Terminology

Like other sciences, the study of water includes an extensive list of acronyms, definitions and measurement units. Many are used in atmospheric science, biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, geography, geology, hydrology, meteorology and physics. These become part of the discipline and are frequently used by experts as part of their normal commmunication. Hundreds of acronyms, definitions, images and videos appear below.

See the Credits section for sources.

 
Acronyms & Abbreviations

ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO PQR STU VWX YZ

A

Waste Programs Division
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Feb. 10, 2015
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvsfSPQHl6
Embedded video, no copy made
AABW
Antarctic bottom waterwater that circulates from the Antarctic continental margin and sinks along the continental slope to the ocean

AAWS
analysis of assured water supplyapplied for by landowners to demonstrate physical availability of groundwater

ACC
Arizona Corporation Commission

ADEQ
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

ADHS
Arizona Department of Health Services

ADWR
Arizona Department of Water Resources

ADWT
advanced drinking water treatmentadditional engineered treatment after secondary or tertiary treatment of wastewater to remove contaminants of concern to make it acceptable for drinking water purposes

AF
acre-footvolume of water covering an acre to a depth of one foot, equal to 43,560 cubic feet or 325,851 gallons

AFFF
aqueous film fighting foama fire suppressant used to extinguish flammable liquid fires such as fuel fires

Currents that form a portion of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation
Currents that form a portion of the
Atlantic meridional overturning circulation
R. Curry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/Science/USGCRP
Mar. 1, 2010
Wikipedia Atlantic meridional overturning circulation
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Atlantic_meridional_
overturning_circulation#/
media/File:OCP07_Fig-6.jpg
CC BY 3.0
AFY
acre-feet per year

AMA
active management areaareas with heavy reliance on mined groundwater identified and designated by the 1980 Arizona Groundwater Management Act, as the Prescott, Phoenix, Pinal, Tucson, and Santa Cruz management areas, where groundwater is subject to state regulation

AMOC
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

AMSL
above mean sea level

AMWUA
Arizona Municipal Water Users Association

ANSAC
Arizona Navigable Streams Adjudication Commission

APEC
Advisory Panel on Emerging Contaminants

APP
aquifer protection permit

ARC
Arizona Reconsultation Committee

ASLD
Arizona State Land Department

ASR
aquifer storage and recovery

ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials

What are the 3 rock classifications?
ATW
advanced treated water

AVRP
Avra Valley Recharge Project

AVWU
Arizona Virtual Water University

AWBA
Arizona Water Banking Authority

What branch of science studies the relations between heat and other forms of energy?
AWIA
America's Water Infrastructure Act

AWPF
Arizona Water Protection Fund

AWQS
aquifer water quality standards

AWRA
American Water Resources Association

What are Earth`s 5 main soil layers?
AWRC
Arizona Water Resources Committee

AWS
Assured Water Supply

AWSA
Arizona Water Settlements Act

What are the 8 Linnaean classification levels?
AWT
advanced wastewater treatmentany process that can reduce impurities in wastewater below what is attainable through conventional secondary or biological treatment

AWTF
advanced water treatment facility

AWWA
American Water Works Association

AWWT
advanced wastewater treatment

What is the difference between climate and weather?
AZPDES
Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

AZMET
Arizona Meteorological Network

B

Pima County Green Valley wastewater treatment facility BNROD
Pima County Green Valley wastewater
treatment facility BNROD
D. Meeks
Nov. 6, 2022
Image taken by and used with
permission of the author
BADCT
best available demonstrated control technology

BAT
best available technology achievablethe best available economically achievable performance of plants in an industrial subcategory or category

BCPA
Boulder Canyon Project Act

BCT
best conventional pollutant control technologyaddresses conventional pollutants from existing industrial point sources

BGS
below ground surface

BIA
Bureau of Indian Affairs

BIC
Buckeye Irrigation Company

BMP
best management practicesmethods that have been determined to be the most effective and practical means of preventing or reducing non-point source pollution to help achieve water quality goals

Biochemical Oxygen Demand
M. Jones
Jul. 23, 2014
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVjH9sMTpUw
Embedded video, no copy made
BNR
biological nutrient removal

BNRAS
biological nutrient removal activated sludge

BNROD
biological nutrient removal oxidation ditch

BOD
biochemical oxygen demandamount of dissolved oxygen that must be present in water in order for microorganisms to decompose the organic matter in the water, used as a measure of the degree of pollution

BOR
Bureau of Reclamation

BPA
brine processor assembly

Bureau of Reclamation
Jun. 26, 2020
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo7K5fjyne0
Embedded video, no copy made
BPT
best practicable control technologyeffluent limitations based on the average of the best performance of facilities within an industry of various ages, sizes, processes or other common characteristics

BTU
British thermal unitthe amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water at maximum density by one degree Fahrenheit, equivalent to 1.055 x 103 joules

C

C2E
Conserve2Enhance

CAA
Clean Air Act

CAC
colloidal activated carbona material used to block PFAS from entering groundwater

CAGRD
Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District

Responsible Groundwater Management
Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District
Aug. 19, 2019
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhCEPnd1xyA
Embedded video, no copy made
CAIDD
Central Arizona Irrigation & Drainage District

CAP
Central Arizona Project

CAP:SAM
Central Arizona Project Surface Area Model

CASA
Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona

CAVSARP
Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project

CAWCD
Central Arizona Water Conservation District

Where is the Dominy formation?
CAWS
certificate of assured water supplyissued to landlords to demonstrate that water of sufficient quantity and quality is legally available to serve the proposed development for 100 years

CBOD
carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demandrepresents the biochemical oxygen demand from carbon-containing compounds and the oxidation of inorganic compounds such as ferrous iron and sulfide

Drinking Water Contaminant Categories
P. Cochrane
Nov. 9, 2016
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5vJ_AkBjP0
Embedded video, no copy made
CBWTP
Columbia Basin Water Transactions Program

CCC
chlorine contact chambera basin that enables chlorine to disinfect wastewater

CCF
100 cubic feet or 748 gallonstypical measure of metering for water delivery volumes for residential and commercial customers

CCL
contaminant candidate lista list of contaminants in public water systems currently not subject to proposed national primary drinking water regulations, that may concern the public

CCN
certificate of convenience and necessitya certificate issued by an agency granting a company authority to operate a public service, usually as a utility or transportation company

CCRN
Cochise Conservation & Recharge Network

CCWRP
Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant

CEC
cation exchange capacitymeasure of the soil`s ability to hold positively charged ions

What are Earth`s 5 layers?
CEC
contaminants of emerging concernunregulated substances often found in pharmaceutical and personal care products that end up in sewers and that cannot be totally removed by usual wastewater treatment processes

CEMS
continuous emission monitoring systems

How CFCs deplete the ozone layer
Professor Davis
Jun. 16, 2014
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BM4wXCP3Vc
Embedded video, no copy made
CEP
conservation effluent pooleffluent set aside each year pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Tucson and Pima County for use in riparian restoration projects

CEQ
Council on Environmental Quality

CER
conservation efforts report, filed by large municipal water providers

CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

CFC
chlorofluorocarboncompounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, gases used in refrigerants and aerosol propellants, harmful to the ozone layer

CFR
Code of Federal Regulations

CHP
combined heat and power

What is the study of deserts and their environments?
CII
commercial, industrial and institutional

CMUSF
Cholla Mountain Underground Storage Facility

CO2e
carbon dioxide equivalentthe number of metric tons of CO2 emissions with the same global warming potential as one metric ton of another greenhouse gas

What are the Grand Canyon`s 3 sets of rocks?
COD
chemical oxygen demandamount of dissolved oxygen required to oxidize chemical organic materials, used to gauge the short-term impact wastewater effluents will have on the oxygen levels of receiving waters

CEPDS
combined entry points to the distribution system

Colorado River Basin Project Act 50th anniversary
CAP Arizona
Jan. 30, 2018
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkNR8IsCUPw
Embedded video, no copy made
CRAO
Compliance and Regulatory Affairs

CRBPA
Colorado River Basin Project Act

CRCN
Colorado River Commission of Nevada

CREP
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

CRIT
Colorado River Indian Tribes

CRP
Conservation Reserve Program

Colorado River storage project
Colorado River storage project
Bureau of Reclamation
Aug. 19, 2021
Interior Region 7 - Upper Colorado Basin
https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/crsp/#
:~:text=The%201956%20act%20authorized%20
construction,purposes%20including
%2C%20regulating%20the%20Colorado
public domain
CRSP
Colorado River Storage Project

CRSS
Colorado River Simulation System

CRWUA
Colorado River Water Users Association

CSIF
CAP/SRP Interconnection Facility

CTPP
Central Tucson PFAS Project

CVWD
Coachella Valley Water District

CWA
Clean Water Act

CWCCG
California Wastewater Climate Change Group

CWISA
Clean Water Indian Set Aside

CWS
community water systema public water system that supplies water to the same population for the entire year

D

DALY
disability adjusted life yearsage-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons due to exposure to unsafe drinking water

DAWS
designation of assured water supplyissued to water providers to demonstrate that water of sufficient quantity and quality is legally available to serve the proposed development for 100 years

DBP
disinfection byproductsalso called trihalomethanes, formed when chlorine and bromine interact with natural organic materials in water

DBPR
Disinfection Byproduct Rules

DCDC
Decision Center for a Desert City

What South Pacific surface temperature anomalies influence weather on a large scale?
DCE
dichloroethanea clear, colorless liquid used to make vinyl chloride and other chemicals and as a solvent, degreaser and wetting agent

DCP
Drought Contingency Plan

DLCC
Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative

DMR
Discharge Monitoring Report

Chemical structure of DNA
Chemical structure of DNA
Madprime
Aug. 28, 2020
Wikipedia DNA
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/DNA#/
media/File:DNA_chemical_structure.svg
CC BY-SA 3.0
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acidnucleic acid containing the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms

DPB
disinfection by-productresult from chemical reactions between organic and inorganic matter in water with chemical treatment agents during the water disinfection process

DPR
direct potable reuseinvolves the treatment and distribution of water without an environmental buffer

DROP
drought response operations plan

DWID
domestic water improvement districtformed to construct or improve a domestic water delivery system or to purchase an existing domestic water delivery system

DWSRF
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

DWTF
drinking water treatment facility

E

EBI
Environmental Benefits Index

ECLSS
Environmental Control and Life Support System

EIA
Energy Information Administration

EIS
environmental impact statementgovernment document that outlines the impact of a proposed project on its surrounding environment

ELG
Effluent Limitation Guidelines and Standards

ENSO
El Niño Southern Oscillation

Looking Back at 50 Years of Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection Agency
Dec. 3, 2020
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGRHCfC5oqM
Embedded video, no copy made
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency

EPDS
entry points to the distribution system

EPI
environmental performance indexuses 40 performance indicators in 11 issue categories to rank countries on climate change performance, environmental health and ecosystem vitality

ESA
Endangered Species Act

ESB
engineered storage buffer

ET
evapotranspirationprocess by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants

EWP
economic water productivitythe monetary value generated from each unit of water consumed

F

What are the 4 main elements in organic compounds?
4FRI
Four Forest Restoration Initiative

FMIC
Fort McDowell Indian Community

FOMT
Friends of the Mariana Trench

What is the study of tree rings?
FPC
Federal Power Commission

FWP
Farmable Wetlands Program

G

Grand Canyon survey party
Grand Canyon survey party
USGS
A Century of Watching the Colorado River
1923
https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/
century-watching-colorado-river
public domain
GAC
granular activated carbonmaterials that absorb thousands of organic and some inorganic materials

GCMRC
Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center

GCPA
Grand Canyon Protection Act

GDP
gross domestic producttotal monetary value of all finished goods and services produced in a country

GHG
greenhouse gasa gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, for example carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons

GLOF
glacial lake outburst flooda flood caused by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake

GMA
Groundwater Management Act

GPCD
gallons per capita per day

GPSS
global stratotype section and pointgeographic location that marks a geologic time period, characterized by certain fossils, the spread or extinction of certain species, a particular ice core sediment or a chemical or radioactive residue

Gila River Tribal Water
This American Land
Aug. 5, 2019
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxy-quTiUx8
Embedded video, no copy made
GRIC
Gila River Indian Community

GRMAIZ
Gila River Maintenance Area Impact Zone

GRUSP
Granite Reef Underground Storage Project

GRWS
Gila River Water Storage

GSF
groundwater savings facilityallows a permit holder to deliver renewable to a recipient who agrees to replace groundwater pumping with in lieu water, creating groundwater savings

GSI
Green Stormwater Infrastructure

GSSP
global stratotype section and pointgeographic location that marks a geologic time period, characterized by certain fossils, the spread or extinction of certain species, a particular ice core sediment or a chemical or radioactive residue

GVI
Groundwater Visibility Innitiative

Groves II Park at South Prudence Road and Poinciana Drive
Groves II Park at South Prudence Road and Poinciana Drive
Green Stormwater Infrastructure Grant Project
D. Meeks
Nov. 14, 2021
Image taken by and used with
permission of the author
GWAICC
Governor's Water Augmentation, Innovation and Conservation Council

GWh
gigawatt houra unit of energy representing one billion watt hours

GWMC
Governor's Water Management Commission

GWP
Gila Watershed Partnership

GWP
global warming potentiala measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide

GWR
Ground Water Rule

GWUDI
groundwater under the direct influence of surface water

H

HACCP
hazard analysis and critical control points

What is the most common igneous plutonic rock?
HAMP
Hopi Arsenic Mitigation Project

HCP
habitat conservation planpart of an application for a project that might result in the destruction of an endangered or threatened species

HFPO-DA
hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acida chemical used in manufacturing materials used to protect wires

Dr. Jerry Howard speaks on Hohokam Irrigation
Arizona Experience
Jan. 24, 2013
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__iTRVsIzEQ
Embedded video, no copy made
HIDD
Hohokam Irrigation & Drainage District

HRT
hydraulic retention timethe ratio between the reactor volume and the feed flow rate, represents the average time the cells and substrates stay inside the reactor

I

IBWC
International Boundary and Water Commission

ICS
intentionally created surplusallows California, Nevada and Arizona to store water in Lake Mead if they conserve the same amount of water within their state that could be used instead

IGA
intergovernmental agreementan agreement authorized by state statute between two or more governmental entities that provides for joint action or joint exercise of governmental powers

IGFR
irrigation grandfathered rightsowned by the owner of the land to which it belongs and may be leased for an irrigation use with the land to which it belongs

What era occurred between the Paleozoic and Cenozoic eras?
IGY
International Geophysical Year

IHS
Indian Health Service

IID
Imperial Irrigation District

IIWQ
International Initiative on Water Quality

Approximately 78% of Earth`s atmosphere is what gas?
INA
irrigation non-expansion areaarea designated to protect existing agriculture where groundwater is the principal water source

IPR
indirect potable reuseuses an environmental buffer, such as a lake, river or a groundwater aquifer before the water is treated at a drinking water treatment plant

ITCA
Intertribal Council of Arizona

ITCZ
Intertropical Convergence Zonearea where the northeast and the southeast trade winds converge, encircling Earth near the thermal equator

Chlorite, illite, kaolinite, montmorillonite, porphyllite, smectite and vermiculite are forms of?
IUCN
International Union for Conservation of Nature

IWC
Industrial Wastewater Control

IX
ion exchangea reversible exchange of an ion with another of the same charge to demineralize water or separate materials

Kino Environmental Restoration Project (KERP)
Kino Environmental Restoration Project (KERP)
D. Meeks
Mar. 20, 2023
Image taken by and used with
permission of the author
CC BY-SA 4.0
IWRM
integrated resource water management

J

K

KERP
Kino Environmental Restoration Project

L

LBCDP
Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan

LCNCA
Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

LCRBDF
Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund

LCR MSCP
Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program

The Santa Cruz River flows north as seen from Sentinel Peak in Tucson in the early 1900's
The Santa Cruz River flows north as seen
from Sentinel Peak in Tucson in the early 1900's
Arizona Historical Society
Image and caption used with
permission of and provided via
email by the Arizona Historical Society
LOSC
Law of the Sea Convention

LSCMRP
Lower Santa Cruz River Managed Recharge Project

LT1ESWTR
Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule

LTSC
long term storage creditscredits are earned when water is stored or banked underground for more than one year

LTWA
long term water augmentation fundcreated to finance water supply development projects to increase Arizona's water supply

M

MAD
management allowable depletiondesired soil-water deficit at the time of irrigation

MAG
Maricopa Association of Governments

MAR
managed aquifer rechargeconsists of water management methods that recharge an aquifer using either surface or underground recharge techniques

How is non-potable water reused?
MCFCD
Maricopa County Flood Control District

MCL
maximum contaminant levelthe maximum concentration of a chemical that is allowed in public drinking water systems

MCLG
maximum contaminant level goalsthe maximum level of a contaminant in drinking water at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons would occur

MDC
minimum detectable concentrationthe net concentration that has a specified chance of being detected, an estimate of the detection capability of a measuring system

What is the Ten Tribes Partnership?
MDL
method detection limitthe minimum measured concentration of a substance that can be reported with 99% confidence that the measured concentration is distinguishable from method blank results

MG
million gallons

MGD
million gallons per day

MHPERP
Marana High Plains Effluent Recharge Project

What are Earth`s 7 continents?
MLSS
mixed liquor suspended solidsconcentration of suspended solids, in an aeration tank during the activated sludge process, which occurs during the treatment of waste water

MLVSS
mixed liquor volatile suspended solidsthe amount of organic or volatile suspended solids in the mixed liquor of an aeration tank, used as a measure or indication of the microorganisms present

Mm3
million cubic meters

MOF
metal-organic frameworks, crystalline compounds consisting of rigid, porous organic molecules

What is an isohyet?
MPA
marine protected areas that include marine sanctuaries, estuarine research reserves, ocean parks and marine wildlife refuges

MRDLG
maximum residual disinfectant level goals

MRL
method reporting limitthe minimum concentration of a contaminant reported after analyzing a sample, determined after corrections have been made for sample dilution and sample weight

75th anniversary of MWD
Metropolitan Water District
Dec. 9, 2015
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNoDtPHogaw
Embedded video, no copy made
MSIDD
Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation & Drainage District

MWD
Metropolitan Water District

N

NAFF
Northern Arizona Forest Fund

NAICS
North American Industry Classification System

NAMWUA
Northern Arizona Municipal Water Users Association

NAPI
Navajo Agricultural Products Industry

What is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?
Protect NEPA
Jan. 27, 2020
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH4ewiILthw
Embedded video, no copy made
NCS
new conservation space

ND
not detected

NEMO
Nonprofit Education for Municipal Officials

NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act

NF
nanofiltrationa membrane liquid-separation technology that removes multivalent ions

NFPP
National Fish Passage Program

Introduction to NFWF
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Jan. 19, 2023
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYmYfABzNdE
Embedded video, no copy made
NFWF
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

NGO
non-governmental organizationa nonprofit organization operating independently of any government, and typically addressing environmental, social or political issues

NGVIDD
North Gila Valley Irrigation & Drainage District

NGWA
National Groundwater Association

NIA
Non-Indian agricultural

NIB
Northerly international Boundarylimitrophe above the Morales Dam 1.1 miles downstream from the California-Baja California land boundary between Los Algodones and Yuma County

NIWTP
Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant

Components of an NPDES permit
Components of an NPDES permit
EPA
Feb. 14, 2017
Wikipedia Clean Water Act
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Clean_Water_Act#/
media/File:NPDES_Permit
_Components_EPA_chart.png
public domain
NPDES
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System

NPDWR
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations

NRA
National Reclamation Act

NRCS
Natural Resources Conservation Service

NSPS
new sources standards of performancereflect effluent reductions based on the best available demonstrated control technology

NTNCWS
non-transient non-community water systema public water system that regularly supplies water to at least 25 of the same people at least six months per year, includes schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals which have their own water systems

NTU
nephelometric turbidity unitunit that expresses water turbidity

NWIS
National Water Information System

NWQMC
National Water Quality Monitoring Council

NWRI
National Water Research Institute

NZUW
net zero urban waterapproach which meets the needs of a given community with a locally available and sustainable water supply, without detriment to interconnected systems or long-term water supply

O

What are the 7 periods of the Paleozoic era?
O&M
operations & maintenance

ODUSF
Olberg Dam Underground Storage Facility

ORV
outstanding remarkable valuesa river-related value must be a unique, rare, or exemplary feature that is significant at a comparative regional or national scale, and can be scenic, recreational, geological, fish-related, wildlife-related, historic, cultural, botanical, hydrological, paleontological, scientific or other value

P

What supercontinent existed between the Precambrian eon and the Mesozoic era?
PAG
Pima Association of Governments

PAH
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsa class of chemicals found in coal, crude oil, and gasoline that can cause a variety of negative health effects, including cancer

PCBs
polychlorinated biphenylsgroup of synthetic, toxic industrial chemicals that were banned in 1979 with the Toxic Substances Control Act

PDO
Pacific Decadal Oscillationa long-term ocean fluctuation of the Pacific Ocean which waxes and wanes approximately every 20 to 30 years

Central Tucson PFAS Project
City of Tucson and Tucson Water
Jan. 19, 2022
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPxJoWpnJPc
Embedded video, no copy made
PFAS
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substancesa group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals

PFBS
perfluorobutanesulfonic acida stable and unreactive chemical compound that can occur in the form of a colorless liquid or a corrosive solid

PFHxS
perfluorohexanesulfonic acidan anionic fluorosurfactant and a persistent organic pollutant that accumulates in animals including humans

PFNA
perfluorononanoic acida synthetic perfluorinated carboxylic acid and fluorosurfactant that is also an environmental contaminant found in people and wildlife

PFOA
perfluorooctanoic acida manufactured perfluorochemical and a byproduct in producing fluoropolymers

PFOS
perfluorooctane sulfonatea chemical used in stain-resistant fabrics, fire-fighting foams, food packaging and as a surfactant in industrial processes

PIA
practically irrigable acreagethe place of use of an undeveloped water right claim of an allottee, or the transferee of an allottee, as determined in the Klamath Adjudication

PJ
petajoulea unit of energy equal to one million billion joules

What is the study of the interaction of water and ecology?
PMRRP
Pima Mine Road Recharge Project

POTW
publicly owned treatment workssystems used to store, treat, recycle, or reclaim municipal wastewater or industrial liquid wastes owned by a state, municipality, sewer district or other public entity

PPR
present perfect rightsColorado River water rights existing as of June 25, 1929

PQGWP
poor quality groundwater withdrawal permit

When are the equinoxes?
PRB
permeable reactive barrieran inground wall which removes impurities from water that passes through it

PSES
pretreatment standards for existing sourcesnational, uniform, technology-based standards that apply to indirect dischargers

PSNS
pretreatment standards for new sourcesnational, uniform, technology-based standards that apply to new indirect dischargers

PSWL
Protected Surface Waters List

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station
Oct. 25, 2019
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8hvJagZAkw
Embedded video, no copy made
PVC
polyvinyl chloridehigh strength thermoplastic material widely used in pipes, medical devices, wire and cable insulation

PVID
Palo Verde Irrigation District

PVNGS
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

PWDS
potable water distribution system

PWS
Payment for Watershed Service

PWS
public water systema system that provides water to the public for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if that system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals

Q

Where is the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District?
QMRA
quantitative microbial risk assessment

QSA
quantification settlement agreement

R

RAAC
Riparian Area Advisory Committee

RAPIDS
Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems

Advanced Water Treatment Plant: Reverse Osmosis
Scottsdale Water
Sep. 5, 2019
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWYMXE5SOrI
Embedded video, no copy made
RAS
return activated sludgesettled activated sludge that is collected in the secondary clarifier or the membrane basin and returned to the aeration basin to mix with incoming raw or primary settled wastewater

RFCD
Regional Flood Control District

RICE
reciprocating internal combustion engineengine that uses gas expnasion and increased pressure from fuel combustion to move pistons

RID
Roosevelt Irrigation District

RNA
ribonucleic acidconverting genetic information from genes into the amino acid sequences of proteins

RO
reverse osmosiswhen a solvent passes through a porous membrane in the direction opposite to that for natural osmosis when subjected to a hydrostatic pressure greater than the osmotic pressure

ROMP
Regional Optimization Master Plan

What is the most common sedimentary rock?
RRT
response retention time

RTCR
Revised Total Coliform Rule

RWCD
Roosevelt Water Conservation District

What cycle demonstrates the movement of water from the atmosphere, to precipitation, to Earth`s surface and back to the atmosphere?
RWRD
Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department

S

SAG
Stakeholder Advisory Group

Southern Avra Valley storage and recovery project near Sandario and Snyder Hill roads
Southern Avra Valley storage and recovery project
near Sandario and Snyder Hill roads
City of Tucson
2023
https://www.tucsonaz.gov/water/savsarp
public domain
SAPCO
Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations

SAT
soil aquifer treatmentuse of the physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of the soil and the aquifer to provide treatment of water introduced into the groundwater system

SAVSARP
Southern Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project

SAWARA
Southern Arizona Water Resources Association

SAWRSA
Southern Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act

SAWUA
Southern Arizona Water Users Association

SCADA
supervisory control and data acquisition system

SCAPR
Steering Committee for Arizona Potable Reuse

Pima County Wastewater Reclamation SCADA System
Pima County Arizona
Oct. 20, 2015
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or1fPAtqJk0
Embedded video, no copy made
SCIDD
San Carlos Irrigation & Drainage District

SCIP
San Carlos Irrigation Project

SDWA
Safe Drinking Water Act

SDG
sustainable development goals

SEIS
supplemental environmental impact statement

SFC
Sanitation Facilities Construction

SHARP
Southeastern Houghton Area Recharge Project

Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Facility (SHARP)
Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Facility (SHARP)
Tucson Water
City of Tucson
https://www.tucsonaz.gov/water/SHARP
Used with written permission of Tucson Water
SIB
Southerly international Boundarylocated across the land border near San Luis, Arizona and including water below the Morales Dam

SNWA
Southern Nevada Water Authority

SPCZ
South Pacific Convergence Zonea west-northwest to east-southeast aligned trough extending from the west Pacific warm pool southeastwards towards French Polynesia

SROG
Sub-Regional Operating Group

SRP
Salt River Project

SRPAIPD
Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District

SRPMIC
Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community

SRT
solids retention timethe time the solid fraction of the wastewater spends in a treatment unit

SRVWUA
Salt River Valley Water Users' Association

SRP's Rich History and Fertile Future in Arizona
Salt River Project
Oct. 16, 2017
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaL45FXY_c0
Embedded video, no copy made
SS
suspended solidssmall solid particles which remain in suspension in water as a colloid or due to motion of the water

SSO
sanitary sewer overflow

STEWARDS
Sustaining the Earth's Watersheds Agricultural Research Database System

SVAPD
Sonoita Valley Acquisition Planning District

SVI
sludge volume indexa number accounting for 30-minute settleability test result and the activated sludge mixed liquor suspended solids test result that describes the ability of the sludge to settle and compact

SWE
snow water equivalentamount of water contained in snowpack that would theoretically appear if the snow were melted

SWIFT
Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow

SWPP
Surface Water Protection Program

Stormwater Pollution Prevention General Awareness
UCI Environmental Health & Safety
Jan. 9, 2020
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxVmwTNAHgE
Embedded video, no copy made
SWPPP
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

SWTR
Surface Water Treatment Rules

T

TAAP
Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program

TAMA
Tucson Active Management Area

TARP
Tucson Airport Remediation Project

TCE
trichloroethylenea colorless liquid with a chloroform-like odor

What are the 3 periods of the Mesozoic era?
TDS
total dissolved solidsdescribe the inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter present in solution in water

THM
trihalomethanederivatives of methane, such as chloroform, that have three halogen atoms per molecule and can be formed during the chlorination of drinking water

The Nature Conservancy - 60 Years of Conservation
The Nature Conservancy
Jan. 31, 2012
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orb8HJIwJQE
Embedded video, no copy made
TKN
total Kjedahl nitrogena method for determining the amount of nitrogen contained in organic substances plus the nitrogen contained in the inorganic compounds ammonia and ammonium

TMDL
total maximum daily loada regulatory term in the U.S. Clean Water Act, describing a plan for restoring impaired waters that identifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards

TNC
The Nature Conservancy

TNCWS
transient non-community water systema public water system that provides water in a place such as a gas station or campground where people do not remain for long periods of time

TNW
traditionally navigable waterthose waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and/or are presently used, or have been used in the past, or may be susceptible for use to transport interstate or foreign commerce

TRIF
Technology and Research Initiative

Tribes, Power, and Water
Our Land
Sep. 11, 2020
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcTmbnBZwsc
Embedded video, no copy made
TSS
total suspended solidsrefers to waterborne particles larger than 2 microns in size

TTP
Ten Tribes Partnership

TWh
terawatt houra unit of energy equal to one trillion watt hours

TWS
Tribal Water Study

U

UCMR
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule

UF
ultrafiltrationpressure-driven barrier to suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, endotoxins and other pathogens to produce water with very high purity and low silt density

Advanced Water Treatment Plant: Ultrafiltration
Scottsdale Water
Sep. 5, 2019
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTfJFNTE0TI
Embedded video, no copy made
UHI
urban heat islandan urban area or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities

UIC
underground injection control

UNDRIP
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People

UNDRR
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UNPFII
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indiginouse Issues

UOC
unspecified organic contaminants

What is an isobar?
USBR
United States Bureau of Reclamation

USDW
underground sources of drinking water

USF
underground storage facilitya location to recharge water through shallow constructed infiltration basins, a river or stream bed used as infiltration medium or an injection well

USGS: More than a Workplace
U.S.G.S.
Apr. 19, 2016
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q-cjOubltk
Embedded video, no copy made
USGS
United States Geological Survey

USRP
Underground Storage and Recovery Program

USSFWS
United States Fish and Wildlife Service

UWS
Underground Water Storage, Savings, and Replenishment Act

V

VESP
Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program

VOC
volatile organic compoundsorganic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature

W

What are the 4 time delineations of the geologic timescale?
WAS
waste activated sludgethe excess quantity of microorganisms that must be removed from a process to keep the biological system in balance

WASH
water, sanitation and hygiene

WATA
Water Adaptation Techniques Atlas

WCE
water conveyance efficiencythe volume of water that reaches the farm relative to that diverted from the source

What are the 10 minerals listed on the Moh`s hardness scale?
WDUA
water delivery and use agreement

WEDSF
Water, Economic Development and Sustainability Fund

WEF
Water Environment Federation

Water Education Today
Project WET
Jul. 21, 2020
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvqaKzCQbTg
Embedded video, no copy made
WET
Water Education for Teachers

WETF
Water Efficiency Task Force

WIFA
Water Infrastructure Finance Authority

WMAP
Water Management Assistance Program

WMAT
White Mountain Apache Tribe

WMG
Watershed Management Group

WMIDD
Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District

When was the International Geophysical Year?
WOTUS
Waters of the United States

WPCF
Water Pollution Control Federation

WQARF
Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund

What greenhouse gas is the biggest driver of increasing atmpospheric temperature change?
WQBEL
water quality-based effluent limits

WQD
Water Quality Division

WQP
Water Quality Portal

WRAF
water resources acquisition feesfees paid by new developments for their proportionate share of the costs associated with making water supplies available

WRAP
Water Reuse Action Plan

WRDC
Water Resources Development Commission

WRF
water reclamation facility

WRRC
Water Resources Research Center

WRRF
WateReuse Research Foundation

WSDRF
Water Supply Development Revolving Fund

WSF
water sustainability program

WSG
Water Supply Guideance Manual

Agua Nueva Water Reclamation Facility
Pima County Arizona
Apr. 16, 2019
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcR2bzcSQ5o
Embedded video, no copy made
WSRA
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

WTI
Water & Tribes Initiative

WUCA
Water Utility Climate Alliance

WUE
water use efficiencythe ratio of water used in plant metabolism to water lost by the plant through transpiration

WWTP
waste water treatment plant

X

Y

What geological theory states that changes to Earth`s crust resulted from sudden violent and unusual events?
YCWUA
Yuma County Water Users' Association

YDP
Yuma Desalting Plant

YID
Yuma Irrigation District

YMIDD
Yuma Mesa Irrigation and Drainage District

Z


 
Glossary[*]

ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO PQR STU VWX YZ

A

Approximately 21% of Earth`s atmosphere is what gas?
absolute humidity
measure of the actual amount of water vapor in the air, regardless of air temperature

abyssal hill
a hill that rises from the sea floor

abyssal plain
an underwater plain on the deep ocean floor

abyssopelagic zone
from the bottom of the bathypelagic to the seafloor, characterized by a relative lack of life

What are the 2 periods of the Cenozoic era?
acequia
gravity-driven waterway similar to a flume

acid
refers to a substance with a pH less than 7

acid rain
rain with low pH

Volume of one acre-foot
Volume of one acre-foot
CBurnett
Mar. 26, 2007
Wikipedia acre-foot
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Acre-foot#/media/
File:Acre_foot.svg
CC BY-SA 3.0
acre-foot (AF)
volume of water covering an acre to a depth of one foot, equal to 43,560 cubic feet or 325,851 gallons

activated carbon
purified powdered charcoal

activated sludge
a process with high concentration of bacteria, protozoa and fungi, kept in suspension by stirring, to remove organic matter from wastewater

active management area (AMA)
areas with heavy reliance on mined groundwater identified and designated by the 1980 Arizona Groundwater Management Act, as the Prescott, Phoenix, Pinal, Tucson, and Santa Cruz management areas, where groundwater is subject to state regulation

active storage system
stores water for on-demand need

adaptation
changes that enable an organism or species to become better suited to its environment

adhesion
sticking to a surface or object

Agricultural calendar, c. 1470 from a manuscript of Pietro de Crescenzi
Agricultural calendar, c. 1470
from a manuscript of Pietro de Crescenzi
Master of the Geneva Boccaccio
1470
Wikipedia agriculture
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Agriculture#/media/
File:Crescenzi_calendar.jpg
public domain
advanced drinking water treatment (ADWT)
additional engineered treatment after secondary or tertiary treatment of wastewater to remove contaminants of concern to make it acceptable for drinking water purposes

advanced oxidation
use of ozone, ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide to for pathogen disinfection and organic contaminant removal

advanced wastewater treatment (AWT)
any process that can reduce impurities in wastewater below what is attainable through conventional secondary or biological treatment

advection
movement of water through the atmosphere

adenine
one of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acids of DNA

aeolian
related to or produced by wind

aerosol
a substance enclosed under pressure and able to be released as a fine spray, typically by using a propellant gas

age
smallest geochronologic unit

agriculture
the science or practice of farming

agrivoltaics
the simultaneous use of land areas for solar panels and agriculture

albedo
proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface

alchemy
the medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter, mainly concerned with attempts to convert base metals into gold

alkali
a chemical compound that neutralizes or effervesces with acids, a caustic or corrosive substance such as lime or soda

alkaline
refers to a substance with a pH greater than 7

alloy
a metal made by combining two or more metallic elements

alluvial fan
a fan-shaped mass of deposited material atthe mouth of a river or stream

alluvial plain
a largely flat landform created by the deposition of sediment over a long period of time by one or more rivers coming from highland regions, from which alluvial soil forms

alluvium
a deposit of clay, silt, sand, and gravel left by flowing streams in a river valley or delta, typically producing fertile soil

alpha particle
a positively charged nuclear particle identical with the nucleus of a helium atom that consists of two protons and two neutrons

alpine
of, pertaining to, on, or part of any lofty mountain

Aluminum
Periodic Table of Videos
May 11, 2014
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AhZ8503WPs
Embedded video, no copy made
altimeter
an instrument that measures altitude

altocumulus
cloud forming a layer of rounded masses with a level base, occurring at medium altitude, usually 6,500 to 23,000 feet (2 to 7 km)

aluminosilicate
a silicate in which aluminum replaces some of the silicon, especially a rock-forming mineral such as a feldspar or a clay mineral

aluminum
a silver-white malleable, conductive, light metallic chemical element that resists weathering, and is the most common metal in Earth's crust

alveolate
member of a grouping of protists comprising the ciliates, sporozoa and dinoflagellates

amino acid
a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (-COOH) and an amino (-NH2) group

What aerosol is the biggest driver of decreasing atmpospheric temperature change?
ammonia
a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, (NH3)

ammonium
a cation obtained by protonation of ammonia

amoeba
a type of cell or unicellular organism which has the ability to alter its shape, primarily by extending and retracting pseudopods

amphibian
a cold-blooded vertebrate animal including frogs, toads, newts and salamanders, have an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage

Hutton's angular unconformity at Siccar Point where 345-million-year-old Devonian old red sandstone overlies 425-million-year-old Silurian greywacke
Hutton's angular unconformity at
Siccar Point where 345-million-year-old
Devonian old red sandstone overlies
425-million-year-old Silurian greywacke
D. Souza
Apr. 2, 2008
Wikipedia unconformity
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Unconformity#/media/
File:Siccar_Point
_red_capstone_closeup.jpg
CC BY-SA 4.0
amphibole
an important group of inosilicate minerals, forming prism or needlelike crystals, (SiO4)

amphibolite
a granular metamorphic rock consisting mainly of hornblende and plagioclase

amphitheater
a level area surrounded by upward sloping ground

amphoteric
refers to a substance able to react both as a base and as an acid, such as water

anaerobic
relating to, involving, or requiring an absence of free oxygen

analysis of assured water supply (AAWS)
applied for by landowners to demonstrate physical availability of groundwater

andesite
a dark, fine-grained, brown or grayish volcanic rock that is intermediate in composition between rhyolite and basalt

aneroid barometer
device for measuring atmospheric pressure without the use of fluids

angular unconformity
landform structure created by deposition, uplift, erosion and renewed deposition

The Trinity test in July 1945 has been proposed as the start of the Anthropocene
The Trinity test in July 1945
has been proposed as the start of the Anthropocene
B. Brixner
Jul. 16, 1945
Wikipedia anthropocene
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Anthropocene#/media/
File:Trinity_Test_Fireball_16ms.jpg
public domain
anhydrous
refers to substances that do not contain water

anion
a negatively charged ion

anion exchange
a method for removing PFAS from water

Antarctic bottom water (AABW)
water that circulates from the Antarctic continental margin and sinks along the continental slope to the ocean

antecedent river
a river whose path of flow within a valley was established before the mountainous structure was uplifted

Anthropocene
describes the time during which humans have had a substantial impact on our planet

anthropogenic
related to human activity

anthropogenic biome
describes the terrestrial biosphere in its human-altered form using global ecosystem units defined by global patterns of sustained direct human interaction with ecosystems

Antimony
Periodic Table of Videos
Jul. 14, 2008
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcc6qNT3BoU
Embedded video, no copy made
anthropomorphic
described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes

anticline
a ridge-shaped fold of stratified rock in which the strata slope downward from the crest, often dome-shaped

anticyclone
a weather system with high atmospheric center pressure, circulates in a clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere, associated with good weather

antimeridian
the meridian 180o both east and west of the prime meridian in a geographical coordinate system

antimony
a lustrous gray metalloid, found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite

aphanitic
name given to certain igneous rocks that are so fine-grained that their component mineral crystals are not detectable by the unaided eye

Aragonite is fluorescent
Aragonite is fluorescent
H. Zell
Aug. 2, 2013
Wikipedia aragonite
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Aragonite#/media/
File:Aragonit_-_Fluorescence.gif
CC BY-SA 3.0
application efficiency
the depth of water required relative to the amount of water applied in a single irrigation event

aquaculture
raising and harvesting of living creatures found in water environments

aqueduct
a channel used to transport water from a remote source using gravity

aqueous
of or containing water, typically as a solvent

aqueous film fighting foam (AFFF)
a fire suppressant used to extinguish flammable liquid fires such as fuel fires

aquiclude
A water-bearing layer of rock or sediment that is incapable of transmitting water

aquifer
a body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater

aquifer compaction
soil compression resulting from the extraction of groundwater

aquitard
a geological formation that may contain groundwater but is not capable of transmitting significant quantities of it under normal hydraulic gradients

arable
used or suitable for growing crops

Artesian wells can bring water to the land surface naturally
Artesian wells can bring water to the land surface naturally
USGS
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/artesian-wells
-can-bring-water-land-surface-naturally
public domain
aragonite
a mineral consisting of calcium carbonate, typically occurring in white seashells and as colorless prisms in deposits in hot springs

arch
a horizontal geologic structure formed by weathering processes, rather than flowing water, that cut through rock to create a large opening

archaeology
the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains

archipelago
an area that contains a chain or group of islands scattered in lakes, rivers or the ocean

argillaceous
consisting of or containing clay

argillic horizon
A mineral soil horizon that is characterized by accumulation of silicate clays

aridification
the gradual change of a region from a wetter to a drier climate

arroyo
a steep-sided gully formed by fast-flowing water in an arid or semi-arid region

arsenic
a solid chemical element that is used especially in wood preservatives, alloys, and semiconductors and is extremely toxic in both pure and combined forms

What is the study of water?
artesian aquifer
an aquifer containing trapped water surrounded by layers of imperiable rocks or clay

artesian well
well in which water flows to the land surface because pressure from underground rocks force it to the surface

Atmosphere, gases, heat, and pressure
Earth Rocks!
Jul. 25, 2018
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooQ2bdkCdQY
Embedded video, no copy made
arthropod
an invertebrate animal, including insects, arachnids, and crustaceans, having a segmented body, jointed limbs and a shell of chitin that is shed periodically

artificial recharge
taking deliberate action to add water to an aquifer

assured water supply
a water supply that is sustainable for a minimum of 100 years, meets water quality standards, can deliver the promised supply and is consistent with AMA management plans and goals

astatine
a radioactive halogen discovered by bombarding bismuth with alpha particles and also formed by radioactive decay

asthenosphere
ductile region of the upper mantle, lies below the lithosphere at a depth between 80 and 200 km, extending as deep as 700 km

atmosphere
the layer of gases surrounding a planet or moon

Atmospheric circulation
Earth Rocks!
Mar. 4, 2015
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOtKdyYdf5c
Embedded video, no copy made
atmospheric circulation
the large-scale movement of air and together with ocean circulation by which thermal energy is redistributed on the surface of the Earth

atmospheric river
long, concentrated atmospheric region that moves moist air from the tropics to higher latitudes, producing heavy rain and snow

atom
a basic unit of a chemical element

atomic number
the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the chemical properties of an element and its place in the periodic table

auxiliary spillway
built for emergency release of water to prevent damage to a dam

avalanche
a mass of snow, ice and rock falling down the side of a mountain

axial tilt
the 23o tilt of Earth's axis relative to the plane of its orbit around the Sun

B

Barium
Periodic Table of Videos
Jun. 30, 2011
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9srJdQU3NOo
Embedded video, no copy made
bacteria
members of a group of single-celled microorganisms with cell walls, no organelles and an organized nucleus, some cause diseases

badland
extensive tracts of heavily eroded, uncultivable land with little vegetation

bajada
a broad alluvial slope from the base of a mountain range into a basin formed by joined alluvial fans

Bardenpho process
a four or five stage process that removes nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater

barium
a silver-white metallic element used in drilling fluid and vacuum tubes, and as a contrast agent in medical imaging

Heron Island, part of Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Heron Island, part of Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Ciambue
Jul. 30, 2011
Wikipedia Great Barrier Reef
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef#/media/
File:Heron_Island.jpg
CC BY 2.0
barometric
relating to measurementof atmospheric pressure

barrier reef
a coral reef running parallel to the shore but separated from it by a channel of deep water

basalt
a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that sometimes displays a columnar structure, typically composed largely of plagioclase with pyroxene and olivine

base
a chemical species that donates electrons, accepts protons, or releases hydroxide ions in aqueous solution

baseflow
the flow of water from the seepage of groundwater or throughflow into the surface of a river, lake or stream

base level
lowest level to which running water can flow and erode

baseline
a survey line that is used to coordinate other survey measurements

Basalt, a fine-grained igneous rock
Basalt, a fine-grained igneous rock
Unknown author
Jan. 8, 2005
Wikipedia basalt
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Basalt#/media/
File:BasaltUSGOV.jpg
public domain
basement
crystalline rocks lying above the mantle and beneath all other rocks and sediments

basic sector
the primary markets for locally produced goods and services lay outside of that county

basin
a land area that drains into a common outlet

Basin and Range Province
a large region covering part of the inland Western U.S. and northwestern Mexico that is characterized by abrupt changes in elevation, alternating between narrow faulted mountain chains and flat arid valleys or basins

basin sweep
systematic collection of well water, groundwater and water quality data by ADWR

batholith
a large mass of intrusive igneous rock larger than 100 square kilometers that forms from cooled magma deep in Earth's crust

bathypelagic zone
lower open ocean, starts at the bottom of the mesopelagic and stretches down to 4000 m (13,000 feet)

bay
a water body partially surrounded by land and by another water body

bayou
a marsh-like outlet of a lake or river

Beaufort Scale
wind
force
descriptionwind speed
in km/h
wind speed
in miles/hr
wave height
in m
0calm<1<10.0
1light air1-51-30.1
2light breeze6-114-70.2
3gentle breeze12-198-120.6
4moderate breeze20-2813-181.0
5fresh breeze29-3819-242.0
6strong breeze39-4925-313.0
7near gale50-6132-384.0
8gale62-7439-465.5
9strong gale75-8847-547.0
10storm89-10255-639.0
11violent storm103-11764-7211.5
12hurricane118+73++14
Source: Royal Meteorological Society,
https://www.rmets.org/metmatters/beaufort-wind-scale

Beaufort scale
an experimental measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land

bedding plane
the surface that separates each successive layer of a stratified rock from its preceding layer

bedrock
solid rock underlying loose deposits such as soil or alluvium

bench
a flat narrow platform of land

beneficial consumptive use
amount of water diverted for irrigation minus amount of water returned to groundwater supply

benthic
anything associated with or occurring on the bottom of a body of water

benthos zone
where organisms live on the ocean floor

bentonite
clay generated from the alteration of volcanic ash, consisting predominantly of smectite minerals, usually montmorillonite

beryllium
a steel-gray, light, brittle chemical element that occurs naturally in beryl used as a hardening agent in alloys

Beryllium
Periodic Table of Videos
Jan. 1, 2009
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy8JyQShZRA
Embedded video, no copy made
best available technology achievable (BAT)
the best available economically achievable performance of plants in an industrial subcategory or category

best conventional pollutant control technology (BCT)
addresses conventional pollutants from existing industrial point sources

best management practices (BMP)
methods that have been determined to be the most effective and practical means of preventing or reducing non-point source pollution to help achieve water quality goals

best practicable control technology (BPT)
effluent limitations based on the average of the best performance of facilities within an industry of various ages, sizes, processes or other common characteristics

bicarbonate
a salt of carbonic acid containing the ion HCO3-

A bioluminescent creature
A bioluminescent creature
NOAA
Feb. 26, 2021
What is Bioluminescence?
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/
facts/biolum.html
public domain
bimodal precipitation
a wet season with two rainfall peaks that are separated by at least one dry month

biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
amount of dissolved oxygen that must be present in water in order for microorganisms to decompose the organic matter in the water, used as a measure of the degree of pollution

biochemical sedimentary rock
formed from shells and bodies of underwater organisms

biological treatment
using bacteria and other microorganisms to remove organic materials including nitrate and nitrite

biology
the study of living organisms, divided into many specialized fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, origin, and distribution

World biomes
World biomes
V. Koistinen
Feb. 21, 2007
Wikipedia biome
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Biome#/media/File:Vegetation.png
CC BY-SA 3.0
bioluminescence
biochemical emission of light by living organisms such as fireflies and deep-sea fish

biomagnification
build up of toxins in a food chain

biomass
total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area or volume

biomatter
mass of living matter within a given area

biome
a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat

biosolids
organic matter recycled from sewage

biosphere
the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere occupied by living organisms

Bismuth
Periodic Table of Videos
Aug. 13, 2008
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyIo-c7VmIM
Embedded video, no copy made
biota
animal and plant life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period

biotite
a silicate mineral also called black mica, abundant in metamorphic rocks, in pegmatites, granites and other intrusive igneous rocks

biped
an animal which has two feet

bismuth
a metallic element that is used in alloys, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics

black smoker
a hydrothermal vent that emits a black material

block faulting
the process by which tensional forces in Earth's crust cause large bodies of rock to move

blowdown water
water discharged from a cooling tower to control mineral and impurity buildup in recirculating water

A black smoker on the East Pacific Rise
A black smoker on the East Pacific Rise
W.R. Normark & D. Foster
Jan. 1, 1981
Wikipedia hydrothermal vent
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Hydrothermal_vent#/
media/File:BlackSmoker.jpg
public domain
blue water
in water balancing, refers to surface and groundwater available for irrigation, urban and industrial use and environmental flows

bog
wet muddy ground too soft to support a heavy body

bomb cyclone
a powerful, rapidly intensifying storm associated with a sudden and significant drop in atmospheric pressure

bombogenesis
explosive development of a cyclone

borate
a salt in which the anion contains both boron and oxygen, as in borax

Bowen's reaction series
the sequence of crystallization of common silicate minerals from typical basaltic magma

brachiopod
animal with a hard valve on its upper and lower surface

brackish water
having more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater

Alamitos Bay, California breakwater
Alamitos Bay, California breakwater
USGS
Jun. 10, 2010
Wikipedia breakwater (structure)
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Breakwater_(structure)
#/media/File:Breakwater
_break1_new(USGS).jpg
public domain
braided river
a network of river channels separated by small islands or bars

break
an enhanced ridge of the upper level Bermuda and North Pacific subtropical high pressure systems stabilizing the atmosphere and cutting off widespread thunderstorm activity

breakwater
a barrier built out into a body of water to protect a coast or harbor from the force of waves

breccia
a rock made of cemented, angular fragments

bridge
a horizontal geologic structure formed by flowing water that cut through rock to create a large opening

brine
water with a high salt content

brine management
discharging brine to sewers, surface water, injection wells, or sending it to environmental service providers

British thermal unit (BTU)
the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water at maximum density by one degree Fahrenheit, equivalent to 1.055 x 103 joules

Bromine
Periodic Table of Videos
Dec. 1, 2009
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slt3_5upuSs
Embedded video, no copy made
bromine
a nonmetallic halogen used in the production of flame retardants and in swimming pools

brook
a small stream

bryophite
a small flowerless green plant of the division Bryophyta, which comprises the mosses and liverworts

bryzoan
a non-moving aquatic invertebrate of the phylum Bryozoa which comprises of the moss animals

bulrush
a tall rushlike water plant of the sedge family

buoyancy
ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid

burst
movement into Arizona of a weak trough in the upper level westerlies which spreads upper level cold air into the region

butte
a hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding area and has sloping or vertical sides and a flat top

Factory Butte, Utah
Factory Butte, Utah
J. Menard
Sep. 17, 2008
Wikipedia Factory Butte
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Factory_Butte#/media/
File:Scenery_north_of_
Hanksville,_Utah.jpg
CC BY-SA 2.0
C

cablegation
a modified gated pipe system using a moving plug attached by a cable inside the pipe to deliver water sequentially to furrows, starting with a large initial surge of water that then declines in volume

cadastral location
refers to a method of locating land according to a rectangular coordinate system

cadmium
a soft, malleable, bluish white metal found in zinc ores

calcite
a white or colorless mineral consisting of calcium carbonate, a major component of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, marble, and chalk, can occur in crystalline form and may be deposited in caves to form stalactites and stalagmites

calcium
the chemical element of atomic number 20, a soft gray metal

calcium carbonate
a white insoluble solid occurring naturally as chalk, limestone, marble and calcite, forming mollusk shells and stony corals

Calcium
Periodic Table of Videos
Dec. 13, 2010
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9fuY8_ffFg
Embedded video, no copy made
caldera
a bowl-shaped depression that forms when a volcano collapses

caliche
a mineral deposit of gravel, sand and nitrates that forms extremely hard soil

calving glacier
a glacier that ends in a body of water into which it drops icebergs

canal
a waterway constructed to transport water

capillary action
the movement of water within the spaces of a porous material due to the forces of adhesion, cohesion and surface tension

capillary attraction
the tendency of a liquid in a narrow tube to rise as a result of surface forces

Carbon
Periodic Table of Videos
Mar. 16, 2011
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuW4_bRHbUk
Embedded video, no copy made
carbon
chemical element of atomic number 6, a nonmetal which has two main forms, diamond and graphite, and which also occurs in impure form in charcoal, soot and coal

carbon dioxide
a colorless, odorless, incombustible greenhouse gas, (CO2)

carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)
the number of metric tons of CO2 emissions with the same global warming potential as one metric ton of another greenhouse gas

carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD)
represents the biochemical oxygen demand from carbon-containing compounds and the oxidation of inorganic compounds such as ferrous iron and sulfide

carbonate
a salt of the anion CO32-, typically by reaction with carbon dioxide

carbon credit
a permit which allows production of a certain amount of carbon emissions which can be traded if the full allowance is not used

What geological theory states that changes to Earth`s crust resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes?
carbon dioxide removal
process in which carbon dioxide gas is removed from the atmosphere by human activities and stored in geological, terrestrial or ocean reservoirs or in products

carbonic acid
a very weak acid formed in solution when carbon dioxide dissolves in water, (H2CO3)

Carboniferous
a geologic period and system that spans 60 million years from the end of the Devonian Period 358.9 million years ago, to the beginning of the Permian Period, 298.9 million years ago, famous for its vast swamp forests

What is the most common metamorphic rock?
carbon neutrality
a state of net zero carbon dioxide emissions

carbon sequestration
the process of storing atmospheric carbon dioxide in a carbon pool

carbon tax
a tax on carbon emissions required to produce goods and services

carrying capacity
threshold level of water resources at which an environment is capable of supporting human activities

What organization is obligated to replenish excess groundwater withdrawn by its members?
Casa Grande soil
a variety common Arizona soil with high clay content and a lot of salt

cash crop
produced for its commercial value rather than for use by the grower

castellated
having structures similar to the battlements on a castle

cataclasite
a cohesive granular fault rock

catastrophism
the theory that changes in Earth's crust during geological history have resulted from sudden violent and unusual events

What 1973 law requires federal agencies to prevent damage to critical species and habitats?
catchment basin
the entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries

cation
a positively charged ion

cation exchange capacity (CEC)
measure of the soil`s ability to hold positively charged ions

CCF
100 cubic feet or 748 gallons, typical measure of metering for water delivery volumes for residential and commercial customers

A chambered nautilus is classified as a cephalopod
A chambered nautilus is classified as a cephalopod
H. Hillewaert
Aug. 28, 2008
Wikipedia cephalopod
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Cephalopod#/media/File:
Nautilus_pompilius_3.jpg
CC BY-SA 4.0
celestial equator
the projection into space of the Earth's equator

Celsius
temperature scale where the freezing point of water is represented by 0oC and the boiling point of water is represented by 100oC, equivalent to the centigrade temperature scale

Cenozoic
began about 65 million years ago and continues into the present, is the third documented era in the history of Earth

center pivot system
a self-propelled electronic or hydraulic continuously moving sprinkler or spray nozzle system that travels around a center pivot point

centigrade
temperature scale where the freezing point of water is represented by 0oC and the boiling point of water is represented by 100oC, equivalent to the Celsius temperature scale

cephalopod
an active predatory mollusk of the large class Cephalopoda such as an octopus, squid or nautilus

certificate of assured water supply (CAWS)
issued to landlords to demonstrate that water of sufficient quantity and quality is legally available to serve the proposed development for 100 years

The Needles, situated off the Isle of Wight, are part of the extensive Southern England chalk formation
The Needles, situated off the Isle of Wight,
are part of the extensive Southern England chalk formation
Anonymous
Jul. 19, 2005
Wikipedia Chalk
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Chalk#/media/
File:The_Needles.jpg
CC BY 3.0
certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN)
a certificate issued by an agency granting a company authority to operate a public service, usually as a utility or transportation company

chalk
a soft white limestone formed from the skeletal remains of sea creatures

channel
a length of water wider than a strait, joining two larger areas of water, especially two seas

check dam
a small or temporary dam constructed across a swale, drainage ditch or waterway to counteract erosion by slowing water flow

chemical oxygen demand (COD)
amount of dissolved oxygen required to oxidize chemical organic materials, used to gauge the short-term impact wastewater effluents will have on the oxygen levels of receiving waters

chemical hydrology
the study of the chemical characteristics of water

chemical sedimentary rock
forms when minerals dissolved in saturated water precipitate

chemistry
the branch of science that deals with the identification of the substances of which matter is composed and the investigation of their properties and the ways in which they interact, combine, and change; and the use of these processes to form new substances

chinampa
Mesoamerican floating gardens built over wetlands, marshes, shallow lakes or flood plains using sediments, manure, compost and vegetation debris

chitin
a fibrous substance consisting of polysaccharides and forming the major constituent in the exoskeleton of arthropods and the cell walls of fungi

chloride
a compound of chlorine with another element or group, especially a salt of the anion Cl-

chlorination
water disinfection by adding chlorine

Chlorine
Periodic Table of Videos
Nov. 4, 2009
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXCfBl4rmh0
Embedded video, no copy made
chlorine
a greenish-yellow pungent-smelling element used especially as a bleach, oxidizing agent and disinfectant in water purification

chlorine contact chamber (CCC)
a basin that enables chlorine to disinfect wastewater

chlorite
name of a group of common sheet silicate minerals that form during the early stages of metamorphism

chlorofluorocarbon
compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, gases used in refrigerants and aerosol propellants, harmful to the ozone layer

cholera
an intestinal infection caused by Vibrio cholerae bacteria

chromium
a blue-white metallic element found naturally only in combination and used especially in alloys and in electroplating

Chromium
Periodic Table of Videos
Dec. 18, 2017
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NPjdDS11C4
Embedded video, no copy made
chromosome
a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes

chronostratigraphy
branch of stratigraphy that studies the ages of rock strata in relation to time

cienega
a swamp or marsh, especially one formed and fed by springs

cilia
an organelle found on eukaryotic cells in the shape of a slender protuberance that projects from the much larger cell body

ciliate
a single-celled animal of a phylum distinguished by the possession of cilia or ciliary structures

cinder cone
a cone formed around a volcanic vent by fragments of lava thrown out during eruptions

Ice Springs cinder cone and lava flow erupted 720 years ago in the Black Rock desert volcanic field
Ice Springs cinder cone and lava flow erupted
720 years ago in the
Black Rock desert volcanic field
R. Johnson/USGS
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/
ice-springs-cinder-cone-and-lava-flow-
erupted-720-years-ago
public domain
cirque glacier
a small glacier that forms in a basin high on the side of a mountain

cirrocumulus
cloud forming a broken layer of small fleecy clouds at high altitude, usually 16,500 to 45,000 feet (5 to 13 km), typically with a rippled or granulated appearance, mackerel sky

cirrus
cloud forming wispy filamentous tufted streaks, mare's tails, at high altitude, usually 16,500 to 45,000 feet (5 to 13 km)

cistern
a tank for storing water

citizen science
scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur scientists

class A+ water
reclaimed water is wastewater that has undergone secondary treatment, filtration, nitrogen removal treatment, and disinfection and there are fewer than 23 coliform organisms in 100 milliliters

class B+ water
reclaimed water is wastewater that has undergone secondary treatment, nitrogen removal treatment, and disinfection and there are fewer than 800 coliform organisms in 100 milliliters

clast
fragment of geological detritus, chunks and smaller grains of rock broken off other rocks by physical weathering

clay
stiff, sticky fine-grained earth, typically yellow, red, or bluish-gray in color and often forming an impermeable layer in the soil

clean cultivation
removal of weeds, disruptive cultivators or other materials to create smoother surfaces

cliff
a steep rock face, especially near a body of water

climate
weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period of time

Cloud types
Cloud types
National Weather Service
Cloud Classification and Characteristics
https://www.weather.gov/lmk/cloud_classification
public domain
climate change
a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels

climate change mitigation
action to limit climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases or removing those gases from the atmosphere

climatology
the scientific study of climate

cloud classification
system that classifies cloud types by altitude

coastal flood
result of coastal storms, including hurricanes or nor'easters that create destructive storm surges, walls of water moving from ocean onto land

cobaltocene
an organocobalt compound with the formula Co(C5H5)2

cognition
the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses

A comb jelly is a Ctenophora
O. Zebest
Aug. 26, 2014
Wikipedia Ctenophora
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Ctenophora#/media/File:Comb_jelly.jpg
CC BY 2.0
cohesion
sticking together of particles of the same substance

cold winter desert
characterized by cold winters with snowfall and large rainfalls widely during the winter and occasionally over the summer

colloid
a homogeneous non-crystalline substance consisting of large molecules or extremely small non-settling particles of one substance dispersed through a second substance, includes gels, sols and emulsions

colloidal activated carbon (CAC)
a material used to block PFAS from entering groundwater

comb jelly
also known as a Ctenophore, may be Earth's most ancient creature

combustable
refers to material that burns

combustion turbine electric power plant
a facility that produces more than 25 megawatts of electricity using an internal combustion engine

commercial use
water used for businesses

comet
a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust which develops a gas tail that points away from the Sun

community water system (CWS)
a public water system that supplies water to the same population for the entire year

compact
a negotiated agreement among states that resolves water allocation issues

Comet 1P/Halley
Comet 1P/Halley
NASA/W. Liller
Mar. 8, 1986
Wikipedia Halley's comet
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Halley%27s_Comet#/media/
File:Lspn_comet_halley.jpg
public domain
compound
a molecule composed of two or more different elements

condensation
conversion of a vapor or gas to a liquid

condensation nuclei
tiny suspended particles, either solid or liquid, upon which water vapor condensation begins in the atmosphere

condenser
something that converts a gaseous substance into a liquid substance through cooling

conduction
process by which heat energy is transmitted through collisions between neighboring atoms or molecules

conductivity
refers to how a material conducts electricity

cone of depression
created in an aquifer when groundwater is pumped from a well, reducing groundwater levels inwater levels

confined aquifer
An aquifer confined between aquitards or aquicludes

confluent
flowing together or merging

Conglomerate at the base of the<br />Cambrian in the Black Hills, South Dakota
Conglomerate at the base of the
Cambrian in the Black Hills, South Dakota
M. A. Wilson
May 31, 2008
Wikipedia conglomerate
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Conglomerate_(geology)#/media/
File:CambrianConglomerate.jpg
public domain
conglomerate
a coarse-grained clastic sedimentary rock that is composed of a substantial fraction of rounded to subangular gravel-size clasts larger than 2 millimeters in diameter

conjugate acid
has the hydronium ion, H3O+, as its base

conodont
a fossil marine animal of the Cambrian to Triassic periods, having a long wormlike body, numerous small teeth and a pair of eyes, may be the earliest vertebrate

conservation effluent pool (CEP)
effluent set aside each year pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Tucson and Pima County for use in riparian restoration projects

conservation efforts report (CER)
filed by large municipal water providers

constructed recharge
replenishing the aquifer using a facility that is designed and constructed, in-channel, or off-channel, to store water underground pursuant to permits issued by ADWR

consumptive use
water that is evaporated, used by plants and crops and consumed by animals and humans

contaminant candidate list (CCL)
a list of contaminants in public water systems currently not subject to proposed national primary drinking water regulations, that may concern the public

Continents
continentsize in million km2boundaries
Africa30.3north - Mediterranean Sea, northeast - Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea, southeast - Indian Ocean, west - Atlantic Ocean
Antarctica14.2surrounded by the Southern Ocean
Asia44.0east - Pacific Ocean, south - Indian Ocean, north - Arctic Ocean
Australia8.6between the Indian and Pacific ocean basins
Europe10.18north - Arctic Ocean, west - Atlantic Ocean, south - Mediterranean Sea
North America24.71north - Arctic Ocean, east - Atlantic Ocean, southeast - Caribbean Sea, west and south - Pacific Ocean
South America17.84west - Pacific Ocean, north and east - Atlantic Ocean, northwest - Caribbean Sea
Source: Wikipedia continent,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent

contaminants of emerging concern (CEC)
unregulated substances often found in pharmaceutical and personal care products that end up in sewers and that cannot be totally removed by usual wastewater treatment processes

continent
a single landmass or a part of a very large landmass

continental crust
the layer of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks that forms the continents and the areas of shallow seabed

continental margin
outer edge of continental crust

continental rise
a fairly flat zone of accumulated sediments that lies between the continental slope and the abyssal plain

continental shelf
a portion of a continent that is submerged under an area of relatively shallow water

continental slope
the slope between the outer edge of the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor

contraction
shrinkage resulting from cooling

convection
refers to the movement of a fluid where hot material rises and cooler material sinks

Copper
Periodic Table of Videos
Nov. 11, 2010
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kop1sWzTK-I
Embedded video, no copy made
convergent boundary
an area on Earth where two or more lithospheric plates collide

conveyance loss
water lost by leakage or evaporation

cool coastal desert
occur in cool to warm areas along a continental coast between 20o to 30o latitude, have cool winters and long, warm summers where coastal winds blow in an easterly pattern and prevent moisture from moving onto the land

copper
a highly conductive metallic chemical element that is easily formed into sheets and wires

coral reef
a ridge of rock in the sea formed by the growth and deposit of coral

Coriolis force
the effect that deflects moving objects to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere

A light gray igneous rock cross-cuts in a younger white pegmatite dike, cross-cut by an even younger black diabase dike
A light gray igneous rock cross-cuts in a
younger white pegmatite dike, cross-cut by
an even younger black diabase dike
T. Eliasson/Geological Survey of Sweden
Aug. 23, 2008
Wikipedia cross-cutting relationships
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Cross-cutting_relationships#/
media/File:Multiple_
Igneous_Intrusion_Phases_
Kosterhavet_Sweden.jpg
CC BY-SA 2.0
corrugated moraine
has a washboard shape

country rock
rock native to the area

covalent
relating to chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms

cove
a sheltered bay

crag
a steep or rugged cliff or rock face

creek
a small natural water stream

Cretaceous
the last period of the Mesozoic era, between the Jurassic and Tertiary periods

crinoid
any of a large class of invertebrates that are echinoderms and usually have a cup-shaped body with five or more feathery arms

crop canopy
the above ground portion of a plant cropping or crop, formed by the collection of individual plant crowns

crop water use efficiency
the ratio of harvestable yield to crop evapotranspiration

cross-bedded
in layers lying at an angle to the main beds of layered rock

cross-cutting relationships
geologic principle stating that the geologic feature which cuts another is the younger of the two features

crust
the outermost solid shell of a rocky planet, dwarf planet or natural satellite

Extent of the regions affected by components of the cryosphere around the world from the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report
Extent of the regions affected by components
of the cryosphere around the world
from the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Nov. 21, 2011
Wikipedia cryosphere
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Cryosphere#/media/
File:Components_of_the_Cryosphere.tif
public domain
cryosphere
portions of a planet's surface where water is solid, including sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and frozen ground

cryptosporidium
a parasitic alveolate that can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illness

Ctenophore
also known as a comb jelly, may be Earth's most ancient creature

cultivation
preparing soil for crop planting

cultural water demand
includes water diverted, pumped from wells, or received to meet municipal, industrial and agricultural demands

culvert
structure that allows water to flow under a road, railroad, trail or other obstruction

cumulonimbus
cloud forming a towering mass with a flat base at fairly low altitude and often a flat top, as in thunderstorms

cumulus
cloud forming rounded masses heaped on each other above a flat base at fairly low altitude

curb cut
allows stormwater from the street to flow into water-harvesting basins to irrigate vegetation

cyanide
a large group of poisonous chemical compounds used to make plastics and to extract and treat metals

cyclogenesis
refers to the formation process of a low-pressure area

cyclone
a tropical storm in the region of the Indian Ocean and South Pacific

Multichannel culvert on the Health and History trail, Jefferson Park neighborhood
Multichannel culvert on the Health and History trail,
Jefferson Park neighborhood, Tucson
D. Meeks
Mar. 3, 2023
Image taken by and used with
permission of the author
cytosine
one of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acids of DNA

cytotoxicity
refers to a compound can cause cell damage or death, either through tissue destruction

D

dacite
a volcanic rock resembling andesite but containing free quartz

dam
a barrier constructed to hold back water, raise its level, form a reservoir used to generate electricity or as a water supply

dead pool
the level at which water can no longer be released from a reservoir

debouching
emerging from a narrow or confined space into a wide, open area

declination
the angular distance of a point north or south of the celestial equator

decomposition
the separation of a substance into simpler substances or basic elements

decreed surface water rights
rights determined through judicial action in a state or federal court

Why engineers can't control rivers
Brilliant
Apr. 4, 2023
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLZElIYHmAI
Embedded video, no copy made
deduction
inference of particular instances by reference to a general law or principle

defacto potable reuse
reuse of treated wastewater is practiced but not officially recognized

de facto reuse
treated wastewater is reused but not officially recognized or planned, for example, drinking water is used downstream from a wastewater treatment plant

deficit irrigation
the practice of reducing irrigation to lower costs while maintaining acceptable yields

delta
triangular tract of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river, typically where it diverges into several outlets

deluge
when land is overflowed by significant precipitation

What EPA-issued rule is aimed at improving drinking water quality and protecting against diseases?
demarcation
the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something

de minimis levels
the minimum threshold for which a conformity determination must be performed for various criteria pollutants in various areas

dendrochronology
the science of dating events, environmental change and archaeological artifacts using tree rings

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
nucleic acid containing the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms

Depositional environments
Depositional environments
Mikenorton
May 6, 2018
Wikipedia sedimentary rock
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Sedimentary_rock#/media/
File:Main_depositional_environments.svg
CC BY-SA 3.0
deposition (chemistry)
transition of a substance directly from the gas to the solid phase, without passing through the intermediate liquid phase

deposition (geology)
process in which sediments, soil and rocks are added to existing layers of sediments, soil or rock

depositional environment
a setting in which a sedimentary rock forms

desalination
process of removing salt from seawater

desert
a dry region receiving less than 12 inches of annual precipitation and formed when regional climate changes result in long-lasting drought conditions

desertification
process by which fertile land becomes desert, usually drought, deforestation or poor agricultural practices

desert pavement
a surface layer of closely packed or cemented pebbles and rock fragments from which fine material has been removed by the wind in arid regions

desert varnish
a dark hard film of rusty-looking rock formed on exposed rock surfaces in arid regions

designation of assured water supply (DAWS)
issued to water suppliers to demonstrate that water of sufficient quantity and quality is legally available to serve the proposed development for 100 years

detritus
gravel, sand, silt, or other material produced by erosion or organic matter produced by the decomposition of organisms

deuterium
isotope of hydrogen with a nucleus consisting of one proton and one neutron

Sea ice diatoms, McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Sea ice diatoms, McMurdo Station, Antarctica
G. T. Taylor/NOAA
Jan. 1, 1983
Wikipedia diatom
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Diatom#/media/File:Diatoms
_through_the_microscope.jpg
public domain
deuterium oxide
another name for heavy water

Devonian
a geologic period of the Paleozoic, spanning 60 million years from the end of the Silurian, 419.2 million years ago, to the beginning of the Carboniferous, 358.9 million years ago

dew
liquid water drops that form naturally by condensation in the early morning or evening

dewpoint
the temperature to which the air must be cooled in order for that air to be saturated

diabase
igneous rock also called dolerite

diamond dust
precipitation also known as ice needles or ice crystals, that forms at temperatures of -40o from high, moist airm mixing with colder, surface air

diatom
a single-celled alga which has a cell wall of silica

A dike to the left of the Red Notebook in the Chinle formation in Canyonlands National Park
A dike to the left of the Red Notebook
in the Chinle formation in Canyonlands National Park
J. Stuby
May 8, 2002
Wikipedia dike
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Dike_(geology)#/media/
File:Clastic_dike_UT.jpg
public domain
dichloroethane (DCE)
a clear, colorless liquid used to make vinyl chloride and other chemicals and as a solvent, degreaser and wetting agent

dihydrogen monoxide
chemical name for water

dike (construction)
a long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea

dike (geology)
body of igneous rock that cuts across the structure of adjoining rock, usually as a result of the intrusion of magma

dilation
a change in volume due to distortion

dilute arsenate
a derivative of arsenic and a major waste component from steel and mining industries

dinoflagellate
a single-celled organism with two flagella, found in marine plankton and fresh water

diorite
an intrusive igneous rock composed principally of the silicate minerals plagioclase feldspar, biotite, hornblende and pyroxene

dioxane
a synthetic, potentailly explosive and carcinogenic industrial chemical

dip-slip fault
the hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall

direct potable reuse (DPR)
involves the treatment and distribution of water without an environmental buffer

direct recharge methods
spreading basins, injection wells, vadose zone wells, trenches, infiltration galleys and in-channel projects

disability adjusted life years (DALY)
age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons due to exposure to unsafe drinking water

Disconformity between underlying Mississippian Borden Formation and overlying Pennsylvanian Sharon Conglomerate, Jackson, Ohio
Disconformity between underlying
Mississippian Borden Formation and
overlying Pennsylvanian Sharon Conglomerate,
Jackson, Ohio
Jstuby
Jan. 1, 1998
Wikipedia unconformity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Unconformity#/media/File:Borden-
Sharon_unconformity.jpg
CC0
discharge
volume of water that passes a give location in a given time period

disconformity
an unconformity between parallel layers of sedimentary rocks which represents a period of erosion or non-deposition

disinfection
treatment of water to inactivate, destroy, and/or remove disease-producing bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms

disinfection by-product (DBP)
result from chemical reactions between organic and inorganic matter in water with chemical treatment agents during the water disinfection process

dissolution
the action or process of dissolving or being dissolved

distillation
the process of separating parts of a liquid substance through boiling and condensation

distilled water
water from which impurities, such as dissolved salts and colloidal particles, have been removed

distributary
a branch of a river that does not return to the main stream after leaving it

divergent boundary
a linear feature between tectonic plates moving away from each other

DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes, carrier of genetic information.

doctrine of prior appropriation
the person who first puts the water to a beneficial use acquires a right that is better than later appropriators of the water

doldrums
an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms and light unpredictable winds

dolerite
a fine- to medium-grained, dark gray to black intrusive igneous rock

domestic use
uses related to supply, service, and activities of households and private residences, including water for less than two acres of land to produce plants for human or animal consumption

Dolerite columns in Tasmania
Dolerite columns in Tasmania
G. Bartlett
Aug. 24, 2008
Wikipedia diabase
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Diabase#/media/File:Organ_
Pipes_Mount_Wellington.jpg
CC BY-SA 3.0
domestic water improvement district (DWID)
formed to construct or improve a domestic water delivery system or to purchase an existing domestic water delivery system

domestic well
a small capacity well used for domestic water use

Dominy formation
a layer of Colorado River sediment in Lake Powell, estimated to be at least 100 feet thick

down-cutting
water flow that deepens a channel of a stream or valley by removing material from the stream's bed or the valley's floor

drag fold
a minor geological fold produced in soft roc beds between harder rocks

drainage basin
an area of land where precipitation collects and drains into a common outlet, such as a river, bay or other body of water

drawdown
lowering of groundwater due to water pumping

Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet
Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet
NASA/Johns Hopkins University
Jul. 18, 2018
Wikipedia dwarf planet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Dwarf_planet#/media/File:Pluto
_in_True_Color_-_High-Res.jpg
public domain
drip irrigation
an irrigation method that uses pipes that allow water to drip slowly onto plants

drop
a small column of liquid, bounded completely or almost completely by free surfaces

drought
a sustained natural reduction in precipitation that results in negative environmental and human impacts

dry lake
a basin that used to contain a lake, but is now dry

dry system
refers to thepipework allowing rainwater to flow from a roof into a rainwater tank, after a downpour no water is retained in the pipes

dwarf planet
a small planetary object that orbits the Sun but is too small to be classified as a planet

dynamically stable beach
formed using breakwaters, jetties, impermeable groynes or seawalls

E

Eastern Hemisphere
the half of Earth east of the prime meridian at Greenwich, London, United Kingdom and west of the antimeridian which crosses the Pacific Ocean and relatively little land from pole to pole

echinoderm
any of a variety of invertebrate marine animals belonging to the phylum Echinodermata, characterized by a hard, spiny covering or skin

eclogite
a metamorphic rock consisting of pyroxene omphacite and pyrope-rich garnet

ecohydrology
the study of the interactions between water and ecological systems

El Niño conditions
El Niño conditions
F. Oyster
Sep. 7, 2014
Wikipedia El Niño
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/El_Ni%C3%B1o#/media/
File:ENSO_-_El_Ni%C3%B1o.svg
public domain
ecology
the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings

economic water productivity (EWP)
the monetary value generated from each unit of water consumed

effloresce
loss of moisture causing a substance to turn into a fine powder when exposed to air

effluent
treated municipal wastewater

elastic
relating to a substance that can quickly return to its normal shape after being pulled or pushed

electrochemical separation
uses differences in reduction potential of metal ions to separate an ion by applying a potential

electrochemistry
the branch of chemistry that deals with the relations between electrical and chemical phenomena

electrode
a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance or region

electromagnetic radiation
radiation including radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays and gamma rays

electromagnetic spectrum
range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and their wavelengths and energies

Electromagnetic spectrum
Electromagnetic spectrum
Unknown
Oct. 26, 2007
Wikipedia electromagnetic spectrum
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum#/media/
File:EM_Spectrum_Properties_edit.svg
CC BY-SA 3.0
electron
a negatively-charged subatomic particle that orbits atomic nuclei

element
each of more than one hundred substances that cannot be chemically converted or broken down into simpler substances and which are primary constituents of matter

elevation
height above a given level, especially sea level

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
the cycle of warm and cold sea surface temperature of the tropical central and eastern Pacific Ocean accompanied by high air pressure in the western Pacific and low air pressure in the eastern Pacific

emulsion
a dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble

endangered species
a species of animal or plant that is seriously at risk of extinction

endorheic basin
inland basin that does not drain to an ocean

engineered storage buffer
storage facility used to provide retention time before advanced treated water is introduced into the drinking water system

environment
the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal or plant lives

environmental buffer
a groundwater aquifer, surface water reservoir, lake or river in which advanced treated water is introduced before being used for potable reuse

environmental flows
quality, quantity and flowing water timing needed to sustain estuarine ecosystems

environmental impact statement (EIS)
government document that outlines the impact of a proposed project on its surrounding environment

environmental performance index (EPI)
uses 40 performance indicators in 11 issue categories to rank countries on climate change performance, environmental health and ecosystem vitality

environmental restoration
also referred to as riparian restoration, riparian enhancement or habitat restoration, enhancing existing ecosystems or creating new habitat to recover ecosystem functional characteristics including plant communities and habitat structure

environmental well
a well used to monitor a contamination site

eon
largest formal geochronologic time unit, equivalent of a chronostratigraphic eonothem

eonothem
totality of rock strata deposited during an eon in the geologic timescale

ephemeral stream
a temporary stream that flows as the result of precipitation

Equinoxes and solstices
Equinoxes and solstices
Sanu N.
Aug. 9, 2020
Wikipedia equinox
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Equinox#/media/
File:Celestial_sphere_with_ecliptic.svg
CC BY-SA 4.0
epidemic
a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease

epilimnion
the upper layer of water in a stratified lake

epipelagic zone
the upper open ocean, where there is enough sunlight for algae to utilize photosynthesis, this zone reaches from the sea surface down to approximately 200 m (650 feet)

epishelf lake
a freshwater lake which is dammed by an ice shelf, with a layer of freshwater floating on saltier marine water

epoch
second smallest geochronologic unit, between a period and an age

equator
a circle of latitude that divides the Earth or other celestial body into the northern and southern hemispheres

equatorial Pacific Ocean
defined by latitudes between 5oN and 5oS and longitudes between 120oW and 170oW

equilibrium
a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced

equinox
when the Sun appears directly above the equator, rising due east and setting due west, around March 20 and September 23

era
second largest geochronologic time unit, equivalent of a chronostratigraphic erathem

erathem
totality of rock strata deposited during an era in the geologic timescale

eremology
a science concerned with the desert and its phenomena

Sierra escarpment
Sierra escarpment
G. Thomas
Jun. 2, 2006
Wikipedia escarpment
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Escarpment#/media/
File:SierraEscarpmentCA.jpg
public domain
escarpment
long, steep slope, especially one at the edge of a plateau or separating areas of land at different heights

ester
any of a class of fragrant organic compounds formed by the reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water

estuarine
relating to or formed in an estuary

estuary
the tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream

eukariote
an organism whose cells have a nucleus enclosed within a nuclear envelope

Eutrophication in Mono Lake, California
Eutrophication in Mono Lake, California
NASA
Oct. 22, 2006
Wikipedia eutrophication
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Eutrophication#/media/
File:Wfm_mono_lake_landsat.jpg
public domain
eutrophication
process by which a body of water becomes enriched with minerals and nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus

evaporation
process of turning from liquid into vapor

evaporation pan
an open tank used to measure evaporation

evapotranspiration
process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants

evolution
process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the Earth

exempt well
having a pump with a maximum capacity of not more than 35 gallons per minute which is used to withdraw groundwater pursuant to A.R.S. § 45-454

exoplanet
a planet that orbits a star outside of the solar system

exploration well
a well used to gather geology-related data

exoskeleton
a rigid external covering for the body in some invertebrate animals, especially arthropods, providing both support and protection

exosphere
Earth's uppermost atmospheric layer, located above the thermosphere, thins out and merges with outer space

exterior water use
uses of water for landscaping, pools, evaporative cooling systems, decorative fountains and other outdoor uses

Wasatch fault located in Central Utah and Southeast Idaho along eastern edge of Basin and Range Province
Wasatch fault located in Central Utah
and Southeast Idaho
along eastern edge of Basin and Range Province
USGS
https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/
earthquake-hazards/science/how-big-and
-how-frequent-are-earthquakes-wasatch-fault?
qt-science_center_objects=0#
qt-science_center_objects
public domain
extinguishment credits
gained when a grandfathered water right is cancelled and can be committed to a water supply

extratropical cyclone
low-pressure areas which drive the weather over much of the Earth, capable of producing clouds, gales, thunderstorms, blizzards and tornadoes

extravasated
let or force out from the vessel that naturally contains it into the surrounding area

extrusive
refers to igneous volcanic rock in which hot magma from inside the Earth flows out onto the surface as lava or explodes violently into the atmosphere to fall back as pyroclastics or tuff

F

Fahrenheit
temperature scale on which pure water freezing point was defined as 32oF and water boiling point was defined to be 212oF

fallow
a farming technique in which arable land is left without replanting during a planting season

fault
crack in the Earth's crust often associated with boundaries between Earth's tectonic plates

fauna
the animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period

Geirangerfjord, Norway
Geirangerfjord, Norway
Fgmedia
Jun. 27, 2007
Wikipedia fjord
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Fjord#/media/
File:Geirangerfjord_(6-2007).jpg
CC BY 2.5
faunal succession
geologic principle stating that sedimentary rock strata contain fossilized flora and fauna which succeed each other vertically in a specific, reliable order that can be identified over wide horizontal distances

feldspar
an abundant seimentary mineral typically occurring as colorless or pale-colored crystals and consisting of aluminosilicates of potassium, sodium, and calcium

felsic
refers to igneous rocks that are relatively rich in elements that form feldspar and quartz

fen
a low and marshy or frequently flooded area of land

Ferrel cell
air rising at 60o latitude diverging at high altitude toward the poles and then moving toward the equator where it collides at 30o latitude with the high-level air of the Hadley cell

ferrocene
an organometallic compound with the formula Fe(C5H5)2

ferromagnesian
referring to a rock or mineral containing iron and magnesium as major components

ferrous
referring to a rock or mineral containing iron

filtration
solid particles in a liquid or gaseous fluid are removed by the use of a filter that permits the fluid to pass but retains the solid particles

fin
a narrow, residual wall of hard sedimentary rock that remains standing after surrounding rock has been eroded away along parallel joints or fractures

first management period new acres
a water-intensive or low water use landscape area created between December 31, 1984 and before January 1, 1992

fissure
a long, narrow opening or line of breakage made by cracking or splitting in rock or earth

fjord
a long, narrow, deep sea inlet between high cliffs, typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley, found in Norway and Iceland

Lands that could flood in our lifetime
Atlas Pro
Nov. 20, 2020
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CurmnLKikyI
Embedded video, no copy made
flagella
a lash-like appendage that protrudes from the cell body of certain bacteria and eukaryotic cells

flagellate
a cell or organism with one or more whip-like appendages called flagella

flocculation
the process of particles clumping together

flood
an overflowing of a large amount of water beyond its normal extent

floodplain
an area of low-lying ground adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding

flood stage
elevation at which a natural water body overflows

floodway
river channel that is part of a floodplain that carries away flood water

flora
the plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period

flowing well
a well that taps pressurized underground water

fluorine
a poisonous pale yellow gas, chemical element of atomic number 9, most reactive of all the elements and causing severe burns on contact with skin

fluorite
mineral form of calcium fluoride, CaF2, usually green and purple but also exists in yellow and blue varieties

Alpine deformation folded limestone and chert, Ágios Pávlos in the south of Crete
Alpine deformation folded limestone and chert,
Ágios Pávlos in the south of Crete
D. Mueller
Oct. 30, 2004
Wikipedia fold (geology)
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Fold_(geology)#/media/
File:Folding_of_alternate_layers_of_
limestone_layers_with_chert_layers.jpg
CC BY-SA 4.0
fluvial
of or found in a river

fluvioglacial
relating to erosion or deposition caused by flowing meltwater from glaciers or ice sheets

fog
a thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere near Earth's surface

fold
when originally flat, level surfaces, such as sedimentary strata, are bent or curved as a result of pressure and high temperature

foliated
the parallel arrangement of certain mineral grains that gives the rock a striped appearance

forage crop
grown specifically to be grazed by livestock or conserved as hay or silage

forcing
initial climate drivers, including solar irradiance, greenhous gas emissions, and airborne particles like dust, smoke, and soot that come from both human and natural sources

fossiliferous
refers to rock containing many fossils

freshet
flood of a river from heavy rain or melted snow

fresh water
characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids

Fujita Damage Scale
scalespeed in mphdamage
F073light
F174-112moderate
F2113-157considerable
F3158-206severe
F4207-260devastating
F5261-318incredible
F6319-379inconceivable
Source: NOAA/National Weather Service,
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/f-scale.html

fringing reef
a reef close to a shoreline

frost wedging
weathering that occurs as a result of repeated freezing and thawing of water in areas with extremely cold weather

Fujita scale
a scale for rating tornado intensity, based on thedamage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation

fundamental forces
gravitational and electromagnetic long-range forces whose effects can be seen directly in everyday life and strong and weak forces produced at subatomic distances and controlling nuclear interactions

G

Gabbro
Gabbro
Unknown
Jul. 22, 2014
Wikipedia gabbro
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Gabbro#/media/
File:1gabbro.jpg
public domain
gabbro
a dense, mafic intrusive rock generally occurring as batholiths and laccoliths and often found along mid-ocean ridges or in ancient mountains composed of compressed and uplifted oceanic crust

gage height
the height of water measured by a water gage

gaging station
a site on a flowing water body where hydrologic data is obtained

gale
a very strong wind

garnet
a large group of rock-forming minerals with a common crystal structure, (X3Y2(SiO4)3)

gated pipe system
a surface pipe that is usually polyvinyl chloride or aluminum fitted with spaced closeable gates or holes permitting the water to flow into furrows, borders or basins

gene
the basic physical and functional unit of heredity

general adjudication
an action for judicial determination

general industrial use permit
permits for the withdrawal of groundwater outside the boundaries of a service area

general stream adjudication
a state court proceeding to resolve disputes over water priorities and competing uses across an entire river basin

genetics
the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics

genotoxicity
refers to substances bind to DNA and causing genetic mutations which can cause cancer and birth defects

geochronology
the branch of geology concerned with the dating of rock formations and geological events

geodetic
relating to land surveying

geogenic
relating to the Earth

Geologic Timescale
Geologic timescale
Geologic time scale
National Park Service
Geologic Time Scale
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/time-scale.htm
public domain
geographic coordinate system

a spherical coordinate system for measuring and communicating positions using latitude and longitude

geographic north pole
the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface

geologic province
a geologic area with common geologic attributes

geologic time scale
a system of chronological dating that classifies geological strata by time

geology
the science that deals with Earth's physical structure and substance, its history, and the processes that act on it

geomagnetic reversal
when a planet's magnetic north and magnetic south switch positions

geyser
a hot spring in which water intermittently boils, and emits a tall column of water and steam into the atmosphere

giardia
a tiny parasite that causes the diarrhea

gigawatt (GW)
a unit of electric power equal to one billion watts

gigawatt hour (GWh)
a unit of energy representing one billion watt hours

glacial lake
a body of water with origins from glacier activity

glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF)
a flood caused by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake

Glacial lake Katora in Kumrat Valley, Pakistan
Glacial lake Katora in Kumrat Valley, Pakistan
J. Sher
Jul. 10, 2016
Wikipedia glacial lake
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Glacial_lake#/media/
File:Katora_lake_dir.jpg
CC BY-SA 4.0
glacier
a slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles

glaciogenic (geography)
relating to or causing the formation of glaciers

glaciogenic (meteorology
relating to processes that seed ice crystals in the upper atmosphere

global stratotype section and point (GSSP)
geographic location that marks a geologic time period, characterized by certain fossils, the spread or extinction of certain species, a particular ice core sediment or a chemical or radioactive residue

global warming
a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants

global warming potential
a measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide

glycosyl
monovalent radical derived from a cyclic form of glucose by removal of the hemiacetal hydroxyl group

glycosylamine
a class of biochemical compounds consisting of a glycosyl group attached to an amino group

glyphosate
a herbicide that kills broadleaf plants and grasses

gneiss
common type of metamorphic rock formed by high temperature and high-pressure

Gold
Periodic Table of Videos
Jul. 16, 2008
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OoLHe-4aNA
Embedded video, no copy made
gold
a yellow precious metal element with atomic number 79, used especially in jewelry and decoration and to guarantee the value of currencies

Gondwana
a supercontinent that existed from about 550 to 180 million years ago that formed when several smaller continents, including what is now South America, Africa, India, Australia and Antarctica, collided and merged together

gorge
narrow valley between hills or mountains, typically with steep rocky walls and a stream running through it

gpd
gallons per day

gradation
a scale or a series of successive changes, stages, or degrees

gradient
an increase or decrease in the magnitude of a physical property

gradientor
micrometer attachment that measures the elevation of the telescope with great precision

grandfathered right
right to withdraw groundwater within an active management area based on existing lawful withdrawal before the active management area was created

Granite
Granite
Friman
Jul. 16, 2007
Wikipedia granite
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Granite#/media/
File:Fj%C3%A6regranitt3.JPG
CC BY-SA 3.0
granite
formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface, a light-colored igneous rock composed mainly of quartz and feldspar with minor amounts of mica, amphiboles, and other minerals with grains large enough to be visible with the unaided eye

granular activated carbon (GAC)
materials that absorb thousands of organic and some inorganic materials

graupel
precipitation that forms when supercooled water droplets are collected and freeze on falling snowflakes, forming 2 to 5 millimeter balls of rime

gravel
loose aggregation of rock fragments, classified by particle size range and includes size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments

gravimeter
a device for measuring Earth's gravitational field variations

gravity
the force that draws objects toward the center of planets, moons, stars or other bodies

gravity flow irrigation
irrigation in which the water flows under gravity from the source to the field

gray infrastructure
systems of gutters, pipes and tunnels that move stormwater to treatment plants or to local water bodies

Great Pacific garbage patch
a collection of plastic and floating trash in the central North Pacific Ocean originating from the Pacific Rim, including countries in Asia, North America and South America

Greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases
E. Fisk
Aug. 15, 2021
Wikipedia greenhouse gas
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Greenhouse_gas#/media/
File:Physical_Drivers_of_climate_change.svg
CC BY-SA 4.0
greenhouse gas (GHG)
a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, for example carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons

green infrastructure
filters and absorbs stormwater where it falls

greenstone
rock formed when mafic minerals which make basalt black are commonly changed into a green mineral called chlorite as they are exposed to surface weathering processes

greenwashing
a marketing gimmick that makes a product or policy appear more environmentally friendly than it is

green water
in water balancing, refers to rainfall that has been stored in the soil and that evaporates into the atmosphere

greywacke
variety of argillaceous sandstone that is highly indurated and poorly sorted

greywater
wastewater collected separately from sewage flow originating from a clothes washer, bathtub, shower or sink, but not from a kitchen sink, dishwasher or toilet

gross domestic product (GDP)
total monetary value of all finished goods and services produced in a country

ground moraine
till-covered areas with irregular shape and no ridges that form small hills and plains

grounding line
the region where ice transitions from a grounded ice sheet to freely floating ice shelf

groundwater
water below Earth's surface

groundwater basin
an area designated to hold groundwater

groundwater distribution system
a system of pipes and canals to collect, store, treat or deliver groundwater for non-irrigation use

groundwater flow model
a computer model that explains groundwater movement

groundwater recharge
water flowing into the ground from surface water

groundwater replenishment district
a special taxing district to develop, store, augment, conserve, replenish or increase water supplies for the benefit of the district members

groundwater savings facility (GSF)
allows a permit holder to deliver renewable to a recipient who agrees to replace groundwater pumping with in lieu water, creating groundwater savings

Guayule
Guayule
USDA
Aug. 3, 2006
Wikipedia guayule
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Parthenium_argentatum#/
media/File:Parthenium_
argentatum_(USDA).jpg
public domain
groundwater withdrawal permit
a permit issued by ADWR for withdrawing groundwater in an active management district

groyne
a low wall or sturdy barrier built out into the sea from a beach to prevent erosion and drifting

guanine
one of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acids of DNA

guayule
a low-water-use, desert-adapted shrub used as a natural rubber source for tires, Parthenium argentatum

gustnado
a tornado-like vortex that appears to develop on the ground and extend several hundred feet upward

gypsum
a soft white or gray mineral consisting of hydrated calcium sulfate which occurs chiefly in sedimentary deposits

gyre
large system of rotating currents

H

habitable zone
also called the "Goldilock's zone," the orbital region around a star in which an Earth-like planet can possess liquid water on its surface and possibly support life

habitat conservation plan (HCP)
part of an application for a project that might result in the destruction of an endangered or threatened species

Large-scale atmospheric circulation
Large-scale atmospheric circulation
Kaidor
Jan. 17, 2013
Wikipedia atmosphere
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Atmospheric_circulation#/
media/File:Earth_Global_
Circulation_-_en.svg
CC BY-SA 3.0
Hadley cell
global tropical atmospheric circulation where air rises near the Equator, flows poleward, descending in the subtropics and then returns toward the equator near Earth's surface

hadopelagic zone
where deep, wide trenches occur in the flat seafloor

hail
a form of precipitation made when supercooled water droplets freeze on contact with dust or dirt

halide
contain the element chlorine ionically bonded with sodium or other cations

halogen
the reactive nonmetallic elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine, occupying group VIIA of the periodic table that form strongly acidic compounds with hydrogen from which simple salts can be made

halophyte
a plant adapted to growing in salty conditions

hanging glacier
a glacier that begins high on a glacier valley wall and descends only part of the way to the surface of the main glacier

hanging valley
a valley cut across by a deeper valley or a cliff

hardness
refers to the concentration of calcium and magnesium in water

hardpan
a hard layer of clay below soil that prevents drainage and plant growth

Helictite formations in Wyandotte Caves, Indiana
Helictite formations in Wyandotte Caves, Indiana
Cool10191
Jan. 24, 2004
Wikipedia helictite
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Helictite#/media/File:Wyandotte_cave8.jpg
public domain
headwater
the source of a stream or river

heap and dump leaching
mineral extraction using acid solutions applied to metallic ores

heat index
a measure indicating an average person's discomfort level experienced as a result of combined effects of air temperature and humidity

heavy water
water that contains more than a normal amount of the hydrogen isotope deuterium

hectare
a metric unit of square measure, equal to 2.471 acres or 10,000 square meters

helictite
a distorted form of stalactite that resembles a twig

hematite
a common iron oxide black to steel or silver-gray, brown to reddish-brown, or red in color that usually precipitates from water and collect in layers at the bottom of a lake, spring, or other standing water

hemiacetal hydroxyl group
a functional group with the chemical formula -OH and composed of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to one hydrogen atom

hepatitis A
a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus

herbicide
a substance that is toxic to plants

Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon, Utah
Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon, Utah
L. Galuzzi
Jul. 21, 2007
Wikipedia hoodoo
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Hoodoo_(geology)#/media/
File:USA_10654_Bryce_Canyon_
Luca_Galuzzi_2007.jpg
CC BY-SA 2.5
heterogeneous
relating to substances in different phases or composed of different materials

heterotrophic
refers to an organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances

hexafluoroethane
a non-flammable, long-lived greenhouse gas negligibly soluble in water and slightly soluble in alcohol

high seas
open ocean that begins 200 nautical miles from a coastline and is not under the jurisdiction of the laws of any specific country

homogeneous
of uniform structure or composition

hoodoo
a column or pinnacle of weathered rock

hornblende
a dark brown, black, or green mineral of the amphibole group consisting of a hydroxyl alumino-silicate of calcium, magnesium, and iron, occurring in many igneous and metamorphic rocks

hornfels
a metamorphic rock formed by the contact between mudstone and shale, or other clay-rich rock, and a hot igneous body, representing a heat-altered equivalent of the original rock

Hornfels
Hornfels
P. Sosnowski
May 3, 2009
Wikipedia hornfels
https://commons.wikimedia.org/
wiki/File:Hornfels_4.JPG
CC BY-SA 4.0
horse latitudes
located at about 30 degrees north and south of the equator, an area of divergent winds that flow toward the poles or toward the equator due to high pressure resulting in calm winds, sunny skies and little or no precipitation

hot desert
a desert with average temperatures above 30C and a day time temperature often higher than 50oC

hotspot
volcanic regions that are not found at the edges of continents or faults

household water security
safe and reliable access to sufficient quantity and quality of water for household consumption, production and cleanliness

humidity
concentration of water vapor present in the air

humus
the organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms

hurricane
storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean

hydration
process of combining a substance with water molecules

hydraulic
relating to or operated by a liquid moving in a confined space under pressure

hydraulic conductivity
the rate of flow of water through a unit cross sectional area of an aquifer

What is Earth`s albedo?
hydraulic gradient
the difference between two hydraulic head measurements divided by the distance between the two measurements

hydraulic head
a specific measurement of liquid pressure above at a defined vertical height

hydraulic radius
the area of the flow section divided by the wetted perimeter

hydraulic retention time (HRT)
the ratio between the reactor volume and the feed flow rate, represents the average time the cells and substrates stay inside the reactor

hydroelectric power
the use of flowing water to power a turbine to produce electrical energy

hydrogen sulfide
gaseous substance found in several inorganic water pollutant such as electric power waste, oil and gas extraction operations waste, sewage treatment plants, large pig farms and other confined animal feeding operations, Portland cement kilns, municipal waste landfills, coke ovens, sulfur products, asphalt production and storage and geothermal power plants, (H2S)

Hydrogen
Periodic Table of Videos
Jan. 5, 2009
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rdmpx39PRk
Embedded video, no copy made
hydrogen
a colorless, odorless, highly flammable gas, the chemical element of atomic number 1

hydrogeochemistry
the study of how water dissolves minerals and the effect on water chemistry

hydrogeology
geology that deals with the distribution and movement of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the Earth's crust

hydrograph
a graphic representation of changes in water flow or water levels

hydrography
the science of surveying and charting bodies of water, such as seas, lakes, and rivers

hydroinformatics
application of information and communications technologies to address problems in the equitable and efficient use of water for many different purposes

hydrologic cycle
the cycle that demonstrates the movement of water from the atmosphere, to precipitation, to Earth's surface and back to the atmosphere

hydrologic disconnect
occurs when water providers store water underground in one location and recover or pump it from another location that has no hydrologic connection to the aquifer where the water was stored

How many degrees is Earth`s axial tilt?
hydrology
the science concerned with the properties of Earth's water, and especially its movement in relation to land

hydrometeorology
the study of the transfer of water and energy between the land surface and the lower atmosphere

hydronium ion
H3O+ which makes substances acidic

hydrophobicity
repelling, tending not to combine with, or incapable of dissolving in water

Giant tube worms around a hydrothermal vent, Galapagos Islands
Giant tube worms around a hydrothermal vent, Galapagos Islands
NOAA
Jul. 23, 2011
Wikipedia hydrothermal vent
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Hydrothermal_vent#/
media/File:Riftia_tube_worm
_colony_Galapagos_2011.jpg
public domain
hydrosphere
the combined mass of water found on, under, and above Earth's surface

hydrostatic pressure
the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to the force of gravity

hydrothermal vent
fissure in the sea floor which emits heated water

hydrous
refers to substances containing water

hydroxide
a compound of a metal with the hydroxide ion OH- or the group -OH

hydroxyl
of or denoting the radical -OH, present in alcohols and many other organic compounds

hydroxyl ion
OH which makes substances alkaline

hygrometer
an instrument that measures humidity

hypolimnion
the lower layer of water in a stratified lake

hypothesis
supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation

hypsometric
relating to the measurement of heights

I

Scientists created a weird
new type of ice that is
almost exactly as dense as water
C. Salzmann
Feb. 3, 2023
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWh4A-0I9WI
Embedded video, no copy made
ice
water in a solid state

ice sheet
a mass of glacial land ice extending more than 50,000 square kilometers (20,000 square miles)

ice pellets
a form of precipitation consisting of small, translucent balls of ice

igneous
rock formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava

illite
a non-expanding clay mineral precipitate

immutable
unchanging over time

impaired
refers to lakes or streams that do not meet legally-established water standards

impermiability
not allowing liquid or gas to go through

What 2 elements are frequently used to purify water and keep pools clean?
impermiable layer
a layer of rock or clay through which water cannot pass

impervious
not allowing fluid to pass through

incidental recharge
replenishment that occurs after water is applied to crops and percolates below the root zone and reaches an aquifer

included fragments
principle of geology that states that the geologic feature which cuts another is the younger of the two features

incombustable
refers to material that does not burn

Components of igneous rock
Components of igneous rock
J. Johnson/USGS
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/components-igneous-rocks
public domain
incrustation
the action of encrusting or state of being encrusted

index well
a continuously monitored well

indicator compound
a chemical or microorganism that can be measured to indicate the presence of other chemicals that may not be detectable

indirect effects
measure economic activity generated by farmers and ranchers' demand for inputs or supplies

indirect potable reuse (IPR)
uses an environmental buffer, such as a lake, river, or a groundwater aquifer before the water is treated at a drinking water treatment plant

induced effects
measure the economic activity generated when households spend their earnings on local goods and services

indurated
made hard like rock

industrial use
non-irrigation use of water not supplied by a city, town or private water company, including animal industry use

infiltration
permeation of a liquid into something by filtration

infiltration capacity
the maximum rate of infiltration

What is the Moon`s albedo?
inflow
all water that enters a water system

influent
untreated wastewater flowing into a wastewater treatment plant

injection well
used to place fluid underground into porous geologic formations

in lieu recharge
an exchange in which CAP water or effluent is delivered to an agricultural groundwater rightholder, and the party supplying the alternative supply is credited for the amount of groundwater that would have been pumped

inner core
inner layer of the Earth with a radius of 1,220 km (760 mi) composed primarily of iron and nickel

inorganic contaminants
include ammonia, arsenic, barium, chloride, chromium, copper, hydrogen sulfide, mercury, uranium and zinc

International waters are in blue
International waters are in blue
B1mbo
Oct. 31, 2011
Wikipedia International Waters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
International_waters#/media/
File:Exclusive_Economic_Zones.svg
CC BY-SA 3.0 cl
inosilicate
silicate with interlocking chains of silicate tetrahedra

in situ leaching
metallic ore extraction using acid leaching of ore in its extracted location

insoluble
refers to a substance that cannot be dissolved

instream flow right
has a priority date and is entitled to water before more junior rights are satisfied, does not put more water in the river, but protects part or all of the water that is already there from further appropriations

intentionally created surplus (ICS)
allows California, Nevada and Arizona to store water in Lake Mead if they conserve the same amount of water within their state that could be used instead

interception
When precipitation reaches the surface in vegetated areas

intergovernmental agreement (IGA)
an agreement authorized by state statute between two or more governmental entities that provides for joint action or joint exercise of governmental powers

Iodine
Periodic Table of Videos
Dec. 22, 2009
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUBsJLRSM64
Embedded video, no copy made
interior water use
indoor uses of water, including toilet flushing, bathing, drinking and washing

intermittant
refers to streams that flow only part of the year

international waters
waters beyond the territorial sea of any country

interstate stream
a stream that flows between states

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
area where the northeast and the southeast trade winds converge, encircling Earth near the thermal equator

intrusive
also called plutonic rock, igneous rock formed from magma forced into older rocks at depths within the Earth's crust, which then slowly solidifies below the Earth's surface

invertebrate
an animal without a backbone

Iron
Periodic Table of Videos
Apr. 12, 2010
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euQUgp5AY-Y
Embedded video, no copy made
iodine
a nonmetallic halogen and essential nutrient in the human diet and used in medicine, photography and analytical chemistry

ion exchange (IX)
a reversible exchange of an ion with another of the same charge to demineralize water or separate materials

ionosphere
includes the thermosphere and parts of the mesosphere and exosphere, ionized by solar radiation, forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere

iron
a strong, hard magnetic silvery-gray metal used as a material for construction and manufacturing, especially in the form of steel

irrigable
capable of being watered

Large-scale center-pivot spray irrigation system
Large-scale center-pivot spray irrigation system
Water Science School, USGS
May 27, 2009
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/
center-pivot-irrigation-system-arizona-usa
public domain
irrigation
the supply of water to land or crops to help growth, typically by means of channels

irrigation distribution system
a system of canals, flumes, pipes or other conveyances that deliver water used for irrigation

irrigation district
a special political taxing district established for agricultural improvement or irrigation and conservation purposes

irrigation efficiency
the ratio of water beneficially used to the total amount of water applied

irrigation grandfathered rights (IGFR)
owned by the owner of the land to which it belongs, established between 1975 and 1979 and may be leased for an irrigation use with the land to which it belongs

irrigation non-expansion area (INA)
area designated to protect existing agriculture where groundwater is the main water source

irrigation sagacity
water uses are either beneficial, or non-beneficial but reasonable

irrigation water duty
total irrigation requirement to produce historically-grown crops divided by irrigation efficiency

isobar
a line on a map connecting points having the same atmospheric pressure

isogon
refers to a line of constant magnetic declination

isohyet
a line on a map connecting places which have an equal annual rainfall

isostasy
state of gravitational equilibrium between Earth's crust and mantle, the crust floats at an elevation that depends on its thickness and density

isotope
one of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and position in the periodic table and nearly identical chemical behaviour but with different atomic masses and physical properties

isotope hydrology
the study of the isotopic signatures of water

Joints in the Almo Pluton, City of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho
Joints in the Almo Pluton,
City of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho
M. A. Wilson
Jul. 26, 2017
Wikipedia joint (geology)
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Joint_(geology)#/media/
File:Joints_City_of_Rocks_NR.jpg
CC0 public domain
isthmus
narrow piece of land connecting two larger areas across an expanse of water by which they are separated

J

jet stream
a narrow band of strong westerly air currents that circles the Earth several miles above its surface

jetty
a landing stage or small pier where boats can be docked

Jevons paradox
occurs when technological progress or government policy increases the efficiency with which a resource is used, but the rate of consumption of that resource rises due to increasing demand

joint
a fracture dividing rock into two sections that moved away from each other

joule
unit of work or energy equal to the work done by a force of one newton over a distance of one meter

Jurassic
a geologic period that spanned 56 million years from the end of the Triassic Period 201.3 million years ago to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period 145 million years ago

jurisdictional dam
an artificial barrier 25 or more feet in height and with a storage capacity of more than 50 acre-feet used to impound water

K

Temperature scales
temperature scale water
freezing
temperature
water
boiling
temperature
Fahrenheit 32o 212o
Celsius 0o 100o
Kelvin 273K 373K

kaolinite
a clay mineral, with the chemical composition Al2Si2O5(OH)4

Kelvin
temperature scale where 0oC is equal to 273.15K and 100oC is equal to 373.15K

kelp
arge brown seaweed with a long tough stalk with a broad frond divided into strips

kinematics
the branch of mechanics concerned with the motion of objects without reference to the forces which cause the motion

kingdom
the second highest taxonomic rank, just below domain

knot
1.15 miles or 1.85 kilometers

kopje
a small hill in a generally flat area

Köppen climate classification system
divides climates into five main climate groups, with each group divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns

L

Pink monzonite laccolith intrudes within grey Cambrian and Ordovician strata near Notch Peak, Utah
Pink monzonite laccolith intrudes within
grey Cambrian and Ordovician
strata near Notch Peak, Utah
Qfl247
Jan. 25, 2008
Wikipedia laccolith
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Laccolith#/media/
File:NotchPeak.jpg
CC BY-SA 3.0
laccolith
a lens-shaped mass of igneous rock, that has been intruded between rock strata causing a dome-shaped uplift

lacustrine
related to lakes

lagoon
shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a reef, barrier island, barrier peninsula or isthmus

lake
a body of water in which surface water is accumulated

lamella
refers to clarifiers used in municipal water and wastewater treatment and industrial applications

La Niña
an oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon that is the colder counterpart of El Niño

land breeze
a night breeze created due to faster land cooling than ocean cooling

lapse rate
rate at which an atmospheric temperature decreases with increasing altitude

large community water system
a community water system that serves more than 1,850 acre-feet of water

large municipal provider
a municipal water provider that serves more than 250 acre-feet of water for non-irrigation purposes during a calendar year

La Niña conditions
La Niña conditions
F. Oyster
Sep. 7, 2014
Wikipedia La Niña
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/La_Ni%C3%B1a#/media/
File:ENSO_-_La_Ni%C3%B1a.svg
public domain
latent heat of evaporation
amount of heat required to convert a specific amount of a substance from a liquid to a gas

latent heat of fusion
amount of heat required to convert a specific amount of a substance from a solid to a liquid

lateral continuity
geologic principle stating that rock layers are laterally continuous but may be broken up or displaced by later events

lateral moraine
parallel ridges of debris deposited along a glacier

latitude
a coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body

lava
molten rock erupted from a volcano or fissure, or solid rock resulting from an eruption

Law of the River
describes the many laws, court decrees and decisions, policies, contracts and treaties governing the operation of the Colorado River from the headwaters in Colorado to the international border with Mexico

Lateral moraines above Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
Lateral moraines above Lake Louise,
Alberta, Canada
Wilson44691
Aug. 7, 2009
Wikipedia moraine
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Moraine#/media/
File:MorainesLakeLouise.JPG
public domain
leach
drain away from soil, ash or other material by water

lead
a soft, dense, malleable metal with a relatively low melting point

lentic water
refers to standing water in ponds or lakes

lepidolite
a lilac-gray or rose-colored member of the mica group of minerals

leptospirosis
an infectious bacterial disease that occurs in rodents, dogs, and other mammals and can be transmitted to humans

levee
an earthen barrier along a stream, lake or river that protects the surrounding land from flooding

lime
a white caustic alkaline substance consisting of calcium oxide, which is obtained by heating limestone and which combines with water with the production of much hea

limestone
hard sedimentary rock, composed mainly of calcium carbonate or dolomite, used as building material and in the making of cement

El Captain in Guadalupe
Mountains National Park is
an ancient limestone reef
Fredlyfish4
Oct. 9, 2012
Wikipedia Limestone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Limestone#/media/File:
El_Cap_GUMO.jpg
CC BY 2.0
limitrophe
situated on a border or frontier

Linnaean taxonomy
a classification system that groups organisms based on commonalities by domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species

linear move tower system
a self-propelled continuous move side-roll system on a tower, a center pivot system adapted to move in a line and designed for use on square fields, ater is supplied to the unit by a flexible rubber hose

listric fault
similar to a normal fault but the fault plane curves with the dip being steeper near the surface and shallower with increased depth

lithify
transform from sediment into stone

lithology
study of rocks

lithosphere
the rigid outer part of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle

Little Ice Age
climate cooling period that occurred from the early 14th century through the mid-19th century, when mountain glaciers expanded at several locations, including the European Alps, New Zealand, Alaska, and the southern Andes, and mean annual temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere declined by 0.6oC

The Little Ice Age
THe History Chronicles
Sep. 8, 2021
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c86FIVLErbg
Embedded video, no copy made
livestock use
water used for farming needs

lixiviation
process of separating soluble from insoluble substances by dissolving the soluble materials in water or some other solvent

loam
a fertile soil of clay and sand containing humus

loch
a partially landlocked arm of the sea

loess
a loosely compacted yellowish-gray deposit of windblown sediment

longitude
a coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body

Loess in Vicksburg, Mississippi
Loess in Vicksburg, Mississippi
Wilson44691
May 30, 2010
Wikipedia loess
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Loess#/media/
File:LoessVicksburg.jpg
public domain
longitudinal dune
dune parallel to the prevailing wind direction, creating parallel ridges of dunes

long term storage credits (LTSC)
credits are earned when water is stored or banked underground for more than one year

long term water augmentation fund (LTWA)
created to finance water supply development projects to increase Arizona's water supply

lopolith
a large, lens-shaped igneous intrusion with a depressed central region

lost water
water that enters a distribution system but lost during transportation or distribution due to seepage, evaporation, leaks, breaks or plant absorption

low-carbon economy
an economy based on energy sources that produce low levels of greenhouse gas emissions

lower mantle
represents approximately 56% of Earth's total volume, the region from 660 to 2900 km below the surface, between the transition zone and the outer core

low water use landscaping
native and non-native plants and trees that require little water

M

Magnesium
Periodic Table of Videos
May 27, 2010
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKkWdizutxI
Embedded video, no copy made
maelstrom
a powerful whirlpool located in a sea or ocean

mafic
relating to a group of dark-colored, mainly ferromagnesian minerals such as pyroxene and olivine

magma
hot fluid material below or within Earth's crust from which lava and other igneous rock is formed after cooling

magnesia
a hydrated magnesium carbonate

magnesium
the chemical element of atomic number 12, a silver-white metal of the alkaline earth series. It is used to make strong lightweight alloys

magnetic declination
the angle between magnetic north and geographic north

magnetic north pole
a point on Earth's surface in the Northern Hemisphere at which the magnetic field points vertically downward

magnetosphere
region of Earth's atmosphere where charged particles are affected by Earth's magnetic field

malaria
a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a mosquito parasite

Manganese
Periodic Table of Videos
Mar. 9, 2015
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTVtBuY9Q-0
Embedded video, no copy made
managed recharge
a facility that uses the unmodified natural channel of a stream to artificially recharge and store water underground in an aquifer pursuant to permits issued by ADWR

managed aquifer recharge (MAR)
consists of water management methods that recharge an aquifer using either surface or underground recharge techniques

managed underground storage facility
a facility designed and managed to utilize natural stream channels to store water underground through controlled releases

management allowable depletion (MAD)
desired soil-water deficit at the time of irrigation

manganese
a grayish-white, hard, brittle metallic element that resembles iron but is not magnetic and is used in alloys, batteries, and plant fertilizers

Layers of the Earth-What are they? How were they found?
IRIS Earthquake Science
Feb. 7, 2015
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD7GHzIRI-s
Embedded video, no copy made
mantle
a layer inside a planetary body bounded below by a core and above by a crust

marble
a metamorphic rock formed from sedimentary carbonate rocks, most commonly limestone or dolomite

mariculture
cultivation of fish or other marine life for food

marine protected areas (MPA)
include marine sanctuaries, estuarine research reserves, ocean parks and marine wildlife refuges

marsh
a wetland dominated by plant species that are used to being covered by water for long periods of time

mass extinction
refers to an event when many species die off in a relatively short period of geological time

Advanced Water Treatment Plant: Membrane Filtration
Scottsdale Water
Sep. 5, 2019
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTfJFNTE0TI
Embedded video, no copy made
mastodon
any of various extinct mammals of the elephant family existing from the Miocene through the Pleistocene distinguished by molar teeth with cone-shaped cusps

maximum annual groundwater allotment
maximum amount of groundwater that can be used per year for irrigation of each farm acre

maximum contaminant level (MCL)
the maximum concentration of a chemical that is allowed in public drinking water systems

maximum contaminant level goals (MCLG)
the maximum level of a contaminant in drinking water at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons would occur

maximum storage capacity
total reservoir storage space

meander
a river following a winding course

mechanics
the branch of physics involving motion and the forces that produce it

medial moraine
double line of debris running down the center of a glacier

Mercury
Periodic Table of Videos
Jul. 13, 2008
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL0M_6bfzkU
Embedded video, no copy made
megadrought
a drought lasting for more than two decades

megawatt
1,000 kilowatts or 1 million watts, the power used by the average microwave oven

membrane desalination
use of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration barriers to remove salts, pharmaceuticals and other dissolved contaminants

membrane filtration
method of separating particles in liquid solutions or gas mixtures

mercurial barometer
instrument used for measuring change in atmospheric pressure

mercury
a silver-white poisonous heavy metallic element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures used in batteries, in dental amalgam, and in scientific instruments

Mesas near Spring Canyon, Green River
Mesas near Spring Canyon, Green River
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
http://www.publicdomainfiles.com/
show_file.php?id=13938778815668
public domain
meridian
a line of longitude

mesa
an isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides, found in landscapes with horizontal strata

mesopelagic zone
middle open ocean, from the bottom of the epipelagic to the point where sunlight can't reach, approximately 1000 m (3300 feet) deep

mesosphere
Earth's third atmospheric layer, above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere and where temperature decreases as altitude increases

Mesozoic
relating to or denoting the era between the Paleozoic and Cenozoic eras, comprising the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods

metabolism
chemical processes in a living organism that keep it alive

metalimnion
the middle layer of water in a stratified lake characterized by a rapid change in temperature with depth

metalocene
tiny particle of positively charged metal ions between two rings of carbon atoms which each have five atoms

Metamorphic Mississippian marble in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Mountains
Metamorphic Mississippian marble in
Big Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Mountains
M. A. Wilson
Jun. 30, 2008
Wikipedia metamorphic rock
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Metamorphic_rock#/media/
File:MississippianMarbleUT.JPG
public domain
metal-organic frameworks (MOF)
crystalline compounds consisting of rigid, porous organic molecules

metamorphic
relating to rock that has undergone transformation by heat, pressure, or other natural processes

meteorology
the branch of science concerned with the processes and phenomena of the atmosphere, especially as a means of forecasting the weather

methane
a powerful greenhouse gas and the simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms, (CH4)

method detection limit (MDL)
the minimum measured concentration of a substance that can be reported with 99% confidence that the measured concentration is distinguishable from method blank results

method reporting limit (MRL)
the minimum concentration of a contaminant reported after analyzing a sample, determined after corrections have been made for sample dilution and sample weight

mgd
million gallons per day

mica
a shiny silicate mineral with a layered structure, found as minute scales in granite and other rocks, or as crystals

Folded migmatite near Geirangerfjord, Norway
Folded migmatite near Geirangerfjord, Norway
S. Sepp
Jul. 17, 2006
Wikipedia migmatite
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Migmatite#/media/
File:Migma_ss_2006.jpg
CC BY-SA 3.0
microclimate
a local set of atmospheric conditions that differ from those in the surrounding areas

microfiltration
contaminated fluid is passed through a filter to remove microorganisms and suspended particles

microplastics
invisible pieces of plastic measuring less than 5 millimeters

micro-sprinkler system
supplies water through emitters and nozzles attached to a supply pipe or porous tubing

microwave
an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength in the range 0.001 and 0.3 m, shorter than a radio wave and longer than infrared radiation

migmatite
a composite rock found in medium and high-grade metamorphic environments

mineral
substance occurring in nature usually comprising inorganic materials of definite chemical composition and definite crystal structure, may include organic substances such as coal

minimum detectable concentration (MDC)
the net concentration that has a specified chance of being detected, an estimate of the detection capability of a measuring system

mining use
water used for quarrying and mineral extraction

minute
an official record of what was said and done in a meeting

miscible
forming a homogeneous mixture when added together

mitigation
actions taken to reduce the seriousness of something

Mohorovičić discontinuity
Mohorovičić discontinuity
KDS4444
May 26, 2016
Wikipedia Mohorovičić discontinuity
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Mohorovi%C4%8Di%C4%87
_discontinuity#/media/
File:Subduction-en.svg
CC BY-SA 4.0
mixed liquor suspended solids
concentration of suspended solids, in an aeration tank during the activated sludge process, which occurs during the treatment of waste water

mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS)
the amount of organic or volatile suspended solids in the mixed liquor of an aeration tank, used as a measure or indication of the microorganisms present

mld
megaliters per day

Mohorovičić discontinuity
the boundary between the Earth's crust and the mantle, also called the Moho

Mohs hardness scale
scale used to classify a mineral's hardness

molecular polarity
a separation of electric charge in a molecule that results in a negatively charged end and a positively charged end

molecule
a group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction

Mohs hardness scale
Mohs hardness scale
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
https://www.nps.gov/articles/
mohs-hardness-scale.htm
public domain
monadnock
an isolated hill or ridge of erosion-resistant rock rising above a peneplain

monitor well
a well designed and drilled for monitoring purposes

monoclinal ridge
top of a step-like fold in rock strata consisting of a zone of steeper dip within an otherwise horizontal or gently-dipping sequence

monocline
a bend in rock strata that are otherwise uniformly dipping or horizontal

monsoon
a seasonal change in prevailing wind direction that often results in weeks or months of rainy weather

montmorillonite
an aluminum-rich clay mineral of the smectite group containing some sodium and magnesium

monzonite
a granular igneous rock with a composition between syenite and diorite, containing equal amounts of orthoclase and plagioclase

Grandview-Phantom monocline in the Grand Canyon
Grandview-Phantom monocline in the Grand Canyon
J. Stuby
May 20, 2009
Wikipedia monocline
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Monocline#/media/File:
Grandview-Phantom_Monocline.jpg
public domain
moon
a natural satellite of a celestial body

moraine
accumulated glacial debris

morphology
the branch of biology that deals with the form of living organisms, and with relationships between their structures

mud
soil, loam, silt or clay mixed with water

multistage flash distillation
a sea water desalination process that converts water into steam in multiple stages

municipal demand
all non-agricultural uses of water

municipal distribution system
a system of pipes and canals within a municipal provider's service area

municipal provider
a city, town, private water company or irrigation district that provides water for municipal use

mylonite
is a fine-grained, compact metamorphic rock produced by recrystallization of its minerals

N

The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/ASU
Jun. 17, 2019
NASA Solar System Exploration
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/
2460/lunar-near-side/?
category=moons_earths-moon
public domain
nanofiltration (NF)
a membrane liquid-separation technology that removes multivalent ions

native element
occurs in nature in a nearly pure state, metals include platinum, iridium, osmium, iron, zinc, tin, gold, silver, copper, mercury, lead and chromium, semimetals include bismuth, antimony, arsenic, tellurium and selenium and nonmetals include sulfur and carbon

natural satellite
an astronomical body that orbits a planet, dwarf planet or small solar system body, often called a moon

nautical mile
unit used in measuring distances at sea equal to approximately 2,025 yards or 1,852 meters

navigable waters
waters that are subject to tidal action and those that may be used for interstate or foreign commerce

neap tide
a tide just after the first or third quarters of the Moon when there is least difference between high and low water

negative environmental feedback loop
an environmental process that diminishes the effect of climate forcing

neopelagic
refers to a marine environment in the Great Garbage Patch were open-ocean and coastal species live together

Nepheline from Morocco
Nepheline from Morocco
R. Lavinsky
Mar. 2010
Wikipedia nepheline
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Nepheline#/media/
File:Nepheline-Schorlomite-250211.jpg
CC BY-SA 3.0
nepheline
a silica-undersaturated aluminosilicate that occurs in intrusive and volcanic rocks with low silica, and in their associated pegmatites

net zero urban water (NZUW)
approach which meets the needs of a given community with a locally available and sustainable water supply, without detriment to interconnected systems or long-term water supply

nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU)
unit that expresses water turbidity

neucleobase
nitrogen-containing biological compound that forms nucleosides

neucleoside
glycosylamine considered as a nucleotide without a phosphate group

neucleotide
organic molecules composed of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar and a phosphate

net neutral recharge
volume of water naturally recharging the groundwater supply minus natural depletions to the groundwater supply

neutron
a neutrally-charged subatomic particle in atomic nuclei

new large landscape user
a non-residential facility with water-intensive landscaping of more than 10,000 square feet that has landscaping planted or bodies of water, other than pools, establised after January 1, 1990, schools, parks, cemetaries, golf courses, common housing areas and recreational facilities are excluded

new large municipal provider
a municipal provider that serves more than 250 acre-feet for non-irrigation purposes during a calendar year

newly turfed area
land planted with warm-season grass that was not planted in the previous calendar year

new sources standards of performance (NSPS)
reflect effluent reductions based on the best available demonstrated control technology

What are the 4 main neucleobases found in DNA and RNA?
newton
force that would give a mass of one kilogram an acceleration of one meter per second per second

nickel
a silver-white hard malleable, ductile, metallic element capable of a high polish and resistant to corrosion used in alloys and as a catalyst

nimbostratus
a type of cloud forming a thick uniform gray layer at low altitude, from which rain or snow often falls, without any lightning or thunder

Nickel
Periodic Table of Videos
Aug. 21, 2017
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUmoaZn9bek
Embedded video, no copy made
nitrate
usually combined with sodium or potassium and used as a fertilizer

nitrite
a salt or ester of nitrous acid

nitrogen
a colorless, odorless unreactive gas that forms about 78% of Earth's atmosphere

nitrogenous
refers to a substance containing nitrogen

nitrogen oxides
a group of highly reactive gases, including nitrogen dioxide, nitrous acid and nitric acid

nitrous oxide
a colorless greenhouse gas with a sweetish odor, prepared by heating ammonium nitrate

Nitrogen
Periodic Table of Videos
Jun. 20, 2018
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8XNdqA18-M
Embedded video, no copy made
non-basic sector
depend on the local population as the source of demand

nonconformity
exists between sedimentary rocks and metamorphic or igneous rocks when the sedimentary rock lies above and was deposited on the pre-existing and eroded metamorphic or igneous rock

non-exempt well
a well having a pump with a maximum capacity of more than 35 gallons per minute which is used to withdraw groundwater

non-governmental organization (NGO)
a nonprofit organization operating independently of any government, and typically addressing environmental, social or political issues

non-irrigation grandfathered district
a well within an active management area with a maximum pumping capacity of more than 25 gallons per minute and used for non-irrigation purposes

non-irrigation grandfathered right
refers to grandfathered rights within an active management area associated with irrigated land retired after January 1, 1965

Colorado River water rights existing as of June 25, 1929 are called what?
non-jurisdictional dam
an artificial barrier that does not meet the requirements for a jurisdictional dam

non-point source discharge
water associated with agriculture, construction, forestry, grazing, recreational, urban stormwater and other runoff sources

non-potable
refers to water that is not safe to drink

What cities are served by the Roosevelt Irrigation District?
non-potable reuse
planned water reuse applications, including irrigation, landscaping, recreational lakes, toilets, fire hydrants, decorative fountains and other uses that do not require drinking water quality

non-transient non-community water system (NTNCWS)
a public water system that regularly supplies water to at least 25 of the same people at least six months per year, includes schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals which have their own water systems

non-use value of water
values of habitat provision, ecosystem services, and wildfire prevention

nor'easter
a storm that travels along the Eastern Seaboard and brings winds from the northeast

Normal fault and drag folds, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming
Normal fault and drag folds,
Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming
J. St. John
Aug. 16, 2010
Wikipedia faults
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Fault_(geology)#/media/
File:Normal_fault_&_drag_folds_
(eastern_flanks_of_
the_Bighorn_Mountains,_
Wyoming,_USA).jpg
CC BY 2.0
normal fault
a dip-slip fault in which the block above the fault has moved downward relative to the block below

normal flow rights
entitlements to unregulated or natural flow of water in the Salt and Verde Rivers as it existed before construction of SRP reservoirs

normal storage capacity
total volume in acre-feet at normal retention level

Northerly international Boundary (NIB)
border above the Morales Dam 1.1 miles downstream from the California-Baja California land boundary between Los Algodones and Yuma County

Northern Hemisphere
the half of the Earth north of the equator

nucleic acid
a complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain

nucleoside
a nucleotide with a sugar attached

nucleotide
a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group, forms the basic structural unit of nucleic acids such as DNA

nuisance flood
shallow flood resulting from higher sea level, wash over roads and into storm drains during high tide

O

Oblique-slip fault
Oblique-slip fault
A. Rehman
Oct. 3, 2021
Wikipedia faults
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Fault_(geology)#/media/
File:Oblique_slip_fault.svg
CC BY-SA 4.0
oblique-slip fault
has a component of dip-slip fault and a component of strike-slip fault

obsidian
a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock, produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimal crystal growth

ocean
refers to Earth's largest water bodies

oceanic crust
composed of mafic rocks rich in iron and magnesium

ocean trench
a long, narrow depression in the ocean floor

ogee spillway
an overflow spillway constructed in cross-section the crest

olivine
an olive-green, gray-green, or brown silicate mineral occurring widely in basalt, peridotite, and other basic igneous rocks

Arizona basalt with olivine crystals
Arizona basalt with olivine crystals
V. Smith
Jul. 27, 2005
Wikipedia olivine
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Olivine#/media/
File:Peridot_in_basalt.jpg
CC BY-SA 3.0
omphacite
a member of the pyroxene group of silicate minerals, ((Ca, Na)(Mg, Fe2+, Al)Si2O6)

on-farm irrigation efficiency
total water requirements to produce crop divided by the total quantity of water applied to the crop during growing season

ooid
small, spheroidal, coated sedimentary grains, usually composed of calcium carbonate, iron or phosphate-based minerals, usually form on the sea floor in shallow tropical seas

open ditch system
supplied water runs across the upper end of a field

oreodont
an extinct, four-toed, ruminant, artiodactyl mammal of the Merycoidodontidae and Agriochoeridae families living in North America from the Eocene to the early Pliocene and resembling swine

organelle
an organized or specialized structure in a living cell

organic (agriculture)
produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or other artificial substances

organic (biology)
related to living matter

Ooids in limestone of the Middle Jurassic Carmel Formation in Southwestern Utah
Ooids in limestone of the Middle Jurassic
Carmel Formation in Southwestern Utah
M. A. Wilson
May 17, 2018
Wikipedia limestone
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Limestone#/media/
File:Ooids_Carmel_Formation_Jurassic.jpg
CC0 public domain
organic compound
a chemical compound in which carbon atoms are are linked to hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen atoms

organic contaminants
include substances primarily from industrial activities that inadvertently leach chemical runoff into surface waters

original horizontality
geologic principle stating that layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally under the action of gravity

orogeny
a process by which Earth's crust is folded and deformed, creating mountains

orograph
machine used in making topographical maps that is operated by being pushed across country and that records both distances and elevations

orographic
relating to the position and form of mountains

orographic precipitation
occurs on the windward side of mountains and is caused by motion of rising, moist air across a mountain ridge

Orthoclase feldspar
Orthoclase feldspar
D. Descouens
Aug. 28, 2009
Wikipedia orthoclase
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Orthoclase#/media/File:
OrthoclaseBresil.jpg
CC BY-SA 4.0
orthoclase
a white or pink crystal rock-forming mineral rich in feldspar

osmosis
movement of water molecules through a thin membrane

osmotic pressure
pressure that would have to be applied to a pure solvent to prevent it from passing into a given solution by osmosis

outfall
outlet where reclaimed water is discharged into a water body

outflow
all water leaving a water system

outstanding remarkable value (ORV)
a river-related value must be a unique, rare, or exemplary feature that is significant at a comparative regional or national scale, and can be scenic, recreational, geological, fish-related, wildlife-related, historic, cultural, botanical, hydrological, paleontological, scientific or other value

overdraft
condition that results when more water is pumped out of an aquifer than is being naturally recharged

overseeded area
an area of land planted with cool-season grass that grows over a dormant warm-season grass

outer core
a fluid layer about 2,260 km (1,400 mi) thick composed of mostly iron and nickel that lies above Earth's solid inner core and below its mantle

oxbow lake
a curved lake formed where the main stream of a river has cut across the narrow end and no longer flows around the loop of the bend

oxidane
the official chemical name for water

oxidation-reduction reaction
a type of chemical reaction that involves a transfer of electrons between two substances

oxidation ditch
a component of the wastewater treatment process that provides long-term aeration, consists of a long channel laid out in an elliptical or circular configuration, the channel includes mechanical aeration equipment, such as brush rotors, disc aerators, draft tube aerators, or fine bubble diffusers

Oxygen
Periodic Table of Videos
Dec. 21, 2008
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuG5WTId-IY
Embedded video, no copy made
oxide
consists of metal ions covalently bonded with oxygen

oxidizing
chemically combining with oxygen

oxygen
a colorless, odorless reactive gas, the chemical element of atomic number 8 and the life-supporting component of the air

oxygen demand
oxygen needed for water biological and chemical processes

ozone
a pale blue greenhouse gas with a distinctively pungent smell, also called trioxygen

P

A group of palsas
A group of palsas
Dentren
Jun. 17, 2009
Wikipedia palsa
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Palsa#/media/
File:Palsaaerialview.jpg
CC BY-SA 3.0
Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)
a long-term ocean fluctuation of the Pacific Ocean which waxes and wanes approximately every 20 to 30 years

paleoclimatology
the branch of science that deals with past climates

paleohydrology
study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth during previous periods of its history

paleontologist
a scientist who studies fossils

Paleozoic
relating to or denoting the era between the Precambrian eon and the Mesozoic era

palsa
peat mound with a permanently frozen peat and mineral soil core

Pangaea
a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras

paper water
the water that an entity is legally entitled to use, but which may not be readily accessible or available

Plate Movement: 200 Million years ago to present day
California Academy of Sciences
Apr. 14, 2016
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADsjdu27WaM
Embedded video, no copy made
paraconformity
strata on either side of the unconformity are parallel, there is little apparent erosion

paradigm shift
a fundamental change in the basic concepts, theories and experimental practices of a scientific discipline

parcel
an air bubble that keeps its shape as it rises or sinks in the atmosphere

particle size
diamter of suspended sediment

passive storage system
allows plants to access water stored in soil

pathogen
a virus, bacteria or fungus that causes disease

Particle Size Classifications
materialsize in mm
clay0.00024-0.004
silt0.004-0.062
sand0.62-2.0
gravel2.0-64.0
Source: USGS water science glossary,
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/
water-science-school/science/
water-science-glossary

peak flow gage
a device that measures the maximum discharge of a stream or river

Pearson scales
path length and path width parameters to the Fujita scale

peat
brown material similar to soil that forms from decomposition of vegetable matter in bogs and fens

pediment
a broad, gently sloping expanse of buried rock debris extending outward from the foot of a mountain slope, especially in a desert

pedosphere
Earth's outermost layer, composed of soil and subject to soil formation processes

pegmatite
a coarsely crystalline granite or other igneous rock with crystals several centimeters to several meters in length

Pegmatite containing lepidolite, tourmaline, and quartz from the White Elephant Mine
Pegmatite containing lepidolite, tourmaline,
and quartz from the White Elephant Mine
in the Black Hills, South Dakota
J. Stuby
Apr. 16, 2007
Wikipedia pegmatite
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Pegmatite#/media/
File:We-pegmatite.jpg
public domain
peneplain
a level land surface produced by prolonged erosion

per capita use
average amount of water used per person during a certain time

perchlorate
the anion created when perchloric acid and its salts dissociate in water

percolation
process of a liquid slowly passing through a filter or the ground

perennial
present all seasons of the year

perennial stream
refers to a stream which flows throughout the year through at least parts of its stream bed during years of normal rainfall

perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
a chemical used in stain-resistant fabrics, fire-fighting foams, food packaging and as a surfactant in industrial processes

perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
a manufactured perfluorochemical and a byproduct in producing fluoropolymers

perfluorotributylamine
organofluorine compound and greenhouse gas in which all the hydrogens have been replaced by fluorine atoms

Periodic table explained
AtomicSchool
Apr. 6, 2014
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPkEGAHo78o
Embedded video, no copy made
peridotite
a dense, coarse-grained plutonic rock containing a large amount of olivine, believed to be the main constituent of Earth's mantle

period
major rank below an era and above an epoch

periodic table
tabular display of the chemical elements

permafrost
thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year, usually in polar regions

permanent system
an irrigation system set in place and not moved through the irrigation season

permeable
a material that allows liquids or gases to pass through it

Phosphorus
Periodic Table of Videos
Aug. 22, 2010
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSYLUat03A4
Embedded video, no copy made
permeable reactive barrier (PRB)
an inground wall which removes impurities from water that passes through it

Permian
a geologic period which spans 47 million years from the end of the Carboniferous period 298.9 million years ago to the beginning of the Triassic period 251.902 million years ago, it is the last period of the Paleozoic era

Permian-Eocene Thermal Maximum
a short interval of maximum temperature aboout 55 million years ago lasting approximately 100,000 years during the late Paleocene and early Eocene epochs

petajoule (PJ)
a unit of energy equal to one million billion joules

phacolith
a pluton of igneous rock parallel to the bedding plane or foliation of folded country rock

pH scale
pH scale
USGS
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/ph-scale-0
public domain
phase diagram
displays the temperature and pressure at which a substance changes to and from a solid, liquid or gas

phenology
the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life

phosphate
a molecule containing one atom of phosphorus covalently bound to four oxygen residues

phosphorous
a poisonous, combustible nonmetal which exists as white phosphorus, a yellowish waxy solid which ignites spontaneously in air and glows in the dark, and red phosphorus, a less reactive form used in making matches

photodegradation
decay of material due to light exposure

photodissociation
process in which a photon from the Sun breaks an atmospheric atom or molecule into new atoms or molecules

photosynthesis
process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water

phreatophyte
a plant with a deep root system that draws its water supply from near the water table

pH scale
used to specify how acidic or alkaline a water-based solution is, acidic solutions have lower pH, and alkaline solutions have higher pH

phyllite
a type of foliated metamorphic rock created from slate further metamorphosed so that very fine grained white mica achieves a preferred orientation

phyllosilicate
mineral formed by parallel sheets of silicate tetrahedra

phylum
a principal taxonomic category that ranks above class and below kingdom

physics
the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy

physiographic province
a region having a particular pattern of relief features or land forms that differs significantly from that of adjacent regions

physiography
the geography subfield that studies physical patterns and processes to understand forces that produce and change rocks, oceans, weather and global flora and fauna patterns

Plagioclase
Plagioclase
USGS
Jan. 7, 2005
Wikipedia plagioclase
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Plagioclase#/media/
File:PlagioclaseFeldsparUSGOV.jpg
public domain
physiology
the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts

phytoplankton
plankton consisting of microscopic plants

piedmont
a gentle slope leading from the base of mountains to a region of flat land

piedmont glacier
a fan or lobe-shaped glacier, located at the front of a mountain range

piezometer
device which measures the pressure of groundwater at a specific point

pillow lava
lava with a pillow-shaped structure attributed to the extrusion of lava underwater

pinnacle
a high, pointed piece of rock

plagioclase
a typically white form of feldspar consisting of aluminosilicates of sodium or calcium, common in igneous rocks

planetary science
the science of the similarities and differences of planetary bodies

plankton
the small and microscopic organisms drifting or floating in the sea or fresh water, consisting of diatoms, protozoans, small crustaceans, and the eggs and larval stages of larger animals

The plate tectonics revolution: Crash course geography #19
CrashCourse
Jul. 12, 2021
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CPv0NSIG2M
Embedded video, no copy made
planned water reuse
refers to water systems designed to beneficially reuse wastewater, includes agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial process water, potable water supplies and groundwater supply management

plateau
area of relatively level high ground

plate tectonics
a theory that explains the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates over its mantle

platform
a continental area covered by relatively flat or gently tilted, mainly sedimentary strata, above older consolidated igneous or metamorphic rocks

playa
a flat, dry desert basin where water evaporates quickly

plutonic
refers to intrusive igneous rock that forms when magma is trapped deep inside the Earth

pluviometer
another term for rain gauge

Sailing stone in Racetrack playa in Death Valley, California
Sailing stone in Racetrack playa in Death Valley, California
Lgcharlot
Dec. 5, 2006
Wikipedia playa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_lake#/
media/File:Racetrack_Playa_
in_Death_Valley_National_Park.jpg
CC BY-SA 4.0
pogonip
a dense winter fog containing frozen particles that is formed in deep mountain valleys of the western U.S.

point-source pollution
water coming from a single pollution source

polar cell
at the 60th parallel, air rises to the tropopause and moves poleward, moving to the east, when the air reaches the polar areas, it is cooler and denser, it descends creating a cold, dry high-pressure area, at the polar surface level, the mass of air is driven toward the 60th parallel, replacing the air that rose there, completing the cell circulation

polar desert
a desert region in an ice cap climate

polar drift
a geological phenomenon caused by variations in the flow of molten iron in Earth's outer core resulting in orientation changes of its magnetic field and position of the magnetic north and south poles

polar glacier
a glacier in which ice temperatures always remain below the freezing point

polar molecule
a molecule in which one end of the molecule is slightly positive, while the other end is slightly negative

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
group of synthetic, toxic industrial chemicals that were banned in 1979 with the Toxic Substances Control Act

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
a class of chemicals found in coal, crude oil, and gasoline that can cause a variety of negative health effects, including cancer

polyethylene
a tough, light, flexible synthetic resin used for plastic bags, food containers and other packaging

polyfluoroalkyl substances
a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals

Polynya
Polynya
M. Beauregard
Jan. 27, 2019
Wikipedia polynya
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Polynya#/media/
File:Frosty_Arctic_condensation
_plume_(40590398313).jpg
CC BY 2.0
polymer
a substance made of similar molecular chains bonded together

polynya
an area of open water surrounded by sea ice

polypropylene
a synthetic resin used for ropes, fabrics and molded objects

polysaccharide
a carbohydrate, such as starch, cellulose or glycogen, whose molecules consist of a number of sugar molecules bonded together

poly tubing
a thin-walled, flexible plastic tube that has holes punched to permit water to flow into furrows, borders or basins

polyvinyl chloride
high strength thermoplastic material widely used in pipes, medical devices, wire and cable insulation

poor quality groundwater withdrawal permit
issued to non-irrigation water users to extract poor quality water that can be used for other beneficial uses

porosity
amount of space between soil or rock particles where water can be stored

porous
rock having minute spaces or holes through which liquid or air may pass

porphyllite
a phyllosilicate mineral composed of aluminium silicate hydroxide, Al2Si4O10(OH)2

porphyritic
denoting a rock texture, typically found in volcanic rocks, containing distinct crystalline particles

positive environmental feedback loop
accelerates an environmental response, such as increasing ice melting rates or raising global temperatures

post-1991 acres
water-intensive landscaped area or low water use landscaped area that did not exist before Decemeber 31, 1991

Potassium
Periodic Table of Videos
Oct. 13, 2008
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPdevJTGAYY
Embedded video, no copy made
potable
refers to water that is safe to drink

potash
an alkaline potassium compound, especially potassium carbonate or hydroxide

potassium
the chemical element of atomic number 19, a soft silvery-white reactive metal of the alkali metal group

potentiometric surface
the gravitational equalization level of a water body

power
the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit time

ppb
parts per billion

ppm
parts per million

What are the 7 radiation regions of the electromagnetic spectrum?
ppt
parts per trillion

practically irrigable acreage (PIA)
the place of use of an undeveloped water right claim of an allottee, or the transferee of an allottee, as determined in the Klamath Adjudication

pre-1985 acres
water intensive landscaped area or low water use landscaped area that existed as of December 31, 1984

Precambrian
the earliest part of Earth's history, set before the current Phanerozoic Eon

Precambrian shield
a large area of exposed Precambrian crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks that form tectonically stable areas

How does your water system work?
How does your water system work?
EPA
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-10/
documents/epa-ogwdw-publicwatersystems-final508.pdf
public domain
precipitable water
a measure of the total amount of water vapor contained in a small vertical column extending from the surface to the top of the atmosphere

precipitate
the process of being deposited as a solid out of a solution

precipitation
any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity, includes drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, graupel and hail

preliminary treatment
removal of suspended and floating particles

pretreatment standards for existing sources (PSES)
national, uniform, technology-based standards that apply to indirect dischargers

pretreatment standards for new sources (PSNS)
national, uniform, technology-based standards that apply to new indirect dischargers

primary treatment
first stage in wastewater treatment where some solids and organic material are removed by screening and sedimentation

prime meridian
an arbitrary line of longitude in a geographic coordinate system at which longitude is defined to be 0o

prior appropriation doctrine
allocates water rights based on timing of use, place of use and purpose of use, allowing for diversion of water from its source to fulfill water rights and determines who gets water during times of shortage, first-in-time, first-in-right

private water company
a private company that distributes or sells groundwater

protist
a single-celled organism of the kingdom Protista, such as a protozoan or simple alga

proton
a positively-charged subatomic particle in atomic nuclei

protonation
adding of a proton, hydron, or hydrogen cation to an atom, molecule, or ion, forming a conjugate acid

protozoan
a single-celled microscopic animal of a group of phyla of the kingdom Protista, including amoeba, flagellate, ciliate, or sporozoan

pseudotachylyte
a fine-grained to glassy, dark, cohesive veined rock formed during earthquakes

psychrometer
a hygrometer consisting of a wet-bulb and a dry-bulb thermometer

pterosaur
extinct Mesozoic flying reptile

publicly owned treatment works (POTW)
systems used to store, treat, recycle, or reclaim municipal wastewater or industrial liquid wastes owned by a state, municipality, sewer district or other public entity

public supply
water withdrawn by public governments and agencies

public trust doctrine
principle that certain natural and cultural resources are preserved and that the government owns and must protect and maintain these resources for public use

public utility
any person, corporation, district, electric cooperative, public agency or political subdivision of a state that provides electric services to the public

A geologist explores a pyroclastic flow from Mt. St. Helens
A geologist explores a pyroclastic flow
from Mt. St. Helens
D. A. Swanson/USGS
May 29, 1980
Wikipedia pyroclastic rock
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Pyroclastic_rock#/media/
File:Pyroclastic_Flow_St._Helens.jpg
public domain
public waters
waters of all sources flowing in streams, canyons, ravines or other natural channels, flood, waste or surplus water, or water on the surface of lakes, ponds and springs

public water system (PWS)
a system that provides water to the public for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if that system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals

pyroclastic
relating to, consisting of, or denoting fragments of rock erupted by a volcano

pyroxene
a large class of rock-forming silicate minerals, generally containing calcium, magnesium, and iron and typically occurring as prismatic crystals

pyrope
the most well-known gemstone form of garnet

Q

quadruped
an animal which has four feet

quantification
identifying the amount of water to which users hold rights

quark
a subatomic particle that interacts via the strong force and is considered to be a fundamental building block of matter

Hieroglyphic Mountains recharge project
Hieroglyphic Mountains recharge project
Arizona Water Banking Authority
Water Bank Storage Facilities
https://waterbank.az.gov/storage-facilities
public domain
quartz
a hard white or colorless mineral consisting of silicon dioxide, found widely in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks

quartzite
a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock which was originally pure quartz sandstone

R

radical
a group of atoms behaving as a unit in a number of compounds

radioactivity
emission of particles caused by the spontaneous disintegration of atomic nuclei

radio-echo sounding system
a transmitter and receiver system that sends out radio waves and detects those waves bounced from objects

rainbow
an colored arc of light, similar to a spectrum appearing in the sky, caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets visible opposite the Sun

rain gauge
a deviced used to measure precipitation

Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting
Adityamail
Aug. 6, 2010
Wikipedia rainwater harvesting
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Rainwater_management#/media/
File:Simple_Diagram_to_show
_Rainwater_Harvesting.png
CC BY 3.0
rain shadow
dry area on the leeward side of a mountain, away from the wind

rainshadow desert
a patch of land that has become a desert because mountain ranges block much of the rainfall necessary for plant growth

rainwater harvesting
collecting rain from roofs, patios and other surfaces

range
a series of continuous townships aligned north and south and numbered east to west from a prime meridian

rarefaction
relating to the spreading of gas particles

rating height
a data curve that shows the relationship between gage height data and stream discharge height

ravine
a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides

reach
length of a stream or river

recent stream alluvium
unconsolidated clay, sand, silt or gravel recently deposited by a stream

recessional moraine
series of ridges that run across a valley behind a terminal moraine

recharge
replenishing an aquifer by surface infiltration or by other natural or induced means

reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE)
engine that uses gas expnasion and increased pressure from fuel combustion to move pistons

City of Tucson reclaimed water sign
City of Tucson reclaimed water sign
City of Tucson
2022
Reclaimed Water Signs
https://www.tucsonaz.gov/
water/reclaimed-water-signs
public domain
reclaimed water
water treated or processed by a wastewater treatment plant

reconstituted glacier
a glacier formed below the bottom of a hanging glacier by the accumulation, and reconstitution by pressure melting of ice blocks that have fallenor avalanched from the end of the hanging glacier

recovery
eventual withdrawal of stored water

recycled water
water used more than once before returning to a natural system

redlining
refusing a loan or insurance to someone because they live in an area deemed to be a poor financial risk

redox reaction
chemical reaction between an oxidizing substance and a reducing substance, the oxidizing substance loses electrons and the reducing substance gains electrons

reef
a ridge of jagged rock, coral, or sand just above or below the surface of the sea

reference crop evapotranspiration
an estimate of the water used by a well-watered, full-cover grass area 8 cm to 11.5 cme in height

regression
seaward migration of a shoreline, draining of previously wet land due to sea level fall or uplift

Relative humidity
Earth Rocks!
Feb. 9, 2015
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=159GkRhtD2w
Embedded video, no copy made
relative humidity
the amount of water vapor present in air as a percentage of the amount needed for atmospheric saturation at the same temperature

remedial groundwater
graoundwater withdrawn pursuant to an approved remedial action project

reptile
a vertebrate animal including snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles and tortoises, has dry scaly skin and lays soft-shelled eggs on land

reservoir
a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply

residential use
non-irrigation use of water related to the activities of a singe family or multifamily housing unit or units

resonance
the reinforcement or prolongation of sound by reflection from a surface or by the synchronous vibration of a neighboring object

Rhyolite
Rhyolite
M. C. Rygel
Feb. 11, 2014
Wikipedia rhyolite
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Rhyolite#/media/
File:PinkRhyolite.tif
CC BY-SA 3.0
respiration
a process in living organisms involving the production of energy, typically with the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide from the oxidation of complex organic substances

return activated sludge (RAS)
settled activated sludge that is collected in the secondary clarifier or the membrane basin and returned to the aeration basin to mix with incoming raw or primary settled wastewater

return flow
water that reaches a groundwater source after release from its use point, becoming available for further use

reverse fault
the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall

reverse osmosis (RO)
when a solvent passes through a porous membrane in the direction opposite to that for natural osmosis when subjected to a hydrostatic pressure greater than the osmotic pressure

revolution
refers to Earth's orbit around the Sun of approximately 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes

rhyolite
an extrusive igneous rock with a very high silica content, usually pink or gray in color with grains so small that they are difficult to observe without a hand lens, made up of quartz, plagioclase, and sanidine, with minor amounts of hornblende and biotite

ribonucleic acid (RNA)
converting genetic information from genes into the amino acid sequences of proteins

ridge (geology)
a long narrow hilltop, mountain range, or watershed

ridge (meteorology)
an elongated area of relatively high atmospheric pressure

Rime on a tree in the Black Forest, Germany
Rime on a tree in the Black Forest, Germany
R. Fabi
Jan. 1, 2005
Wikipedia rime
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Rime_ice#/media/
File:Windbuchencom.jpg
public domain
ridiculously resilient ridge
large high-pressure mass that remains over the U.S. West Coast for prolonged periods and that diverts storms winter storms, intensifying drought

rill
a small stream

rime
frost formed on cold objects by the rapid freezing of water vapor in cloud or fog

riparian
relating to wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams

riparian doctrine
a system of water law that gives the owner of land bordering a stream or river, or riparian land, the legal right to use the water of the stream, the right to water use comes from the spatial connection between the stream or river and the riparian land

river
a natural stream of water

river flood
occurs when a river or stream overflows its banks onto normally dry land

river rock
round, smooth rock naturally shaped by erosion or weather by flowing water

rivulet
avery small stream

RNA
ribonucleic acid, a polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes

Grand Canyon rock units
Grand Canyon rock units
National Park Service
Mar. 12, 2008
Wikipedia Grand Canyon
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Grand_Canyon#/media/
File:Stratigraphy_of
_the_Grand_Canyon.png
public domain
rock
any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals

rock cycle
explains how rock transforms sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous types due to pressure, temperature and weathering

rock glacier
a glacier-like landform that consists of a valley-filling accumulation of angular rock blocks, has little or no visible surface ice

rock unit
aggregations of lithologic constituents with particular relationships

rogen moraine
forms a series of ribs at right angles to the direction of the glacier flow

rogue wave
wave greater than twice the size of surrounding waves

Rossby wave
also known as planetary waves, occur naturally in rotating fluids, in Earth's ocean and atmosphere they form as a result of our planet's rotation

runaway greenhouse effect
occurs when a planet's atmosphere contains greenhouse gases that block heat escaping from the planet, preventing the planet from cooling and from having liquid water on its surface

runoff
water drainage from the surface of a land area

S

safe yield
long-term balance between the amount of groundwater withdrawn annually and the annual amount of natural and artificial recharge in an active management area

Saffir-Simpson scale
classifies hurricanes and tropical cyclones, that exceed intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms, into five categories distinguished by sustained wind intensities

sagebrush
a shrubby aromatic North American plant of the daisy family

saline
containing salt

salinity
the degree to which something is salty

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
1-minute maximum sustained winds
categorym/sknotsmphkm/h
570137157252
458-70113-136130-156209-251
350-5896-112111-129178-208
243-4983-9596-110154-177
133-4264-8274-95119-153
tropical
storm
18-3234-6339-7363-118
tropical
depression
17333862
Source: National Hurricane Center,
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php

salt
any chemical compound formed from the reaction of an acid with a base, with all or part of the hydrogen of the acid replaced by a metal or other cation

saltation
the movement of hard particles such as sand over an uneven surface in a turbulent flow of air or water

saltstraumen
a small strait with a very strong tidal current

salt wedge
an estuary where fresh water floats on top of salt water

salvage-by-use
using water that would otherwise be lost to evaporation

sand
loose granular substance resulting from erosion and found on beaches, in riverbeds, the seabed and in deserts

sand mining
extraction of sand from marine environments

sand sheet
flat, wavy plots of sand surfaced by grains that may be too large for saltation

San Rafael reef sandstone
San Rafael reef sandstone
G. Thomas
May 7, 2006
Wikipedia San Rafael reef
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Navajo_Sandstone#/media/
File:SanRafaelReefUT.jpg
public domain
sandstone
sedimentary rock composed of sand-size grains of mineral, rock, or organic material

sanitary sewer
a pipe that carries wastewater from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants or institutions

Sargassum
brown algae with leafy segments, air bladders or spore-bearing structures

sauropod
a very large plant-eating quadruped dinosaur with a long neck and tail, small head and massive limbs

sea
a water body smaller than an ocean but larger than a lake

sea breeze
wind blowing from a large body of water toward land due to air pressure differences created by different heat capacities of water and dry land

seamount
a large ocean mountain that does not rise above the sea surface

scablands
flat elevated land scarred by channels of glacial or fluvioglacial origin and with poor soil and little vegetation, especially in the Columbia Plateau of Washington State

schist
coarse-grained metamorphic rock which consists of layers of different minerals and can be split into thin irregular plates

science
the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment

scientific method
an empirical method of acquiring knowledge involving careful observation, applying rigorous skepticism about what is observed, formulating hypotheses via induction, based on such observations, experimental and measurement-based testing of deductions drawn from the hypotheses, and refinement or elimination of the hypotheses based on the experimental findings

Seasons
Earth Rocks!
Feb. 9, 2015
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX3Y5bzNDiU
Embedded video, no copy made
scoria
a highly vesicular, dark colored volcanic rock that may or may not contain crystals

sea level
base level for measuring elevation and depth on Earth

season
each of the four divisions of the year, spring, summer, autumn and winter, marked by particular weather patterns and daylight hours, resulting from the Earth's orbital position

seawall
a wall that prevents the sea from eroding land

Secchi depth
a measure of water transparency

secondary treatment
second stage in wastewater treatment that removes organic and inorganic substances and may involve chlorine disinfection

What is the study of Earth`s physical structure and substance, its history, and the processes that act on it?
second-foot
a continuous flow of one cubic foot of water per second

section
one of the 36 subdivisions of a township of one square mile of 640 acres

sediment
any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water or other liquid

sedimentary
relating to solid particles or rocks deposited in bodies of water

Selenium
Periodic Table of Videos
Jul. 16, 2008
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHrUtKjcAFE
Embedded video, no copy made
sedimentation tanks
wastewater tanks from which floating solids are removed

seepage
slow movement or loss of water through cracks, pores, canals, ditches or reservoirs

seismic
relating to earthquakes or other vibrations of the Earth and its crust

seismograph
a device that records of seismic waves caused by an earthquake

selenite
a form of gypsum occurring as transparent crystals, sometimes in thin plates

selenium
a photosensitive element that occurs in crystalline and amorphous forms, obtained as a by-product in copper refining, used in glass, semiconductor devices and alloys

Serpentinite from Golden Gate Recreation Area
Serpentinite from Golden Gate Recreation Area
E. Zimbres
Jun. 30, 2010
Wikipedia serpentinite
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Serpentinite#/media/
File:Serpentinite.JPG
CC BY-SA 3.0
self-propelled traveler system
a large single water gun mounted on a trailer or cart that projects water through a single nozzle up to 200 feet

self-supplied water
water obtained from a private well

septic tank
a tank used to hold domestic water wastes

serpentinite
a metamorphic rock that is mostly composed of ultramific rocks that have undergone hydrous alteration

service area right
the right of a city, town, private water company or irrigation district within an active management area to withdraw and deliver groundwater to customers

service connection
the physical connection between a municipal water system and its customer

settling pond
an open lagoon that stores waste water and allows contaminants to sink

sewage
untreated wastes from toilets, baths, sinks, laundries and other plumbing fixtures in places of human habitation, employment or recreation

sewage treatment plant
a facility that eliminates many pollutants from wastewater

sewer
an underground pipe system that transports wastewater to treatment facilities

What are the 4 forests in the Four Forest Restoration Initiative?
shadescale
a small shrub with woody, thorny branches and leaves with a whitish, scale-like coating

shale
soft, finely stratified sedimentary rock that formed from consolidated mud or clay and can be split easily into fragile slabs

shield
a large area of exposed Precambrian crystalline igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks that form tectonically stable areas

Silver
Periodic Table of Videos
Nov. 26, 2009
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPd5qAb4J50
Embedded video, no copy made
shoal
a natural submerged ridge, bank or bar consisting of sand or other loose material rising from a body of water near the surface

siderite
a mineral composed of ferrous carbonate

silage
grass or other green fodder compacted and stored in airtight conditions, typically in a silo, without first being dried, and used as animal feed in the winter

silicate
a salt in which the anion contains both silicon and oxygen, especially one of the anion SiO42-

silt
fine sand, clay, or other material carried by running water and deposited as a sediment

siltation
process of blocking something with sand or soil

silver
a malleable, polishable, metallic chemical element, has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance, used in jewelry, tableware, electronics, and as an antimicrobial

Sinkholes Appearing in Popular AZ Tourist Areas
ABC15 Arizona
Aug. 11, 2010
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfO2RHD42D4
Embedded video, no copy made
sinkhole
depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer

siphon
a tube used to move water from a reservoir

slate
a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism

sleet
precipitation consisting of ice pellets, often mixed with rain or snow

slot canyon
a long, narrow canyon channel with vertical sedimentary rock walls

slough
an area of soft muddy ground

sludge volume index (SVI)
a number accounting for 30-minute settleability test result and the activated sludge mixed liquor suspended solids test result that describes the ability of the sludge to settle and compact

Digital soils survey map of the Patagonia Mountains
Digital soils survey map of the Patagonia Mountains
L. Norman et al.
Jun. 30, 2010
USGS
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/0324/images/scs_soil.jpg
public domain
slug test
aquifer test where water is quickly added or removed from a groundwater well and the change in hydraulic head is monitored through time

slump
created when a mass of loosely consolidated materials or a rock layer moves a short distance down a slope

small community water system
a community water system that annually serves 1,850 acre-feet or less of water to customers

small municipal provider
a municipal provider within an active management area that serves 250 acre-feet or less of water for non-irrigation purposes

smectite
hydrous aluminum silicates containing iron and magnesium as well as either sodium or calcium

snow
ice crystal precipitation

snowpack
a compressed and hardened snow mass

snow water equivalent (SWE)
amount of water contained in snowpack that would theoretically appear if the snow were melted

soda
sodium carbonate, especially as a natural mineral or as an industrial chemical

sodium
a silver-white, soft, waxy, ductile, chemically-active element that occurs abundantly in nature

sodium bisulfate
an acid salt formed by partial neutralization of sulfuric acid by an equivalent of sodium base, (NaHSO4)

Soil profile with bedrock
Soil profile with bedrock
Wilsonbiggs
Dec. 23, 2021
Wikipedia bedrock
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Bedrock#/media/
File:Soil_Horizons.svg
CC BY-SA 4.0
soil
upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown material typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay, and rock particles

soil-aquifer treatment
use of the physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of the soil and the aquifer to provide treatment of water introduced into the groundwater system

soil moisture
the water stored in soil

soil profile
vertical succession of horizons, commonly lettered A, B, C, beginning at the surface, that have been subjected to soil-forming processes, including leaching and oxidation

sol
a collection of very fine particles dispersed in a medium in which the particles are solid and the dispersion medium is fluid

solastalgia
form of emotional or existential distress caused by environmental change

solids retention time (SRT)
the time the solid fraction of the wastewater spends in a treatment unit

solstice
occurs when the Sun appears to reach its most northerly, around June 21, or southerly, around December 21, positions relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere

soluble
able to be dissolved, especially in water

solute
substance dissolved into another substance

solution
a liquid mixture in which the minor component referred to as the solute is uniformly distributed within the major component referred to as the solvent

The Mesozoic era is known as?
solvent
a substance able to dissolve other substances

Southerly international Boundary (SIB)
located across the land border near San Luis, Arizona and including water below the Morales Dam

Southern Hemisphere
the half of the Earth south of the equator

Water in Hoover Dam's spillway during the 1983 floods
Water in Hoover Dam's spillway during the 1983 floods
Bureau of Reclamation
Jul. 1983
Wikipedia spillway
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Spillway#/media/
File:Hoover_Dam_and_Arizona
_Spillway,_1983.jpg
public domain
South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ)
a west-northwest to east-southeast aligned trough extending from the west Pacific warm pool southeastwards towards French Polynesia

specific heat
the amount of energy required to change the temperature of a substance

specific humidity
ratio of the mass of water vapor to the total mass of the air parcel

specific storage
a measure of the amount of water a confined aquifer will give up for a certain change in head

specific yield
a measure of the amount of water an unconfined aquifer will give up when completely drained

spectrum
the range of colors observed when white light was dispersed through a prism

speleothem
a mineral deposit formed in a cave

spillwater
water other than Colorado River water released for beneficial use from storage, diversion, or distribution facilities to avoid spilling that would otherwise occur due to uncontrolled surface water

spillway
a structure that allows water to flow directly into the river or other body of water below a dam, bypassing all tunnels, turbines and generators

spirit level
an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal or vertical

sporozoan
parasitic spore-forming protozoan of the phylum or class Sporozoa

spray irrigation
high-pressure water applied to crops

spring
natural flow of water from the ground or from rocks, representing an outlet for the water that has accumulated in permeable rock strata underground

spring tide
a tide just after a new or full moon, when there is the greatest difference between high and low water

Stalactites at Timpanogos Cave
Stalactites at Timpanogos Cave
National Park Service
Oct. 16, 2019
Timpagonos Cave: Captivating Canyon Caves
https://www.nps.gov/tica/index.htm
public domain
sprinkler system
a pressure-driven, spraying irrigation water system that sprays water in the air above the crop canopy or below the crop canopy to mimic precipitation

stabilization lagoon
a treatment facility consisting of shallow man-made basins comprising a single or several series of anaerobic, facultative or maturation ponds operated without aeration and allowing suspended solids to settle, the soluble organic matter is reduced through the coordinated activity of algae and heterotrophic bacteria

stage
water level above a designated point

stalactite
a tapering structure hanging from the roof of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water

stalagmite
a mound or tapering column rising from the floor of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water and often uniting with a stalactite

steam
water in a gas state

state demonstration project
a project for the storage of excess CAP water in an underground storage facility

stibnite
a soft grey material that is the most important source for the metalloid antimony

stockpond
a storage area for storing water for watering for livestock and wildlife

Stope in Bisbee's Copper Queen mine
Stope in Bisbee's Copper Queen mine
D. Meeks
Sep. 18, 2022
Image taken by and used with
permission of the author
stoma
minute pores in the epidermis of the leaf or stem of a plant, forming a slit of variable width which allows movement of gases in and out of the intercellular spaces

stope
an excavation in a mine working or quarry in the form of a step or notch

storage capacity
maximum volume of water that can be stored by a reservoir

storage facility
a groundwater savings facility

stored water
water stored underground for later use per an underground water storage, savings and replenishment permit

storm sewer
sewer that transports surface runoff

Strahler stream order
system used to define stream size based on a hierarchy of tributaries

strait
a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water

strata
layers of sedimentary rock or soil, or igneous rock that was formed at the Earth's surface, with internally consistent characteristics that distinguish it from other layers

stratigraphy
branch of geology concerned with the order and relative position of strata and their relationship to the geological time scale

stratocumulus
cloud forming a low layer of clumped or broken gray masses

Space shuttle Endeavour between the stratosphere and the mesosphere
Space shuttle Endeavour between
the stratosphere and the mesosphere
NASA/Expedition Crew 22
Feb. 9, 2010
Wikipedia stratosphere
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Mesosphere#/media/
File:Endeavour_silhouette
_STS-130.jpg
public domain
stratosphere
Earth's second atmospheric layer, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere and composed of stratified temperature layers

stratovolcano
a volcano built up of alternate layers of lava and ash

stratus
cloud forming a continuous horizontal gray sheet, often with rain or snow

stream
a flowing body of water

streamflow
water discharge in a natural channel

strike-slip fault
the fault surface is nearly vertical and the footwall moves left or right with very little vertical motion

strong force
binds quarks together to form protons and neutrons

structural deficit
having an insufficient water supply due to miscalculation by past water managers and politicians

subaerial
existing, occurring, or formed in the open air or on the earth's surface, not underwater or underground

subaerial erosion
refer to the processes of weathering and mass movement

subaqueous
existing, formed or taking place in or under water

sub-basin
an area that encloses a distinct body of groundwater

subbing
the process of filling the furrows with water for 7 to 10 days to facilitate uniform germination and early season crop development

subdivision
land divided for the purpose of sale or lease into six or more lots or parcels

subduction
occurs at convergent tectonic plate boundaries where a denser plate moves under a less dense plate

subflow
underground water, usually found bordering on a stream, considered to be part of the surface stream and subject to the same laws and rules as other types of surface water

subglacial
situated or occurring underneath a glacier or ice sheet

Subsidence in Cochise County
Subsidence in Cochise County
D. Galloway et al./USGS
1999
Land Subsidence in the United States, Circular 1182
https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1999/1182/report.pdf
public domain
sublimation
transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase, without passing through the intermediate liquid phase

submarine canyon
a steep-sided valley cut into the seabed of the continental slope

submarine river
a river-like current on the seabed

sub-regional
non-metropolitan wastewater reclamation facilities operated by Pima County, including Arivaca Junction, Avra Valley, Corona de Tucson, Green Valley, Mount Lemmon, and Pima County Fairgrounds

subsidence
the downward movement or sinking of Earth's surface caused by removal of underlying support

subsoil
the soil lying immediately under the surface soil

substratum
an underlying layer of rock or soil beneath the ground

subtropical desert
found along the Tropic of Cancer between 15oN and 30oN of the equator or along the Tropic of Capricorn between 15oN and 30oS of the equator

sulfate
a salt of sulfuric acid, containing the anion SO42-

sulfide
mineral in which metals are bonded to sulfur

Sulfur
Periodic Table of Videos
Oct. 20, 2008
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGMR72X8V-U
Embedded video, no copy made
sulfur
a yellow combustible non-metal element with atomic number 16

sulfur dioxide
a colorless pungent toxic gas formed by burning sulfur in air

sulfur hexafluoride
inorganic, colorless, odorless, non-flammable, and non-toxic potent and persistent greenhouse gas

sulfuric acid
a strong acid made by oxidizing solutions of sulfur dioxide

sulfuryl fluoride
a colorless, odorless greenhouse gas

sunny day flood
shallow flood resulting from higher sea level, wash over roads and into storm drains during high tide

supercontinent
the assembly of most or all of Earth's continents into a single large landmass

supercritical fluid
substance at a temperature and pressure above its critical point, where distinct liquid and gas phases do not exist, but below the pressure required to compress it into a solid

Superfund site
a contaminated site that requires cleanup, falling under the 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)

supernatum
the top level of a fluid at rest

superposition
geologic principle stating that oldest strata will lie at the bottom of an undeformed rock sequence and newer material will lie on the surface

A water strider floats due to surface tension
A water strider floats due to surface tension
PD
Aug. 26, 2006
Wikipedia surface tension
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Surface_tension#/media/
File:WaterstriderEnWiki.jpg
CC BY-SA 3.0
supraglacial moraine
created by debris on top of a glacier

surface tension
when the surface of a liquid resists breaking by objects placed on it

surface water
water on Earth's surface, including streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs

surface weather analysis
a type of weather map that provides a view of weather elements over a geographical area at a specified time based ground-based weather station data

suspended solids
small solid particles which remain in suspension in water as a colloid or due to motion of the water

sustainability
avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance

swale
a broad, shallow ditch lined with grass, vegetation or rocks used to collect and move water and prevent flooding, puddling and erosion

swamp
an area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects

sward
upper layer of soil, especially when covered with grass

syenite
a coarse-grained gray igneous rock composed mainly of feldspar and hornblende

synclinal
relating to a folded rock structure in which the sides dip toward a common line or plane

Syncline in Navajo sandstone, upheaval dome, Canyonlands National Park
Syncline in Navajo sandstone, upheaval dome,
Canyonlands National Park
J. Sutby
Jan. 23, 2009
Wikipedia syncline
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Syncline#/media/
File:Upheaval_Syncline_campsite.jpg
public domain
syncline
a trough or fold of stratified rock in which the strata slope upward from the axis

synoptic scale
a horizontal length scale of the order of 1000 kilometers (620 miles) or more

system conservation
allows users to voluntarily not use water that would have been used and leave it in Lake Mead or Lake Powell to provide conservation volumes

T

tailings
water slurry of fine-grained, mineral-filled wastewater from a mine or mill

tail water
refers to waters located immediately downstream from a hydraulic structure, such as a dam, bridge or culvert.

tarn
a small mountain lake

tectonic estuary
occurs where Earth's tectonic plates run into or fold up underneath each other, creating depressions

temperate glacier
a glacier in which liquid water coexists with glacier ice during part or even all of the year

What is the study of the order and relative position of strata and their relationship to the geological time scale?
temperature
degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object

terawatt hour (TWh)
a unit of energy equal to one trillion watt hours

terminal moraine
ridge of loose debris deposited at the bottom of a glacier

terrace
a step-like landform

Thallium
Periodic Table of Videos
Sep. 7, 2021
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SVhSZ-rfLM
Embedded video, no copy made
territorial seas
coastal ocean waters subject to the jurisdiction of a coastal nation and extending up to 12 nautical miles from shore

Tertiary
relating to or denoting the first period of the Cenozoic era, between the Cretaceous and Quaternary periods, and comprising the Paleogene and Neogene subperiods

tertiary treatment
wastewater treatment beyond the secondary or biological stage that includes the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus and a high percentage of suspended solids

thallium
a soft poisonous metallic element that physically resembles lead, occurs sparsely in a number of common ores, used in the form of compounds especially in photosensitive devices

thermal hydrolysis
a wastewater treatment process that uses heat and high pressure to break down organic waste

thermal pollution
usually caused by heat released from industrial or power generation processes

thermal radiation
process by which energy, in the form of electromagnetic radiation, is emitted by a heated surface

thermodormancy
seed sensitivity to heat or cold

Spring and neap tides
Spring and neap tides
R. Vooren and P. Van den Keybus
Oct. 6, 2009
Wikipedia tides
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Tide#/media/
File:Tide_schematic.svg
public domain
thermodynamics
the branch of science that deals with the relations between heat and other forms of energy

thermoelectric use
water used to generate electric power

thermohaline
relating to the effects of temperature and salinity

thermosiphon
a device that passively moves heat from the ground to the air

thermosphere
Earth's second atmospheric layer, above the mesosphere and below the exosphere, layer where ultraviolet radiation causes molecular photodissociation, creating ions, constitutes a large part of the ionosphere

threatened species
any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range

thrust faulting
a break in the Earth's crust, across which older rocks are pushed above younger rocks

thymine
one of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acids of DNA

tidal bore
a large wave caused by the funneling of a flood tide as it enters a long, narrow, shallow inlet

tidal wave
an exceptionally large ocean wave, especially one caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption

tide
the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon, the Sun, and the rotation of the Earth

tide station
a device that enables sea water to enter a well that measures the water height

tidewater glacier
a glacier that ends in a body of water influenced by tides, such as the ocean or a large lake

titanothere
an extinct herbivorous hoofed mammal of the family Brontotheriidae of the Eocene and Oligocene epochs

1928 Utah topographical map
1928 Utah topographical map
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/indexes/
txu-pclmaps-topo-ut_az-index-1928.jpg
public domain
topography
detailed description or representation on a map of the natural and artificial features of an area

tornado
a large storm that forms over land as a tall, rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm base to the ground

total dissolved solids (TDS)
describe the inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter present in solution in water

total Kjedahl nitrogen
a method for determining the amount of nitrogen contained in organic substances plus the nitrogen contained in the inorganic compounds ammonia and ammonium

total maximum daily load (TMDL)
a regulatory term in the U.S. Clean Water Act, describing a plan for restoring impaired waters that identifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards

total suspended solids (TSS)
refers to waterborne particles larger than 2 microns in size

tourmaline
crystalline boron silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium

township
a survey unit that represents a piece of land bounded on the east and west by meridians approximately 6 miles apart

trachyte
an igneous volcanic rock with an aphanitic to porphyritic texture

traditionally navigable water (TNW)
those waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and/or are presently used, or have been used in the past, or may be susceptible for use to transport interstate or foreign commerce

transform fault
occurs when two tectonic plates move past each other

transgression
landward migration of a shoreline, flooding of previously dry land due to sea level rise or subduction

transient flow
a flow field in which the flow velocity at any given point changes with time

transient non-community water system (TNCWS)
a public water system that provides water in a place such as a gas station or campground where people do not remain for long periods of time

translucent
allowing some light to pass through

transmissibility
capacity of rock to transport water under pressure

transmissivity
rate at which water is transmitted through whole thickness and unit width of an aquifer under a unit hydraulic gradient

transpiration
exhalation of water vapor through the stomata of a plant or leaf

transverse valley
valley which cuts at right angles across a ridge or, in mountainous terrain a valley that generally runs at right angles to the line of the main mountain chain or crest

Travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Travertine terraces at
Mammoth Hot Springs,
Yellowstone National Park
F. Schulenburg
May 2, 2016
Wikipedia travertine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Travertine#/media/File:
Mammoth_Terraces.jpg
CC BY-SA 4.0
travertine
a white, tan, cream or rust-colored fibrous or concentric limestone mineral deposited by mineral hot springs

treatment
a process that changes the quality of water by physical, chemical, or biological means

trench
long, narrow depressions on the seafloor that form at the boundary of tectonic plates where one plate is pushed beneath another

Triassic
the earliest period of the Mesozoic era, spans 50.6 million years from the end of the Permian Period 251.9 million years ago, to the beginning of the Jurassic Period 201.3 million years ago

tributary
a stream which does not reach a static body of water such as a lake or ocean, but joins another river

trichloroethylene (TCE)
a colorless liquid with a chloroform-like odor

trichlorofluoromethane
a colorless, sweetish-smelling liquid that boils around room temperature becoming an ozone-depleting greenhouse gas

trifluoromethane
a colorless nonflammable greenhouse gas

trihalomethane (THM)
derivatives of methane, such as chloroform, that have three halogen atoms per molecule and can be formed during the chlorination of drinking water

Trilobite, a specimen of Cummingella belisama, order Proetida, family Proetidae, 18 mm long
Trilobite, a specimen of Cummingella belisama,
order Proetida, family Proetidae, 18 mm long
Dwergenpaartje
Dec. 31, 2012
Wikipedia trilobite
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilobite#/
media/File:Cummingella_belisama_dorsal_CRF.jpg
CC BY-SA 3.0
trilobite
an extinct fossil arthropod recognized by its distinctive three-lobed and three-segmented form

trioxygen
another name for ozone

triple point
temperature and pressure at which solid, liquid, and vapor phases of a pure substance exist in equilibrium

tropical cyclone
a localized, intense low-pressure wind system, forming over tropical oceans and with winds of hurricane force

Tropic of Cancer
the parallel of latitude 23o26' north of the equator where the Sun reaches its greatest northern declination

Tropic of Capricorn
the parallel of latitude 23o26' south of the equator where the Sun reaches its greatest southern declination

troposphere
Earth's lowest atmospheric layer, contains of 75% of the mass of Earth's atmosphere, 99% of the total mass of water vapor and aerosols, where most weather phenomena occur

trough
an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure

tsunami
a series of waves caused by the displacement of a large body of water

tuff
a light, porous rock formed by consolidation of volcanic ash

tule
a large bulrush abundant in marshy areas of California

Siberian tundra
Siberian tundra
A. Hugentobler
Aug. 5, 2000
Wikipedia tundra
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Tundra#/media/
File:Tundra_in_Siberia.jpg
CC BY 2.0 de
tundra
a vast, flat, treeless Arctic region of Europe, Asia and North America in which the subsoil is permanently frozen

turbidity
the quality of being cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter

turf acres
area of land watered with a permanent water supply and planted with plants other than those listed in ADWR's Low Water Use/Drought Tolerant Plant List

turf-related facility
a golf course, school, park, cemetery or other location that uses 5 or more acres of water

type 1 non-irrigation grandfathered right
a non-irrigation grandfathered right associated with retired irrigated land in an active management area, allows the rightholder to withdraw or receiveno more than 3 acre-feet of groundwater per acre per year for non-irrigation use, may not be transferred to another location

type 2 non-irrigation grandfathered right
a non-irrigation grandfathered right issued in an active management area based on groundwater non-irrigation uses from 1975 to 1979, equal the maximum amount of groundwater withdrawn and used for non-irrigation purposes in any one of the five years before June 12, 1980, may be transferred to new locations within the same active management area

typhoon
a tropical storm in the region of the northwestern Pacific ocean

U

When are the solstices?
ultrafiltration (UF)
pressure-driven barrier to suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, endotoxins and other pathogens to produce water with very high purity and low silt density

unconfined aquifer
an aquifer which has a water table forming its upper boundary

unconformable contact
occurs between two geological units in which the older, underlying rocks dip at an angle different from the younger, overlying strata, usually in which younger sediments rest upon the eroded surface of tilted or folded older rocks

unconformity
geologic gaps in rock formations characterized by missing rock layers where the upper layers are usually much younger than the lower layers

underflow
downstream flow of water through permeable deposits underlying a stream

underground storage
recharge of the groundwater anticipating eventual recovery from the aquifer, in Arizona involves establishing an account with ADWR for tracking short- or long-term storage credits

underground storage facility (USF)
a location to recharge water through shallow constructed infiltration basins, a river or stream bed used as infiltration medium or an injection well

uniformitarianism
the theory that changes in the earth's crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes

universal solvent
describes water which is capable of dissolving more substances than any other liquid

unmet demand
occurs when groundwater can no longer be pumped from a well at the modeled rate due to aquifer depletion

unplanned water reuse
refers to situations in which a source of water is mostly previously used, treated, reclaimed municipal wastewater, occurs, for example, when a community gets its water supply from a river that receives water from upstream treated wastewater discharges

unreplenished groundwater withdrawal
groundwater that is legally withdrawn without requirement to artificially replace that water back into the aquifer and is not offset by incidental recharge

unsaturated zone
zone below the land surface where both water and air coexist

untreated water
water that has not been treated and cannot be used in potable water distribution systems

updraft
upward air movement

Uranium
Periodic Table of Videos
Aug. 25, 2008
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8vVZTvJNGk
Embedded video, no copy made
upland
an area of high or hilly land

uplifting
vertical elevation of the Earth's surface in response to natural causes

upper mantle
a thick layer of rock in Earth which begins just beneath the crust at about 10 km under the oceans and about 35 km under the continents and ends at the top of the lower mantle at 670 km

uranium
the chemical element of atomic number 92, a dense gray radioactive metal used as a fuel in nuclear reactors

urban heat island
created when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings and other heat-retaining surfaces

urbanization
concentration of human populations into towns and cities

urease bacteria
found naturally in soil by secreting charged molecules that interact with calcium to form a kind of natural glue

urban flood
refers to flooding that occurs when rainfall, rather than a body of water, exceeds stormwater drain capacity, usually in densely populated areas

Urban heat islands
Urban heat islands
V. Masson, A. Lemonsu, J. Hidalgo, & J. Voogt
Jan. 1, 2020
Wikipedia urban heat island
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Urban_heat_island#/media/
File:Urban_heat_island_variation.jpg
CC BY 4.0
urban heat island (UHI)
an urban area or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities

use value of water
agricultural production, household and industrial uses, recreational enjoyment of reservoirs, streams, lakes, springs, and ecosystems support

V

vadose
relating to underground water above the water table

valley glacier
a glacier that flows for all or most of its length within the walls of a mountain valley, also called an alpine glacier or a mountain glacier

vapor
substance in a gaseous state

veiki moraine
forms irregular land surfaces of ponds and plateaus

verdure
lush green vegetation

Water cycle
Vermiculite
Andel
Jul. 25, 2005
Wikipedia vermiculite
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Vermiculite#/media/File:
VermiculiteUSGOV.jpg
public domain
vermiculite
a hydrous phyllosilicate mineral that expands when heated

vertebrate
an animal with a backbone

vesicular
refers to rock pitted with many cavities or small holes where gas was trapped during cooling

virus
an infectious microbe consisting of a DNA or RNA segment surrounded by a protein coat, must infect cells to make copies of itself

viscous
refers to the measure of resistance of a fluid to deformation under stress

viticulture
cultivation and harvesting of grapes

vlei
a marshy depression in which water collects in the wet season

volatile
a substance that easily evaporates at room temperatures

volatile organic compounds (VOC)
organic chemicals that evaporate at room temperature

What is the study of weather?
volcanic bomb
a mass of molten rock larger than 64 millimeters in diameter, formed when a volcano ejects viscous fragments of lava during an eruption

volcanic island
an island created from volcanic eruptions

volcanism
relating to volcanic activity

volcano
a conical mountain or hill having a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor and gas erupted from Earth's crust

W

What metal is liquid at room temperature?
wadi
the bed or valley of a stream in regions of southwestern Asia and northern Africa that is usually dry except during the rainy season and that often forms an oasis

Walther's Law
sedimentary environments that were side-by-side will end up overlapping each other over time due to transgressions and regressions

waste activated sludge (WAS)
the excess quantity of microorganisms that must be removed from a process to keep the biological system in balance

waste doctrine
takes effect when a water user could utilize water more efficiently but fails to do so, causing the user to forfeit part of that water

What are Earth`s four geologic eons?
wastewater
water discharged after an industrial or municipal use, excluding effluent

wastewater treatment return flow
water returned to a water body from a wastewater treatment plant

water
a transparent, tasteless, odorless, nearly colorless inorganic compound with the chemical formula H2O, the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms

Earth's water budget
JPLraw
Dec. 8, 2022
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oKYXKKf28g
Embedded video, no copy made
water adequacy program
a regulatory program that requires developers to disclose the adequacy of a water supply to potential buyers

water balance
states that the inflows to a water system are equal to its outflows plus change in storage

water banking
refers to storage of water underground in natural aquifers for future use

water bankruptcy
occurs when water demand exceeds water supply

water budget
used to quantify the flow of water in and out of a system accounting of all water stored and exchanged on the land, rivers and lakes and subsurface, aquifer, groundwater and atmosphere, precipitation and evaporation

water conveyance efficiency (WCE)
the volume of water that reaches the farm relative to that diverted from the source

water cycle
describes where water is located and how it moves below and on Earth's surface and through the atmosphere

Water cycle
Water cycle
J. Evans & H. Perlman
Jun. 22, 2019
Wikipedia water cycle
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Water_cycle#/media/
File:Watercyclesummary.jpg
public domain
water duty
amount of water that is reasonable to apply to irrigated land to produce crops based on location, soil, consumptive use, evaporation and seepage

water equity
occurs when all communities have access to safe, clean, affordable drinking water and wastewater services, participate in community water-related decision-making processes related to water and share in the economic, social and environmental benefits of water systems

water harvesting
process of intercepting stormwater from a surface, such as a roof, parking area, or land surface, and putting it to beneficial use

water-intensive landscaped area
any area of land that is not planted with ADWR's Low Water Use/Drought Tolerant Plant list

waterpocket
refers to the potholes that dot sandstone and fill with rainwater

water quality
the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water based on usage standards

water reclamation
also known as water recycling or water reuse, reclaims water from a variety of sources then treats and reuses it for agriculture and irrigation, potable water supplies, groundwater replenishment, industrial processes and environmental restoration

water recycling
also known as water reclamation or water reuse

The Cenozoic era is known as?
water resources acquisition fees (WRAF)
fees paid by new developments for their proportionate share of the costs associated with making water supplies available

water reuse
also known as water reclamation or water recycling

water rights transfer
legally recognized and enforceable permanent or leased change of a water right to enhance ecosystem function

Another name for deuterium oxide is?
water self-sufficiency
using water produced only from local groundwater and other local sources and maintaining a resilient system to meet water demands

watershed
drainage basin area contributing water to a network of stream channels, a lake or other areas where water can collect

water storage gap
the difference between the amount of water storage needed and the amount of natural and human-made water storage

water stress
occurs when water demand exceeds available amount during a certain period or when poor quality restricts its use

water table
the level below which the ground is saturated with water

Unweathered rock on the left and weathered rock on the right in Ordovician limestone at State College Park
Unweathered rock on the left and
weathered rock on the right in
Ordovician limestone at State College Park
Jstuby
Aug. 8, 2009
Wikipedia weathering
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Weathering#/media/
File:Weathering_Limestone
_State_College_PA.jpg
public domain
water use efficiency (WUE)
the ratio of water used in plant metabolism to water lost by the plant through transpiration

water vapor
a greenhouse gas, water in a vaporous form especially when below boiling temperature and diffused

water year
12-month period beginning on October 1 and ending on September 30

weak force
responsible for particle decay that changes one particle into a different particle

weather
current state of the atmosphere at a place and time characterized by wind, humidity, temperature, cloud cover and precipitation

weathering
the breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface, by the action of rainwater, extremes of temperature, and biological or chemical activity

Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen process
a process of ice crystal growth that occurs in mixed phase clouds

well
a human-made hole from which water can be extracted, usually by pumping

Western Hemisphere
the half of Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian at Greenwich, London, England and east of the 180th meridian

wetland
a distinct ecosystem that is wet all year

wet system
refers to pipework allowing rainwater to flow from a roof into a rainwater tank, after a downpour water is retained in the pipes

The Gulf of Corryvreckan whirlpool in Scotland is the third-largest whirlpool in the world
The Gulf of Corryvreckan whirlpool in
Scotland is the third-largest
whirlpool in the world
W. Baxler
May 4, 2011
Wikipedia whirlpool
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Whirlpool#/media/
File:The_Corryvreckan_Whirlpool_
-_geograph-2404815-by-Walter-Baxter.jpg
CC BY-SA 2.0
wet water
water legally and practically available for use

wheeled water
water transferred between two agencies, one uses its system infrastructure to treat and convey water that is owned by the receiving agency

wheel-move system
a lateral line that is designed for use on rectangular or square fields and low-growing crops

whirlpool
a body of rotating water produced by currents moving in different directions or currents encountering obstacles

white smoker
a hydrothermal vent that emits light material such as barium, calcium and silicon

wind chill index
index that combines the effect of the air temperature with wind speed

window
a structure formed by erosion or normal faulting on a thrust system where the hanging wall block has been transported by movement along a thrust

32-wind rose compass with traditional names
32-wind rose compass with traditional names
Walrasiad and Fred the Oyster
Oct. 7, 2014
Wikipedia compass rose
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Compass_rose#/media/File:
Roman_12-wind_rose.svg
CC BY-SA 4.0
wind rose
a chart showing the relative frequency of wind directions at a place

withdrawal
water removed from the ground

X

xeriscaping
landscaping requiring little or no irrigation

Y

w

yield
mass per unit time per unit area

Z

zinc
a bluish-white, ductile metallic element when pure and heated, brittle at ordinary temperatures, an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals, used especially in alloys and as a protective coating in galvanizing iron and steel

Zinc
Periodic Table of Videos
Sep. 29, 2008
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99wPiMb-k0o
Embedded video, no copy made
zoogenic
produced by or originating in animals

zoonosis
a disease which can be transmitted to humans from animals

zoonotic
relating to diseases that can be transferred from animals

zooplankton
plankton consisting of small animals and the immature stages of larger animals

 
[*] Some of the Glossary section materials posted in this site originally posted at the Science → Glossary section of Journalism 455/555 Environmental Journalism and John Wesley Powell, 1834-1902, http://denisemeeks.com/journalism/jour_555/powell/ by this author


 
Units

ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO PQR STU VWX YZ

A

AF
acre-foot, volume of water covering an acre to a depth of one foot, equal to 43,560 cubic feet or 325,851 gallons

B

C

CCF
100 cubic feet or 748 gallons, typical measure of metering for water delivery volumes for residential and commercial customers

D

E

F

G

GPCD
gallons per capita per day

GW
gigawatt, a unit of electric power equal to one billion watts

GWh
gigawatt hour, a unit of energy representing one billion watt hours

H

I

J

K

L

M

MG
million gallons

MGD
million gallons per day

mld
megaliters per day

Mm3
million cubic meters

MW
megawatt, a unit of electric power equal to one million watts

N

O

P

PJ
petajoule, a unit of energy equal to one million billion joules

ppb
parts per billion

ppm
parts per million

ppt
parts per trillion

Q

R

S

T

TWh
terawatt hour, a unit of energy equal to one trillion watt hours

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

 
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Denise Meeks, dmeeks@arizona.edu