's NationalAmbient Air Quality Standards. The 1970 amendments to the Clean Air Act require EPA todescribe the health and welfare impacts of a pollutant as the "criteria" for inclusion in theregulatory regime. Emissions of the criteria pollutants CO, NOx, NMVOCs, and SO2 are thoughtto be precursors to greenhouse gas formation.

Crop residue

Organic residue remaining after the harvesting and processing of a crop.

Crop rotation

Planting the same field or areas of fields with different crops from year to year to reduce depletionof soil nutrients. A plant such as corn, tobacco, or cotton, which remove large amounts of nitrogenfrom the soil, is planted one year. The next year a legume such as soybeans, which add nitrogento the soil, is planted.

CRT

Cell residence time - the amount of time in days that an average "bug" remains in the process.Also termed "sludge age".

Crude oil

A mixture of hydrocarbons that exist in liquid phase in underground reservoirs and remain liquidat atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities. See petroleum.

Cryosphere

The frozen part of the Earth's surface. The cryosphere includes the polar ice caps, continental icesheets, mountain glaciers, sea ice, snow cover, lake and river ice, and permafrost.


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Cumulative Grade Point Average

The numerical average of all the student's grades achieved during the period of study at aninstitution.

Curriculum

The body of courses and other formally established learning experiences which constitute aprogram of study.

Curve Grading

A system of relative grading based on the performance of all members of a class on anexamination. It is also called norm-referenced grading.

D/I unit

Deionizing unit, frequntly used to maintain water quality in aquariums. Advantages does notwaste water like the R/O unit, is designed to be hooked up to either a faucet or household pipingsystem, the anion & cation resins can be regenerated (with another expensive unit) indefinitely,and these systems allow a larger water flow (up to 2,000 gallons a day), than an R/O system, butcost dramatically more too.

DAF

Dissolved air flotation - one of many designs for waste treatment

Dean

Middle-level academic or administrative officer in charge of an administrative unit.

Dean's List

A published list of students who have earned a specified high grade-point average in a term.

Deciduous trees

Trees such as oaks and maples that lose their leaves during part of the year. See coniferoustrees.

Declining growth

A growth phase in which the availability of food begins to limit cell growth.

Decomposition

The breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi. It changes the chemical composition and physicalappearance of the materials. See composting.

Deep mine

An underground mine. About 38% of U.S. coal is produced from underground mines. Currentlythere are no underground mines in Wyoming

Deforestation


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Those practices or processes that result in the change of forested lands to non-forest uses. Thisis often cited as one of the major causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect for two reasons: 1)

the burning or decomposition of the wood releases carbon dioxide; and 2) trees that onceremoved carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the process of photosynthesis are no longerpresent and contributing to carbon storage.

Degradable

See biodegradable.

Degradation

A growth phase in which the availability of food begins to limit cell growth.

Denitrification

An anaerobic biological reduction of nitrate nitrogen to nitrogen gas, the removal of total nitrogenfrom a system, and/or an anaerobic process that occurs when nitrite ions are reduced to nitrogengas and bubbles are formed as a result of this process. The bubbles attach to the biological flocin the activated sludge process and float the floc to the surface of the secondary clarifiers. Thiscondition is often the cause of rising sludge observed in secondary clarifiers or gravity thickeners.(See Nitrification)

Density

The amount of mass or number of particles per unit volume. In cgs units mass density has unitsof gm cm-3. Number density has units cm-3 (particles per cubic centimeter).

Department

The formal faculty group, together with its support staff, responsible for instruction in a generalsubject area.

Desertification

The progressive destruction or degradation of existing vegetative cover to form desert. This canoccur due to overgrazing, deforestation, drought, and the burning of extensive areas. Onceformed, deserts can only support a sparse range of vegetation. Climatic effects associated withthis phenomenon include increased albedo, reduced atmospheric humidity, and greateratmospheric dust (aerosol) loading.

Detritus

Dead plant and animal matter, usually consumed by bacteria, but some remains.

Dew Point

The temperature to which air with a given quantity of water vapor must be cooled to causecondensation of the vapor in the air.

Diatomaceous earth

A fine, siliceous (made of silica) "earth" composed mainly of the skeletal remains of diatoms(single cell microscopic algae with rigid internal structure consisting mainly of silica). Tests provethat DE leaches unacceptable amounts of silicate into the water for f ish health. If used as a f ilter


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substance, a silicone removing resin should be employed afterwards.

Diffused Air Aeration

A diffused air activated sludge plant takes air, compresses it, and then discharges the air belowthe water surface of the aerator through some type of air diffusion device.

Digester

A tank in which sludge is placed to allow decomposition by microorganisms. Digestion may occurunder anaerobic (most common) or aerobic conditions.

Discipline

An area of academic study.

Disinfection

The process designed to kill most microorganisms in wastewater, including essentially allpathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria. There are several ways to disinfect, with chlorine beingthe most frequently used in water and wastewater treatment plants.

Dissertation

The formal writing requirement -- often an original contribution to knowledge -- for a doctoraldegree.

Dissolved solids

Chemical substances either organic or inorganic that are dissolved in a waste stream and

constitute the residue when a sample is evaporated to dryness.

Distillate fuel oil

A general classification for the petroleum fractions produced in conventional distillationoperations. Included are products known as No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 fuel oils and No. 1, No. 2,and No. 4 diesel fuels. Used primarily for space heating, on and off-highway diesel engine fuel(including railroad engine fuel and fuel for agricultural machinery), and electric power generation.

Distribution box

Serves to distribute the flow from the septic tank evenly to the absorption field or seepage pits. Itis important that each trench or pit receive an equal amount of f low. This prevents overloading of

one part of the system.

Distribution Requirement

The part of general education designed to ensure that each student takes a minimum number ofcourses or credits in specified, varying academic areas.

Distributor

The rotating mechanism that distributes the wastewater evenly over the surface of a trickling filteror other process unit.

DO


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System of production, distribution, and consumption of economic goods.

Ecosystem

Groupings of various organisms interacting with each other and their environment.

Ecosystem

The complex system of plant, animal, fungal, and microorganism communities and theirassociated non-living environment interacting as an ecological unit. Ecosystems have no fixedboundaries; instead their parameters are set to the scientific, management, or policy questionbeing examined. Depending upon the purpose of analysis, a single lake, a watershed, or anentire region could be considered an ecosystem.

Effluent

Wastewater or other liquid - raw (untreated), partially or completely treated - flowing from areservoir, basin, treatment process, or treatment plant.

EGL

Energy grade line - a line that represents the elevation of energy head in feet of water flowing in apipe, conduit, or channel.

El Nin

A climatic phenomenon occurring irregularly, but generally every 3 to 5 years. El Nins often firstbecome evident during the Christmas season (El Nin means Christ child) in the surface oceansof the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The phenomenon involves seasonal changes in thedirection of the tropical winds over the Pacific and abnormally warm surface ocean temperatures.

The changes in the tropics are most intense in the Pacific region, these changes can disruptweather patterns throughout the tropics and can extend to higher latitudes, especially in Centraland North America. The relationship between these events and global weather patterns arecurrently the subject of much research in order to enhance prediction of seasonal to interannualfluctuations in the climate.

Elective

A course chosen freely by the student from the institution's offerings. Also called 'free elective'.

Electrolytic process

A process that causes the decomposition of a chemical compound by the use of electricity.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Radiation that travels through vacuous space at the speed of light and propagates by theinterplay of oscillating electric and magnetic fields. This radiation has a wavelength and afrequency.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The entire range of all the various kinds or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, including(from short to long wavelengths) gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, optical (visible), infrared, andradio waves.


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Electron

A negatively charged elementary particle that normally resides outside (but is bound to) the

nucleus of an atom.

Electron Flux

The rate of flow of electrons through a reference surface. In cgs units, measured in electrons s-1,or simply s-1.

Electron Volt

Abbreviated eV. A unit of energy used to describe the total energy carried by a particle or photon.The energy acquired by an electron when it accelerates through a potential difference of 1 volt ina vacuum. 1 eV = 1.6 x 10-12 erg.

Electrons

Tiny particle moving around outside the nucleus of an atom. Each electron has one unit ofnegative charge (-) and almost no mass.

Electrostatic precipitator

An aid in reducing atmospheric pollution by removing the fly ash before it goes out the smokestack of a power plant. An electrostatic charge is given to the particles which then adhere to acollector plate having the opposite charge.

Element

Chemicals such as hydrogen (H), iron (Fe), sodium (Na), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), or oxygen (O),

whose distinctly different atoms serve as the basic building blocks of all matter. There are 92naturally occurring elements. Another 15 have been made in laboratories. Two or more elementscombine to form compounds that make up most of the world's matter. See compound.

Elementary School

Primary school (grades 1-6 or 1-8)

Emission inventory

A list of air pollutants emitted into a community's, state's, nation's, or the Earth's atmosphere inamounts per some unit time (e.g. day or year) by type of source. An emission inventory has bothpolitical and scientific applications.

Emissions

The release of a substance (usually a gas when referring to the subject of climate change) intothe atmosphere.

Emissions coefficient/factor

A unique value for scaling emissions to activity data in terms of a standard rate of emissions perunit of activity (e.g., grams of carbon dioxide emitted per barrel of fossil fuel consumed).

Emulsion


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Enhanced oil recovery

Removal of some of the heavy oil left in an oil well after primary and secondary recovery. Seeprimary oil recovery, secondary oil recovery.

Enrollment

(1) The process of registering for classes. (2) the total number of students at an institution.

Enteric

Of intestinal origin, especially applied to wastes or bacteria.

Enteric fermentation

A digestive process by which carbohydrates are broken down by microorganisms into simplemolecules for absorption into the bloodstream of an animal.

Environment

All external conditions that affect an organism or other specified system during its lifetime.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

An analysis of the environmental impacts to be anticipated from a proposed activity (mine, powerplant construction etc). Mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1972

Environmental resistance

All biotic and abiotic factors combining to limit explosion.

Enzyme

Organic substances (proteins) produced by living organisms and act as catalysts to speed upchemical changes.

Eocene Epoch

The geologic t ime period starting 57.8 million years ago and ending 36.6 million years ago, Aperiod of subtropical climate in Wyoming and the formation of Wasatch Formation in the PowderRiver Basin, Wyoming which includes some of the worlds thickest coal beds.

Equalizing basin

A holding basin in which variations in flow and composition of liquid are averaged. Such basinsare used to provide a flow of reasonably uniform volume and composition to a treatment unit.Also called a balancing reservoir.

Erg

A cgs unit of energy equal to work done by a force of 1 dyne acting over a distance of 1 cm. 107(ten million) erg s-1 (ergs per second) = 1 watt. Also, 1 Calorie = 4.2 x 1010 (42 billion) ergs.

Estuaries


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Bodies of water which are located at the lower end of a river and are subject to t idal fluctuations.

Ethanol (C2H5OH)

Otherwise known as ethyl alcohol, alcohol, or grain spirit. A clear, colorless, flammableoxygenated hydrocarbon with a boiling point of 78.5 degrees Celsius in the anhydrous state. Intransportation, ethanol is used as a vehicle fuel by itself (E100), blended with gasoline (E85), oras a gasoline octane enhancer and oxygenate (10 percent concentration).

Eurythermal

Bodies of water which are located at the lower end of a river and are subject to t idal fluctuations.

Evapotranspiration

The loss of water from the soil by evaporation and by transpiration from the plants growing in thesoil, which rises with air temperature.

Exchange Scholar or Student

see visiting scholar or student

Exemption

The practice of exempting a student from a requirement. For example, if a college required allstudents to take freshman English, but on the basis of evidence of outstanding prior achievement(such as high scores on an examination) waived the requirement, this would constituteexemption.

Experiential Learning

Learning which takes place outside of the classroom through formal courses or other lifeactivities.

Explosive

The explosive used in loosening the overburden and coal in open pit mines is commonlyammonium nitrate (simple fertilizer) mixed with a little diesel fuel. A typical blast uses 60,000 lb.

Exponential growth

Growth in which some quantity, such as population size, increases by a constant percentage ofthe whole during each year or other time period; when the increase in quantity over time is

plotted, this type of growth yields a curve shaped like the letter J.

F

Food - represents BOD in the F/M ratio. Expressed in pounds.

F/M

A ratio of the amount of food to the amount of organisms. Used to control an activated sludgeprocess.

Face


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Actinomycetes, and Cyanobacteria (aka blue-green algae). This is a common cause of sludgebulking in the activated sludge process. Variously known as "pond scum", "blue-green algae", or"moss", when it appears in a pond/lake, and confused with algae because it looks a lot like algae.

Cyanobacteria forms a symbiotic relationship with some varieties of algae, making thecombination very difficult to combat in lakes and ponds. Filamentous organisms andActinomycetes will naturally stick to solid surfaces. Common types of Cyanobacteria areOscillatoria, Anabaena, and Synechococcus. Other filament formers include Spirogyra,Cladophora, Rhizoclonium, Mougeotia, Zygnema and Hydrodictyon. Nocardia is another filamentformer, which causes foaming and interferes with flocculation in a waste treatment plant.

Filter aid

A chemical (usually a polymer) added to water to help remove fine colloidal suspended solids.

Final Examination

A course-based examination taken at the end of the term.

Financial Aid

Scholarships, grants and loans provided for students by academic institutions from governmentand private sources to help defray educational costs.

Flare (Solar)

Rapid release of energy from a localized region on the Sun in the form of electromagneticradiation, energetic particles, and mass motions.

Flare Star

A member of a class of stars that show occasional, sudden, unpredicted increases in light. Thetotal energy released in a flare on a f lare star can be much greater that the energy released in asolar flare.

Flaring

The burning of waste gases through a flare stack or other device before releasing them to the air.

Floating matter

Matter which passes through a 2000 micron sieve and separates by flotation for an hour.

Floc

Clumps of bacteria and particulate impurities or coagulants that have come together and formeda cluster. Found in aeration tanks and secondary clarifiers.

Flocculation

The process of forming floc particles when a chemical coagulant or f locculent such as alum orferric chloride is added to the wastewater.

Flow equalization system

A device or tank designed to hold back or store a portion of peak flows for release during low-flowperiods.


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Fluidized bed combustion (FBC)

Process for burning coal more efficiently, cleanly, and cheaply. A stream of hot air is used tosuspend a mixture of powdered coal and limestone during combustion. About 90 to 98 percent ofthe sulfur dioxide produced during combustion is removed by reaction with limestone to producesolid calcium sulfate.

Fluidized-bed combustion

A clean coal technology that removes sulfur from coal combustion as well as limiting theformation of nitrogen oxides. It involves suspending crushed coal and limestone in the bottom of aboiler by an upward moving stream of hot air. While the coal is burned in this liquid-like mixture,sulfur from the combustion gases combines with the limestone to form a solid compound and canbe removed with the ash.

Fluorocarbons

Carbon-fluorine compounds that often contain other elements such as hydrogen, chlorine, orbromine. Common fluorocarbons include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons(HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs). See chlorofluorocarbons,hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, ozone depleting substance.

Fly ash

Microscopic sized particles of ash produced from the burning of coal in a power plant.

Food chain

Very simple pathway of nutrient flow. Ex. Carnivore > herbivore > plant .

Footpoint

The intersection of magnetic loops with the photosphere.

Forcing Mechanism

A process that alters the energy balance of the climate system, i.e. changes the relative balancebetween incoming solar radiation and outgoing infrared radiation from Earth. Such mechanismsinclude changes in solar irradiance, volcanic eruptions, and enhancement of the naturalgreenhouse effect by emission of carbon dioxide. See radiation, infrared radiation, radiativeforcing.

Foreign Student Advisor

Official employed by the institution to assist foreign students, scholars and faculty withimmigration, visas, orientation, insurance, and other such matters.

Forest

Terrestrial ecosystem (biome) with enough average annual precipitation (at least 76 centimetersor 30 inches) to support growth of various species of trees and smaller forms of vegetation.

Fort Union Formation

A 2,000 foot thick layer of shale and sandstone in Wyoming that contains hundreds of coal beds.


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It was deposited during the Paleocene Epoch over a period of some 14 million years beginning66.4 million years ago.

Fossil fuel

A hydrocarbon based fuel (the various coals, natural gas and petroleum) generated from animalsand/or plants living millions of years ago. Considered a non-renewable resource since it is notbeing replenished or formed at any significant rate on a human time scale.

Fossil fuel

A general term for buried combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, formed fromdecayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oilsby exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years. Seecoal, petroleum, crude oil, natural gas.

Fossil fuel combustion

Burning of coal, oil (including gasoline), or natural gas. This burning, usually to generate energy,releases carbon dioxide, as well as combustion by products that can include unburnedhydrocarbons, methane, and carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide, methane, and many of theunburned hydrocarbons slowly oxidize into carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Common sourcesof fossil fuel combustion include cars and electric utilities.

Framboid

Microscopic aggregate of pyrite (FeS2) grains in a roughly spherical form. Result of anerobicbacterial action in a reducing environment. Too small to wash out of the coal.

Free Electron

An electron that has broken free of it's atomic bond and is therefore not bound to an atom.

Freon

See chlorofluorocarbons.

Frequency

The number of repetitions per unit time of the oscillations of an electromagnetic wave (or otherwave). The higher the frequency, the greater the energy of the radiation and the smaller thewavelength. Frequency is measured in Hertz.

Freshman

First-year student (applies to both college undergraduates and high school students).

Fugitive emissions

Unintended gas leaks from the processing, transmission, and/or transportation of fossil fuels,CFCs from refrigeration leaks, SF6 from electrical power distributor, etc.

Full-time

Student taking 12 or more credits during any given term.


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Geosynchronous Orbit

The orbit of a satellite that travels above the Earth's equator from west to east so that it has aspeed matching that of the Earth's rotation and remains stationary in relation to the Earth (alsocalled geostationary). Such an orbit has an altitude of about 35,900 km (22,300 miles).

Geothermal energy

Heat transferred from the earth's molten core to under-ground deposits of dry steam (steam withno water droplets), wet steam (a mixture of steam and water droplets), hot water, or rocks lyingfairly close to the earth's surface.

Global warming

The progressive gradual rise of the earth's surface temperature thought to be caused by thegreenhouse effect and responsible for changes in global climate patterns. An increase in the nearsurface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result ofnatural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as aresult of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. See climate change, greenhouse effect,enhanced greenhouse effect, radiative forcing.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

The index used to translate the level of emissions of various gases into a common measure inorder to compare the relative radiative forcing of different gases without directly calculating thechanges in atmospheric concentrations. GWPs are calculated as the ratio of the radiative forcingthat would result from the emissions of one kilogram of a greenhouse gas to that from emission ofone kilogram of carbon dioxide over a period of time (usually 100 years). The chart below showsthe original GWPs (assigned in 1990) and the most recent GWPs (assigned in 1996) for the most

important greenhouse gases.

Glyoxylate cycle

A modification of the Krebs cycle, which occurs in some bacteria. Acetyl coenzyme A isgenerated directly from oxidation of fatty acids or other lipid compounds.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

A standardized external examination of verbal and quantitative skills usually required by graduateschools of business and used to assess the qualifications of applicants for MBA programs.

Grade

A measure of the amount of contaminants (ash) found in the coal. A low grade coal has a highash content (>7%). Common sources of ash include clay, sand, wind blown dust, and volcanicash. In addition, the presence of sulfur and sodium lower the grade of the coal. The sulfur canend up contributing to acid rain upon combustion while the sodium adversely affects the boilers ina power plant.

Grade

An evaluation (normally by letter on a scale of A-F) of a student's performance on anexamination, a paper or in a course.

Grade-point average (GPA)


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The average of grades earned in all courses taken during a term divided by the number of credits.

Graduate

(1) A person who has successfully completed a program of study and earned the final award (2)as an adjective, refers to post-baccalaureate status.

Graduate Advisor

The faculty member who serves as advisor to all graduate students in a department.

Graduate Assistant

see 'research assistant'

Graduate School

The academic unit within an institution which administers graduate education.

Gram negative

Bacteria cells which lose the crystal violet during the decolorizing step and are then colored bythe counterstain. Pseudomonas and Thiobacillus are examples of gram negative strains.

Gram positive

Bacterial cells which retain the crystal violet stain during a staining procedure. Most strains ofbacilli are gram positive.

Grassland

Terrestrial ecosystem (biome) found in regions where moderate annual average precipitation (25to 76 centimeters or 10 to 30 inches) is enough to support the growth of grass and small plantsbut not enough to support large stands of trees.

GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

A two-part standardized external examination designed to measure general verbal, quantitativeand analytical skills (General Aptitude Test) and knowledge and understanding of subject matterbasic to graduate study in specific fields (Advanced Tests). The GRE is generally required bygraduate schools and is used to assess the qualifications of applicants to master's and Ph.D.programs.

Greenhouse effect

The effect produced as greenhouse gases allow incoming solar radiation to pass through theEarth's atmosphere, but prevent part of the outgoing infrared radiation from the Earth's surfaceand lower atmosphere from escaping into outer space. This process occurs naturally and haskept the Earth's temperature about 59 degrees F warmer than it would otherwise be. Current lifeon Earth could not be sustained without the natural greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse Gas

Any gas that absorbs infra-red radiation in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include watervapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), halogenated fluorocarbons


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Hydraulic loading

Hydraulic loading refers to the flows (MGD or m3/day) to a treatment plant or treatment process.

Hydrocarbon

A family of compounds containing carbon and hydrogen. The fossil fuels coal, petroleum andnatural gas are all hydrocarbons.

Hydrocarbons

Substances containing only hydrogen and carbon. Fossil fuels are made up of hydrocarbons.Some hydrocarbon compounds are major air pollutants. See fossil fuel.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

Compounds containing hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, and carbon atoms. Although ozone depletingsubstances, they are less potent at destroying stratospheric ozone than chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs). They have been introduced as temporary replacements for CFCs and are alsogreenhouse gases. See ozone depleting substance.

Hydroelectric power plant

Structure in which the energy of fading or flowing water spins a turbine generator to produceelectricity.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

Compounds containing only hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon atoms. They were introduced as

alternatives to ozone depleting substances in serving many industrial, commercial, and personalneeds. HFCs are emitted as by-products of industrial processes and are also used inmanufacturing. They do not significantly deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, but they arepowerful greenhouse gases with global warming potentials ranging from 140 (HFC-152a) to11,700 (HFC-23).

Hydrogen sulfide gas

Hydrogen sulfide is a gas with a rotten egg odor. This gas is produced under anaerobicconditions. Hydrogen sulfide is particularly dangerous because it dulls your sense of smell so thatyou don't notice it after you have been around it for a while and because the odor is notnoticeable in high concentrations. The gas is very poisonous to your respiratory system,explosive, flammable, and colorless.

Hydrologic cycle

The process of evaporation, vertical and horizontal transport of vapor, condensation,precipitation, and the flow of water from continents to oceans. It is a major factor in determiningclimate through its influence on surface vegetation, the clouds, snow and ice, and soil moisture.The hydrologic cycle is responsible for 25 to 30 percent of the mid-latitudes' heat transport fromthe equatorial to polar regions.

Hydrolysis

The process in which carbohydrates and starches are simplified into organic soluble organics,usually by facultative anaerobes.


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consequences. With its capacity for reporting on climate change, its consequences, and theviability of adaptation and mitigation measures, the IPCC is also looked to as the official advisorybody to the world's governments on the state of the science of the climate change issue. For

example, the IPCC organized the development of internationally accepted methods forconducting national greenhouse gas emission inventories.

International Student Advisor

see foreign student advisor

Internship

Supervised professional training designed to allow students to apply previously acquired skillsand knowledge to practical situations. Internships can be done as part of a course, duringvacation or after graduation.

Interspecies

Between two different species, such as tomato and weeds.

Intraspecies

Within same species; Elk vs. Elk

Ion

An atom that has lost or gained one or more electrons and has become electrically charged as aresult.

Ionization

The process by which ions are produced, typically occurring by collisions with atoms or electrons("collisional ionization"), or by interaction with electromagnetic radiation ("photoionization").

Ionization

The process of adding electrons to, or removing electrons from, atoms or molecules, therebycreating ions. High temperatures, electrical discharges, and nuclear radiation can causeionization.

Ionosphere

The region of the Earth's upper atmosphere containing a small percentage of free electrons and

ions produced by photoionization of the constituents of the atmosphere by solar ultravioletradiation. The ionosphere significantly influences radiowave propagation of frequencies less thanabout 30 MHz.

Irreversibilities

Changes that, once set in motion, cannot be reversed, at least on human time scales.

Isotope

One of two or more atoms having the same number of protons in its nucleus, but a differentnumber of neutrons and, therefore, a different mass.


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Ivy League

Association of institutions located in eastern United States originally organized for athletic

competitions. The term has since become synonymous with highly selective prestigious and eliteeducation. The Ivy League consists of: Brown Univ., Columbia Univ., Cornell Univ., DartmouthColl., Harvard Univ., Univ. of Pennsylvania, Princeton Univ, and Yale Univ.

Jet fuel

Includes both naphtha-type and kerosene-type fuels meeting standards for use in aircraft turbineengines. Although most jet fuel is used in aircraft, some is used for other purposes such asgenerating electricity.

Joint implementation

Agreements made between two or more nations under the auspices of the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Joule

The energy required to push with a force of one Newton for one meter.

Junior

Third year student. (Applies to both college undergraduates and high school students.)

Junior College

Private two-year institution.

Junior High School

see high school

Kelvin

Abbreviated K. A unit of absolute temperature. Zero degrees Celsius is equal to 273.16 Kelvin.

Kerogen

A solid, waxy, organic substance produced by the partial decay of organic mater that whenheated can produce coal macerals as well as oil and gas. There are three types of kerogen basedon the source material:

Type 1. Derived from algal deposits in lakes

Type 2. Found in marine sediment, derived from a mixture of phytoplankton, zooplankton, andbacteria in a reducing environment. Source for most of the world's oil and gas. High sulfurcontent.

Type 3. Derived from continental plants. Converted into coal by heat during coalification.

Kerogen

Solid, waxy mixture of rock is heated to high temperatures, the kerogen is vaporized. The vapor iscondensed and then sent to a refinery to produce gasoline, heating oil, and other products. See


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oil shale, shale oil.

Kerosene

A petroleum distillate that has a maximum distillation temperature of 401 degrees Fahrenheit atthe 10 percent recovery point, a final boiling point of 572 degrees Fahrenheit, and a minimumflash point of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Used in space heaters, cookstoves, and water heaters,and suitable for use as an illuminant when burned in wick lamps.

keV

One thousand electron volts.

Kick net

500 micron white mesh net is designed to meet the requirements of groups performing USEPARapid Bioassessment Protocols for Benthic Invertebrates. (Benthic = bottom dwelling)

Kilometer

Abbreviated km. 1 km = 1000 meters = 105 cm = 0.62 mile.

Krebs Cycle

The oxidative process in respiration by which pyruvate (via acetyl coenzyme A) is completelydecarboxylated to C02. The pathway yields 15 moles of ATP (150,000 calories).

Kyoto Protocol

This is an international agreement struck by 159 nations attending the Third Conference of

Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (held inDecember of 1997 in Kyoto Japan) to reduce worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases. Ifratified and put into force, individual countries have committed to reduce their greenhouse gasemissions by a specified amount. See United Nations Framework Convention on ClimateChange, Conference of the Parties, Berlin Mandate.

Landfill

Land waste disposal site in which waste is generally spread in thin layers, compacted, andcovered with a fresh layer of soil each day.

Land-Grant Institution

A state-run institution founded under the terms of the 1862 Morill Act which granted public landsto the states to establish colleges to provide full-time education in agriculture and mechanic arts.

Language Requirement

An institution's requirement that its graduates master one or more foreign languages.

Letter of Recommendation

Letter written in support of a student's application for admission to a study program whichassesses the candidate's qualifications for the program in question.

Liberal Arts


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Ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, normal butane, butylene, and isobutane produced atrefineries or natural gas processing plants, including plants that fractionate new natural gas plant

liquids.

Litter

Undecomposed plant residues on the soil surface. See decomposition.

Load

An informal term used by students and faculty to refer to the number of credits they are studyingor teaching, respectively.

Log growth

A growth phase in which cell production is maximum.

Long ton

2,200 lb. (as opposed to the standard short ton of 2,000 lb.)

Longwall miner

A machine used in deep mines that automatically augers out the coal from a seam face and loadsit onto a conveyor belt without the use of explosives.

Longwall mining

A highly efficient underground mining process in which a panel or block of coal, generally 700 feet

wide and often over a mile long is completely extracted using an auger-like machine. The workingarea is protected by a movable hydraulic roof support system. After mining out the coal, thesupports are removed and the roof allowed to collapse. Longwall mining accounts for 45% of theunderground coal production. The remainder is by the older, traditional room and pillar technique.

Longwave radiation

The radiation emitted in the spectral wavelength greater than 4 micrometers corresponding to theradiation emitted from the Earth and atmosphere. It is sometimes referred to as terrestrialradiation or infrared radiation, although somewhat imprecisely. See infrared radiation.

Low Emission Vehicle (LEV)

A vehicle meeting the low-emission vehicle standards.

Lower heating value

Quantity of heat liberated by the complete combustion of a unit volume or weight of a fuelassuming that the produced water remains as a vapor and the heat of the vapor is not recovered;also known as net calorific value. See higher heating value.

Lower-division

First two years of a bachelor's degree program which consists mainly of courses at theintroductory and elementary levels.


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LSAT (Law School Admission Test)

A standardized external examination used by law schools to assess applicants' verbal, analytical

and reasoning skills

Lubricant

A substance used to reduce friction between bearing surfaces or as a process material, eitherincorporated into other materials used as aids in manufacturing processes or as carriers of othermaterials. Petroleum lubricants may be produced either from distillates or residues. Othersubstances may be added to impart or improve useful properties. Does not include by-products oflubricating oil from solvent extraction or tars derived from de-asphalting. Lubricants include allgrades of lubricating oils from spindle oil to cylinder oil and those used in greases. Lubricantcategories are paraffinic and naphthenic.

Lysing

A disintegration or breakdown of cells which releases organic matter.

M

Microorganisms - small organisms which require a microscope to be seen. M represents the SSin the mixed liquor and is part of the F/M ratio.

MacConkey Streak

Laboratory test for the presence of gram negative bacteria. We use this test to detectcontamination of Bacillus products such as CF 1000, 1002, 4002 and som of the Enz-Odorproducts.

Macerals

Equivalent to minerals in rocks, macerals form from the coalification of the various parts of plants.There are three major groups of macerals:

Vitrinite - the most abundant maceral is the result of the decomposition of the cell walls of plantmaterial (essentially decomposed cellulose and lignin)

Exinite - composed of spores, cuticles (the outer surfaces of leaves), resins, and waxes.

Inertinite - mostly charcoal, which usually forms in layers resulting from fires that periodicallysweep through wetlands.

Macronutrient

An element required in large proportion by plants and other life forms for survival and growth.Macronutrients include Nitrogen (N), Potassium (K), and Phosphorous (P).

Magnetic Field

A field of force that is generated by electric currents. The Sun's average large-scale magneticfield, like that of the Earth, exhibits a north and a south pole linked by lines of magnetic force.

Magnetic Field Lines

Imaginary lines that indicate the strength and direction of a magnetic field. The orientation of the


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line and an arrow show the direction of the field. The lines are drawn closer together where thefield is stronger. Charged particles move freely along magnetic field lines, but are inhibited by themagnetic force from moving across field l ines.

Major

Undergraduate student's area of specialization, it consists of a number of courses in one field orin two or more related fields. The major is also referred to as concentration.

Major professor

The professor who advises a doctoral candidate in the final stages of the program, also known as'dissertation advisor'.

Make-up examination

A late examination for students who missed the original date.

Manure

Dung and urine of animals that can be used as a form of organic fertilizer. See fertilizer, organicfertilizer.

Marsh

A wetland in which the primary vegetation consists of grass, reeds, rushes, and/or cattails. Waterlevel can vary from the soil surface to three feet deep.

Masking agent

Substance used to cover up or disguise unpleasant odors. Liquid masking agents are dripped intowastewater, sprayed into the air, or evaporated (using heat) with the unpleasant fumes or odorsand then discharged into the air by blowers to make an undesirable odor less noticeable.

Mass balance

The application of the principle of the conservation of matter.

Master's degree

A post-baccalaureate degree usually earned after one or two years of course work.

Matriculated

Enrolled in a program leading to a degree.

Mauna Loa

An intermittently active volcano (elevation: 13,680 feet; 4,170 meters) on the island of Hawaii.

MBA

Master of Business Administration

MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)


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A standardized external examination designed to measure specified science knowledge and itsapplication in solving related problems, and of other learning and reasoning skills consideredimportant for the study of medicine, used by medical schools to assess applicants.

MCRT

Mean Cell Retention Time - days. An expression of the average time that a microorganism willspend in an activated sludge process.

Mechanical aeration

The use of machinery to mix air and water so that oxygen can be absorbed into the water. Someexamples are paddle wheels, mixers, rotating brushes to agitate the surface of an aeration tank;pumps to create fountains; and pumps to discharge water down a series of steps forming falls orcascades.

Media

The material in the trickling filter on which slime accumulates and organisms grow. As settledwastewater trickles over the media, organisms in the slime remove certain types of wastesthereby partially treating the wastewater. Also the material in a rotating biological contactor (RBC)or in a gravity or pressure filter.

Megaton

An explosive force equal to one million metric tons of TNT. The energy released in the explosionof one megaton of TNT is equal to 4.2 x 1022 ergs.

MEK

Methyl ethyl ketone.

Mercaptans

Compounds containing sulfur which have an extremely offensive skunk-like odor. Also sometimesdescribed as smelling like garlic or onions.

Mesophilic bacteria

A group of bacteria that grow and thrive in a moderate temperature range between 68 F (20 C)and 113 F (45 C).

Metabolism

All of the processes or chemical changes in an organism or a single cell by which food is built up(anabolism) into living protoplasm and by which protoplasm is broken down (catabolism) intosimpler compounds with the exchange of energy.

Metallurgical coal

Various grades of coal suitable for making coke.

Meteorology

The science of weather-related phenomena. See weather, climate.


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Micron

A unit of length. One millionth of a meter or one thousandth of a millimeter. One micron equals0.00004 of an inch.

Documents

Coal Glossary