Chem 317 Glossary
Since we have a great diversity of students in this course I cannot assume a common knowledge base so this is an incomplete,
possibly erroneous, collection of maybe unfamiliar and confusing terms used in the course, dredged from various sources.
The definitions are in an organic environmental context only e.g. poison has three meanings, only one relevant to us. It
excludes most atmospheric and inorganic terms though (301/302 stuff), most speciality waste water terms, and many
geographic/limnology/hydrology terms (EESC courses). This is a work in progress. Input is welcome. Also, it has some
opinions – one must have opinions on the environment. (If MicroSoft’s Encarta dictionary can give you a feminist rant on the
incorrect meaning of minx, then I can rant in a glossary.). Italics denote a cross-reference (mostly complete).
abatement. Reducing the degree of, or eliminating,
pollution. See remediation.
abiotic: Not pertaining to biota. A euphemism for a
straightforward chemical process as opposed to a biological
process See biotic.
absorbtion: No such word, but if it did exist it would
describe the describe the entry of a liquid into a porous
solid via the capillary effect (wicking), or a gas into a porous
solid via a sorption process. See absorption and adsorption.
absorption: Absorption is the incorporation of a substance
in one state into another of a different state. Usually used to
refer to partitioning between solids and liquids, solids or
liquids and gases. This is a physical bulk process.
absorption (Spectroscopy):
activated carbon. (aka charcoal) A highly adsorbent form
of carbon used to remove odors and toxic substances from
liquid or gaseous emissions. In waste treatment, it is used to
remove dissolved organic matter from wastewater. It is also
used in motor vehicle evaporative control systems.
activity. The thermodynamic concentration. This is the
correct term to use in equilibrium constants. Due to intermolecular effects the chemical concentration may not be the
same as the activity. Especially true of ionic solutions.
acute exposure. A single exposure to a toxic substance that
results in severe biological harm or death. Acute exposures
are usually characterized as lasting no longer than a day.
acute toxicity. The ability of a substance to cause
poisonous effects resulting in severe biological harm or
death soon after a single exposure or dose; also, any severe
poisonous effect resulting from a single short-term
exposure to a toxic substance. See also chronic toxicity,
toxicity
adsorption. Adhesion of molecules of gas, liquid, or
dissolved solids to a surface.
aerobic: Refers to an environment in which oxygen is
readily available. See anaerobic.
aerosol: A suspension of small liquid or solid particles in
gas
algal blooms. Sudden spurts of phytoplankton growth that
can affect water quality adversely and that indicate
potentially hazardous changes in local water chemistry.
Maybe caused by phosphate fertilizers of phosphate. Can be
followed by eutrophication.
ammonification: Oxidation of the organically bound
nitrogen of dead biomass into ammonium (NH 4 +).
anaerobic: Not requiring oxygen; used in reference to
decomposition processes that occur in the absence of
oxygen. Such processes often exploit sulphur, and are thus
smelly. See aerobic.
anthropocentric world view: This considers humans as
being more worthy than other species and uniquely
disconnected from nature. The importance and worth of
everything is considered in terms of the implications for
human welfare. Compare with biocentric world view and
ecocentric world view. See biota.
anthropogenic: Of, or pertaining to human activity. All
pollution is anthropogenic by definition.
apolar (species): A compound having no polar bonds, or
only weak ones. Typically hydrocarbons. They are
characterised by low boiling points and low solubility in
water. See non-polar.
aquifer. An underground geological formation, or group of
formations, containing usable amounts of groundwater that
can supply wells and springs.
aspect: The direction in which a slope faces.
benthic organism (benthos). A form of aquatic plant or
animal life found on or near the bottom of a stream, lake, or
ocean.
bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation is the accumulation of
organic chemicals (often anthropogenic) in an organism. It
occurs when an organism absorbs the substance at a rate
greater than it is lost, thus accumulating. The longer the
biological or the chemical half-life of the substance the
greater the accumulation and the greater the risk of chronic
poisoning (assuming the material is toxic). The chemical
thus occurs in much higher concentrations in the organism
than in the ambient environment. This can occur even if
environmental levels of the toxin are small. Note that this
refers to a process within an organism c.f. biomagnification,
food-web magnification.
bioaccumulative. Substances that umm, bioaccumulate.
bioamplification: A synonym with biomagnification.
bioavailable: A molecule is bioavailable when it can cross
an organism’s cellular membrane from the environmen, if
the organism has access to the chemical. This implies the
molecule is lipophilic and that it is not bound to something
else e.g. sediments.
biocentric world view: This considers all species (and
individuals) as having equal intrinsic value. Humans are
not considered more important or worthy than any other
species. Compare with anthropocentric world view and
ecocentric world view.
bioconcentration: Bioconcentration is a specific kind of
bioaccumulation. It refers to the uptake and accumulation
of a substance from water alone. By contrast,
bioaccumulation refers to uptake from all sources
combined (e.g. water, food, air, etc.)
biodegradable. The ability to break down or decompose
rapidly under natural conditions and processes. i.e. through
the metabolic actions of microorganisms.
biological oxygen demand (BOD): A measure of the
amount of oxygen consumed in the biological processes that
break down organic matter in water. The greater the BOD,
the greater the degree of pollution. Sometimes qualified by a
number (of days) so BOD5 is the amount of dissolved
oxygen so consumed in five days.
biomagnification: This is the increase in concentration of a
substance, usually a pollutant, that occurs in a food chain.
Species high up the trophic levels get larger doses than in
the environment when they eat species that have
bioaccumulated a pollutant. This can occur across several
tropic levels and of course hits predators the most. See
bioaccumulation.
biome: A geographically extensive ecosystem, occurring
throughout the world wherever environmental conditions
are suitable.
biosphere: All life on Earth, plus their ecosystems and
environments (usually excludes the stratosphere). The bit
of the planet we are worried about screwing up because it
had edible stuff in it.
biota: All the bugs and critters etc. (i.e. organic matter with
a reproductive capability) in the environment. Excludes
humans, they are generally considered parasites on the
biota.
biotic: Of, or pertaining to biota. See abiotic.
bipolar (species): A confusing adjective for a molecule with
two regions containing polar bonds. E.g. amino acids (the
amino and carboxylic acid groups). Chemists call them
amphoteric, although it could me multiple sites. Best
avoided.
birth control: Methods used to control fertility and
childbirth. A very efficient way of reducing the carbon
footprint.
BOD: See biological oxygen demand.
bog: An infertile, acidic, unproductive wetland that
develops in cool but wet climates. Compare with fen, marsh,
swamp.
boreal forest (or taiga): An extensive biome occurring in
environments with cold winters, short but warm growing
seasons, and moist soils, and usually dominated by
coniferous trees.
Box Model: Box models are simplified versions of complex
systems. The model consists of boxes (reservoirs linked by
sinks and sources) linked by fluxes (aka conveyers). The
boxes are assumed to be well mixed. That is the
concentration of any chemical species is uniform
throughout. However, the abundance of a species within a
given box may vary with time due to flow in (form a source
or conveyer) and out of the box (to a sink or via a conveyer)
or chemical reactions within the box. Simple box models
assume constant volume and flow and are used to derive
parameters such as steady state concentrations and
residence times within the box. Basically it’s a bunch of
coupled differential equations.
broad-spectrum pesticide: A pesticide that is toxic to
other organisms as well as the pest.
BTEX: An acronym that stands for benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene, and xylenes. These compounds are found in
petroleum derivatives such as petrol. They are notorious for
contamination of soil and groundwater wherever gasoline is
stored or produced.
buffering capacity: The ability of a solution to resist
changes in pH as acid or base is added.
carnivore (or secondary consumer): An animal that hunts
and eats other animals. They are at the top of the food
chain, and hence tend to be susceptible to biomagnification.
charge Density: The amount of charge per unit volume.
Small ions with high charges thus have high charge
densities e.g. Al3+. See polarisable and electron density.
charge: Simply the charge on a species. It will always be
integral. See electron density and partial charge.
chemical potential: Very simply the free energy per mole
of a chemical. If a species has a different chemical potential
at two point the species will transport (usually diffuse) until
the two chemical potentials are equal (i.e. at equilibrium).
Note that this does not necessarily mean the species have
the same concentration. There are many factors.
chlorinated hydrocarbons. A class of organic compounds
that contain chlorine. It includes of persistent, broadspectrum insecticides that accumulate in the food chain.,
and some significant global warming gasses.
chronic toxicity. The capacity of a substance to cause
long-term human health effects. See acute toxicity
climate: The prevailing, long-term, meteorological
conditions of a place or region, including temperature,
precipitation, wind speed, and other factors. Compare with
weather.
coarse woody debris: Logs lying on the forest floor. As
opposed to fluffy cuddly standing trees.
coefficient: A number placed in front of an algebraic term.
Often a scaling factor. It may or may not be a constant.
conservation: Wise use of natural resources, i.e. making
sure you don’t run out. More formally - ensuring that
harvesting rate does not exceed the regeneration rate of the
stock. See steady state.
constant: A number placed in front of an algebraic term.
Often a scaling factor. It will be fixed for given
circumstances. See coefficient.
contaminant. An unwanted material present in a wanted
material. Its presence has negative consequences. This is a
general term appropriated in environmental science to
mean: any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological
substance or matter that has an adverse affect on air, water,
or soil. Or, the presence of potentially damaging chemicals
in the environment, but at concentrations less than those
required to cause toxicity or other ecological damages.
Compare with pollution. I would be careful using this term.
creek: Small stream. Usually flowing into a river or lake. See
stream, river, tributary.
critical load: A threshold for pollutant inputs, below which
it is thought ecological damages will not be caused.
cultural eutrophication: Eutrophication caused by
anthropogenic nutrient inputs, usually through sewage
dumping or fertilizer runoff. See also eutrophication.
crop dusting: the application of water insoluble
pesticides (mainly DDT) to plants by a low-flying plane.
Dipolar: A molecule with a dipole. See non-polar, apolar,
bipolar, and monopolar.
Dipole: Two joined but separated charges. Usually in the
form of partial charges on atoms joined by a bond. See
non-polar, apolar, bipolar, and monopolar.
Distribution Constant/ Coefficient: This is an equilibrium
constant therefore should not be call a coefficient. For this
course I will use distribution coefficient or constant to
denote the ratio of the concentrations of non-polar
species in the non-polar phase (usually octanol) to all the
pertinent species, ionic and neutral, in the aqueous phase.
DOM: Dissolved organic matter. See humic acids and NOM
dose-response relationship: The quantitative
relationship between different doses of a chemical and a
biological or ecological response.
drift: Movement of applied pesticide off the intended site of
deposition through atmospheric or aquatic transport.
dump. A site used to dispose of solid wastes without
environmental controls.
ecology: The study of the relationships between organisms
and their environment.
ecosystem: A dynamic complex of plant, animal and
microorganism communities and their non-living
environment all interacting as a functional unit. Good
enough for me except for the little problem of defining the
boundary of the system. Another good question to ask (see
sustainability) to establish how an environmental
discussion with someone might unfold.
ecotoxicology: Study of the directly poisonous effects of
chemicals in ecosystems, plus indirect effects such as
changes in habitat or food abundance caused by toxic
exposures. Compare with toxicology and environmental
toxicology.
effluent. Wastewater—treated or untreated— that flows
out of a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial outfall;
generally refers to wastes discharged into surface waters.
electron density: This refers to the density
(charge/volume) of electrons in a region. Positive partial
charges represent regions of (relative to the surrounding) of
depleted density of electrons. A negative partial charge
represents a region of increased electrons. Note that lone
pairs are considered regions of high electron density, but
these regions carry no charge in the sense defined here.
Regions with partial charges will interact via electrostatic
effects. Lone pairs interact with other electrons via the Pauli
Exclusion Principle (other electrons are excluded by
quantum mechanical, not electrostatic effects).
endocrine disruptors: Substances that stop the production
or block the transmission of hormones in the body. Often
organic additives or pesticides.
environment. The sum of all external conditions affecting
the life, development, and survival of an organism.
environmental citizenship: Actions taken by individuals
and families to lessen their impacts on the environment.
Usually the individuals suffer, as families have at least 10x
the environmental impact.
Environmental Science: The scientific study of the
environment. One can be an environmental scientist
without being an environmentalist.
environmentalist: In practice a well meaning person who
does excruciatingly boring things with dirty little pieces of
plastic in the name of saving charismatic megafauna. Science rarely has anything to do with it; a
characteristic of most political or social movements. In
theory, anyone with a significant involvement with
environmental issues, usually in an advocacy sense.
epilimnion: The epilimnion is the top-most layer in a
thermally stratified lake, occurring above the deeper
hypolimnion. It is warmer and typically has a higher pH and
higher temperature (and of course lower density) than the
hypolimnion. See thermocline.
estuary: A coastal, semi-enclosed ecosystem that is open
to the sea and has habitats transitional between marine and
freshwater conditions. See wetland.
eutrophication. The slow aging process during which a
lake, estuary, or bay evolves into a bog or marsh and
eventually disappears. Human activities can accelerate the
process by accidental introduction of fertilizers.
extirpated (or extirpation): A condition in which a species
or other taxon no longer occurs in some place or region, but
still survives elsewhere. Not really relevant here. I just like
the word.
fen: A wetland that develops in cool and wet climates, but is
less acidic and more productive than a bog because it has a
better nutrient supply. Compare with bog, marsh, and
swamp.
fertilizer. Materials such as nitrogen and phosphorus that
provide nutrients for plants. Commercially sold fertilizers
may contain other chemicals or may be in the form of
processed sewage sludge.
flux: A movement of mass or energy between
compartments of a material or energy cycle. Comes up in
box-modelling.
food chain. A sequence of organisms each of which uses
the next lower member in the chain as a food source, or if
you prefer something more pithy: a hierarchical model of
feeding relationships among species in an ecosystem.
food web: A complex model of feeding relationships,
describing the connections among all food chains (tropic
levels) within an ecosystem.
fugacity: Another confusing term. In chemical
thermodynamics it refers to a term describing the nonideality of a gas. It has units of pressure. It refers to the gas’s
escaping effect – c.f. fugitive. In environmental chemistry it
makes sense: it describes (quantitatively) the tendency of a
gas to leave (escape) a solid or liquid.
fugitive emissions. Emissions not caught by a capture
(remediation) system.
fulvic Acids: See Humic Acids. Another principle organic
component of soil but is soluble in acid (pH<1) solution.
fungicide: A pesticide used to protect crop plants and
animals from fungi that cause diseases or other damages.
Gaia hypothesis: A notion that envisions Earth’s species
and ecosystems as a “superorganism” that attempts to
optimize environmental conditions toward enhancing its
own health and survival. Not quite as whacky as it seems,
but unproven and very controversial.
geography: Study of the features of the surface of the Earth,
including topography, landforms, soil, climate, and
vegetation, as well as the intersections of these with the
economic interests of humans, which is the bit that moves it
into Arts..
glacier: A persistent sheet of ice, occurring in the Arctic and
Antarctic and at “high altitude” on mountains. My italics.
This came from the web. Have they never been to Canada?
groundwater drainage: The drainage of water to storage
places in the ground, occurring under the influence of
gravity.
groundwater. The supply of fresh water found beneath the
Earth’s surface (usually in aquifers), which is often used for
supplying well.
half-life. 1. The time required for a pollutant to lose half
its effect on the environment. For example, the half-life of
DDT in the environment is 15 years and that of radium is
1,580 years. 2. The time required for half of the atoms of a
radioactive element to undergo decay. 3. The time required
for the elimination of half of a total dose from the body.
hazardous waste: Wastes that are flammable, explosive,
toxic, or otherwise dangerous. See also toxic waste.
herbicide: A pesticide used to control or kill weeds. See also
weed.
herbivore (or primary consumer): An animal that feeds
on plants.
holding pond. A pond or reservoir, usually made of earth,
built to store polluted runoff or waste.
humic Acids: One of the principal organic components of
soil (humus), peat and coal extracted by treatment with
alkali. Not soluble in acid (pH<1) solution. It’s found in
streams and lakes – it’s the brown tea color. It is produced
by biodegradation of dead organic matter. It plays an
important role in the environment, particularly metal
chelation. See fulvic acids and humin.
humin: See Humic Acids. This is the third principal organic
component of soils. It’s not soluble in alkali.
humus: Amorphous, partially decomposed organic matter.
An important and persistent type of soil organic matter, it is
very important in soil tilth and fertility.
hypolimnion: The layer of water in a thermally stratified
lake that lies below the epilimnion. It is non-circulating (no
turnover, or mixing), and colder (and of course denser)
than the epilimnion. See thermocline.
hypoxia: The depletion of dissolved oxygen in water.
Usually the result of contamination with excess or
nutrients, sewage or hot water (from power stations).
insecticide: A pesticide used to kill or control insects that
are considered pests (which to many people means all
insects except bees). See also. See herbicide, pesticide and
pest.
landscape: The spatial integration of ecological
communities over a large terrestrial area. Bear in mind that
landscape architecture means gardening.
leaching. The process by which soluble constituents (the
leachate) are dissolved and carried down through the soil by
a percolating fluid, usually rainwater.
LFER: Linear Free Energy Relationship. All equilibrium
process can be described by an equilibrium constant. The
log of that constant is a free energy. Free energies are
extensive so can be added – a linear mathematical
process. More commonly it’s used to describe some loglinear function (e.g. log Z = aB + c, where Z and B are some
thermodynamic property or process. However, this kind of
function is widely used to fit all sorts of relationships. See
QSAR.
Limnology. The study of the physical, chemical,
meteorological, and biological aspects of fresh water.
Log-log plots: These are plots where you plot the log of a
variable against the log of another variable and fit a straight
line. They are useful for visualizing sets of widely disparate
data, but log-log plots are nearly always linear with huge
error plots. They give semi-quantitative data at the best,
They rear their ugly head in QSAR and in LFER’s (the latter
are often semi-log plots though).
marsh: A productive wetland, typically dominated by
species of monocotyledonous angiosperm plants that grow
as tall as several meters above the water surface. I used to
have one but it fell off the mantelpiece. I think they means a
pond covered in bulrushes.
mitigation: An action that repairs or offsets environmental
damages to some degree. See remediation and abatement.
modeling. An investigative technique using a mathematical
or physical representation of a system or theory that
accounts for all or some of its known properties. Models are
often used to test the effect of changes in system
components on the overall performance of the system.
monopolar (species): A confusing adjective for a molecule
with only one polar bond or region. See polar and bipolar.
These molecules will still have a dipole moment!
montane forest: A conifer-dominated forest occurring
below the alpine zone on mountains. The higer reaches of
the Okanagan.
neutral (species): Species that does not carry a charge i.e. is
not an ion. See non-polar, apolar, bipolar, dipole, and
monopolar.
NOM: Natural organic matter. See DOM and POM
Nonpoint sources. Pollution sources that are diffuse and
do not have a single point of origin or are not introduced
into a receiving stream from a specific outlet. The pollutants
are generally carried off the land by storm-water runoff.
The commonly used categories for nonpoint sources are
agriculture, forestry, urban, mining, construction, dams
and channels, land disposal, and saltwater intrusion.
non-polar (species): Refers to species that are not ion and
have no or small partial charges. See non-polar, apolar,
dipole, bipolar, neutral and monopolar.
omnivore: An animal that feeds on both plant and animal
materials or other surface water; can carry pollutants from
the air and land into the receiving waters.
Organic: To us that’s compounds containing carbon and
hydrogen (and fluorine, see my lecture notes). To the public
it’s a corruption of the archaic definition. Originally organic
meant originating in life only. Now it means naturally
produced (not synthetic). The fact that sulfur and
ammonium phosphate contaminated with uranium, are
classified as organic seems not to confuse them. Not to be
confused with natural, which means not produced, but
harvested from the wild. Of course cholera is natural and
natural mosquito repellents are banned in Europe.
partial charge: A region with depleted or enhanced
electronic charge due to electronegativity effects causing a
bond dipole. See electron density, polar.
partition coefficient: This is an equilibrium constant
therefore should not be call a coefficient. For this course I
will use distribution coefficient to denote the ratio of the
concentrations of non-polar species in the non-polar
phase (usually octanol) to all the pertinent species, ionic
and neutral, in the aqueous phase.
pelagic species: Fish that live at or near the water's surface
(as opposed to bottom feeders who are especially
susceptible to pollution).
percolation. The movement of water downward and
radially through the subsurface soil layers, usually
continuing downward to the groundwater. Not to be
confused with diffusion.
permeability. The rate at which liquids pass through soil or
other materials in a specified direction. See percolation.
pesticide. Substance or mixture of substances intended for
preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest.
persistence: The time it takes chemicals, especially
pesticides, to be degraded in the environment by
microorganisms or physical agents such as sunlight and
heat. Inverse of stability.
pest: Any organism judged to be significantly interfering
with some human purpose. See anthrocentric.
pesticide: A material intended for preventing, destroying
(most commonly), repelling, or mitigating any pest. See also
pest, fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide.
plume. Visible or measurable discharge of a contaminant
from a given point of origin. Often refers to smoke, but can
be in water or soil.
point source. A stationary location or fixed facility from
which pollutants are discharged or emitted; any single
identifiable source of pollution, e.g., a pipe, sewer outfall,
ditch, ship, ore pit, or smokestack.
poison: a material that can or is capable of causing death or
illness if taken into an organism. See toxin.
polar (species): Strictly just having poles. In chemistry it
means a compound whose molecules have regions with
close but two distinct partial (i.e. a dipole) or whole charges
(the latter being an ion). See partial charge, electron density,
dipole, non-polar and neutral.
pollutant. Matter or energy (hot water can kill fish), of
anthropogenic origin, whose nature, location, or quantity
produces undesired environmental effects.
pollution: Unwanted harmful materials introduced into the
environment as a result of human activity. Note that ozone,
nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, have natural and
anthropogenic contributions. Methane is entirely natural,
but its introduction into the atmosphere has an
anthropogenic component. See contamination and
anthropogenic.
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): A group of persistent
chemicals used in transformers and capacitators for
insulating purposes, and in gas pipeline systems as a
lubricant.
POM: Particulate organic matter (I imagine this means the
organic part of dust excluding skin, which is what most
indoor dust is). Airborne NOM’s
ppb (part per billion): A unit of concentration, equivalent
to one microgram per kilogram (mg/kg), or in aqueous
solution, 1 mg per litre (mg/L).
ppm (part per million): A unit of concentration,
equivalent to 1 mg per kilogram (mg/kg), or in aqueous
solution, 1 mg per liter (mg/L).
precautionary principle: An approach to environmental
management, which essentially states that scientific
uncertainty is not a sufficient reason to postpone control
measures when there is a threat of harm to human health or
the environment. i.e. is not evidence based, which can
quickly degenerate into opinion based, followed by hysteria.
Way to go!
prevailing wind: Wind that blows in a dominant direction.
Often west to east in the northern hemisphere. The major
carrier of airborne pollution.
QSAR: Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships. LFERs
are examples of these. Widely used in the pharmaceutical
industry. Not always quantitative so is sometimes
abbreviated to SAR.
reclaimation: The process of returning damaged (usually
of anthropogenic origin) or otherwise unusable land to a
usable state. Sort of recycling, but often refers destruction of
wetlands for human use. Compare with restoration and
remediation.
remediation: Specific actions undertaken to deal with
particular problems of environmental quality, such as the
liming of acidic lakes and rivers to decrease their ecological
damage. Compare with restoration and reclamation.
restoration: The process of returning land to its original
state, prior to anthropogenic activity (usually). Often refers
to the restoration of wetlands that were previously
reclaimed. Compare with reclamation and remediation.
riparian: Located alongside a watercourse, typically a river.
run-off. That part of precipitation, snowmelt, or irrigation
water that runs off the land into streams and ultimately
reaches rivers, lakes or oceans.
secondary consumer: A carnivore that feeds on primary
consumers (or herbivores).
secondary pollutants: Pollutants that are not emitted, but
form in the environment by chemical reactions involving
emitted chemicals. See primary pollutants.
sedimentation: A process in which mass eroded from
elsewhere settles to the bottom of rivers, lakes, or an ocean.
sediments. Soil, sand, and minerals washed from land into
water, usually after rain or by streams.
sinks: Processes or places that remove or store gases,
solutes, or solids from the environment. As opposed to the
sources. An important component of Box Modelling.
soil: A complex mixture of fragmented rock, organic
matter, moisture, gases, and living organisms that covers
almost all of Earth’s terrestrial landscapes.
sorption: Sorption refers to the action of absorption or
adsorption.
source: Processes or places that produce gases, solutes or
solids and pass them into the environment. As opposed to
the sinks. An important component of Box Modelling.
stable: In thermodynamics this has a rigid meaning. In
environmental science it means resistant to hydrolysis,
oxidation, biodegradation, and photo-degradation. Such
compounds tend to be persistent.
stewardship: The extraordinarily arrogant notion that
humans have the right to manage the environment.
surface flow: Water that moves over the surface of the
ground.
surface water: Water that occurs in glaciers, lakes, ponds,
rivers, streams, and other surface bodies of water.
sustainability: A bizarre notion that you can continually
shift the equilibrium (i.e. still match sinks and sources) of
an ecosystem without it collapsing. That's fine as long as
you don't deplete the sources, block the sink, or assume the
system is not complex (i.e. is linear, not chaotic. In simple
chemical terms that means no phase transitions). The
official definition is “Capable of being maintained at a
steady level without exhausting natural resources or
causing severe environmental damage”. I just doubt it
works in practice with the human population we have.
Nevertheless, asking somebody to define it is a good way of
finding out what flavor of enviro-whacko you are dealing
with.
sustainable development: Progress toward an economic
system based on the use of natural resources in a manner
that does not deplete their stocks, nor compromise their
availability for use by future generations of humans. Umm!
yes progress toward equilibrium is usual, certainly better
than, but it’s perhaps better than rape and pillage, but
Venus and Mars are at equilibrium.
swamp: A forested wetland, flooded seasonally or
permanently.
taiga: See boreal forest.
temperate rainforest: A forest developing in a temperate
climate in which winters are mild and precipitation is
abundant year-round. Occurs in only three places left in
the world. The North West Pacific Coast, Tasmania and
New Zealand.
temperature inversion: usually accompanied by an
increase in pollution. See atmospheric inversion.
teratogen: A chemical or physical agent that induces a
developmental abnormality, such as a deformity, of a fetus.
thermocline: The boundary between the epilimnion and
hypolimnion in a thermally stratified lake.. There is a
discontinuity at the boundary in density, temperature,
sometimes pH, and the degree of circulation.
total suspended solids (TSS). A measure of the suspended
solids in wastewater, effluent, or water bodies.
toxic substance or toxin. A material may present an
unreasonable risk of injury to health to organisms. See
poison. (Note death is implied, but not required.)
toxic waste: Waste that is toxic to organisms. See also
hazardous waste.
toxicity. The degree of danger posed by a substance to
animal or plant life. See also acute toxicity; chronic toxicity.
toxicology: The science of the study of poisons and toxins,
including their chemical nature and their effects on the
physiology of organisms.
tundra: A treeless biome occurring in environments with
long, cold winters and short, cool growing seasons. (I think
it’s characterized by a moss cover, or east of the Rockies
would be tundra not prairie.)
watershed: An area of land from which surface water and
groundwater flow into a stream, river, or lake to the same
point.
weed: An unwanted plant that interferes with some human
purpose. See anthropocentric.
wetland: An ecosystem that develops in wet places i.e. that
is places regularly saturated by surface water or
groundwater, and is intermediate between aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems. It is thus characterized by vegetation
adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. See also bog,
fen, marsh, and swamp.
I was looking for some phrases relating to well known debating techniques, but found a whole feast of familiar, but
perhaps not fully appreciated “latinates” that may edify or entertain you: they are often used in science. I love doing
this with first years because they try to blindly memorize everything - this kind of thing confuses the hell out of them.
Oddly the (original) list does not contain, i.e., e.g. or c.f. even though it uses them, and a few others that may be Greek in
origin. I think I accidently edited out reducto ad nausem as well – used in math. Some details have been edited out for
brevity. Anyway there are a couple of debating tactics in here. Enjoy.
Latin
Translation
a posteriori
from the latter
a priori
from the former
ab absurdo
from the absurd
ab initio
from the beginning
ad hoc
to this
ad hominem
to the man
ad infinitum
to infinity
ad libitum
toward pleasure
(ad lib)
ad nauseam
to seasickness
ad absurdum
to the absurd
addendum
thing to be added
alter ego
another I
annus horribilis horrible year
Notes
Based on observation (i.e., empirical knowledge), the reverse of a priori.
Used in mathematics and logic to denote something that is known after a
proof has been carried out. In philosophy, used to denote something
known from experience.
Presupposed independent of experience, the reverse of a posteriori. Used
in mathematics and logic to denote something that is known or
postulated before a proof has been carried out. In philosophy, used to
denote something is supposed without empirical evidence. In everyday
speech, it denotes something occurring or being known before the event.
Said of an argument that seeks to prove a statement's validity by pointing
out the absurdity of an opponent's position (cf. appeal to ridicule) or that
an assertion is false because of its absurdity. Not to be confused with
a reductio ad absurdum, which is usually a valid logical argument.
In science, refers to the first principles..
Generally means "for this", in the sense of improvised on the spot, or
designed for only a specific, immediate purpose.
Or "at the man". Typically used in argumentum ad hominem, a logical
fallacy consisting of criticizing a person when the subject of debate is the
person's ideas or argument, on the mistaken assumption that the
soundness of an argument is dependent on the qualities of the
proponent.
Going on forever. Used to designate a property which repeats in all cases
in mathematical proof.
Ad lib is specifically often used when someone improvises or ignores
limitations.
Or "to the point of disgust". Sometimes used as a humorous alternative
to ad infinitum. An argumentum ad nauseam is a logical fallacy involving
basing one's argument on prolonged repetition, i.e., repeating something
so much that people are "sick of it". e.g. “Do the problem sets!”
In logic, to the point of being silly or nonsensical. See also reductio ad
absurdum. Not to be confused with ab absurdo (from the absurd).
An item to be added, especially a supplement to a book. The plural is
addenda.
Another self, a second persona or alias. Can be used to describe different
facets or identities of a single character, or different characters who seem
representations of the same personality. Often used of a fictional
character's secret identity. Sometimes I send mine in to lecture.
A recent pun on annus mirabilis, first used by Queen Elizabeth II to
describe what a bad year 1992 had been for her. Who knew?
aqua pura
aqua regia
aqua vitae
bona fide
ceteris paribus
circa (ca.)
de facto
de novo
emeritus
ergo
erratum
et cetera (etc.)
ex officio
ignis fatuus
in camera
in extremis
in flagrante
delicto
in memoriam
in situ
in toto
in utero
in vacuo
in vitro
pure water
royal water
Or "clear water", "clean water". Probably no the name of a bottled water.
Refers to a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid (dissolves gold).
"Spirit of Wine" in many English texts. Used to refer to various
water of life
native distilled beverages, such as whisky, gin, brandy, and akvavit.
In other words, "well-intentioned", or "fairly". In modern contexts,
in good faith
often has connotations of "genuinely" or "sincerely".
That is, disregarding or eliminating extraneous factors in a situation.
all other things being
Would be useful in thermo (& partials), but I’ve never seen it used that
equal
way - pity
around
In the sense of "approximately" or "about". Usually used of a date.
Said of something that is the actual state of affairs, in contrast to
something's legal or official standing, which is described as de jure. De
by deed
facto refers to the "way things really are" rather than what is "officially"
presented as the fact.
"Anew" or "afresh". In law, a trial de novo is a retrial. In biology, de novo
from the new
means newly synthesized, and a de novo mutation is a mutation that
neither parent possessed or transmitted.
Also "worn-out". Retired from office. Often used to denote a position
veteran
held at the point of retirement, as an honor, such as professor emeritus.
This does not necessarily mean that the honoree is no longer active.
Denotes a logical conclusion (cf. cogito ergo sum, “I think therefore I
therefore
am.”).
Or "mistake". Lists of errors in a previous edition of a work are often
error
marked with the plural, errata ("errors"). Alas a regular publication for
me.
and the rest
In modern usage, used to mean "and so on" or "and more".
By virtue of office or position; "by right of office". Often used when
from the office
someone holds one position by virtue of holding another: for example,
the President of France is an ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra.
foolish fire
Will-o'-the-wisp. See my section on calculus in 304.
in the chamber
In secret.
in the furthest reaches In extremity; in dire straits; also "at the point of death"
in a blazing wrong,
Caught in the act (esp. a crime or in a "compromising position");
equivalent to "caught red-handed" in English idiom (because they don’t
while the crime is
do that sort of thing).
blazing
Equivalent to "in the memory of". Refers to remembering or honoring a
into the memory
deceased person. c.f. memorandum – a reminder.
in the place
In the original place, appropriate position, or natural arrangement.
Totally; entirely; completely. One can imagine teenagers repeating this
in all
ad nauseam.
in the womb
in a void
In a vacuum; isolated from other things.
An experimental or process methodology performed in a "non-natural"
in glass
setting (e.g. in a laboratory using a glass test tube or Petri dish), and thus
outside of a living organism or cell.
ipso facto
in life" or "in a living
thing
by the fact itself
mea culpa
through my fault
in vivo
modus operandi
method of operating
(M.O.)
By, through, by means
per
of
per annum (pa.) per year
by heads
per capita
per diem (pd.)
by day
per se
through itself
prima facie
at first sight
pro forma
for form
pro rata
quod erat
demonstrandum
(Q.E.D.)
quod est (q.e.)
for the rate
re
status quo
sub poena
super fornicam
tabula rasa
terra firma
terra incognita
what was to be
demonstrated
An experiment or process performed on a living specimen.
By that very fact
Used in Christian prayers and confession to denote the inherently flawed
nature of mankind. Something to do with fess up?
Usually used to describe a criminal's methods.
See specific phrases below.
Thus, "yearly"—occurring every year.
"Per head", i.e., "per person", a ratio by the number of persons.
Thus, "per day". A specific amount of money an organization (except the
Senate) allows an individual to spend per day. Typically for food
expenses.
Also "by itself" or "in itself". Without referring to anything else,
intrinsically, taken without qualifications, etc. A common example
is negligence per se.
Used to designate evidence in a trial which is suggestive, but not
conclusive, of something (e.g., a person's guilt).
Or "as a matter of form". Prescribing a set form or procedure, or
performed in a set manner.
i.e., proportionately.
The abbreviation is often written at the bottom of a mathematical proof.
which is
More literally, "by the thing". It is a common misconception that the
"Re:" in correspondence is an abbreviation for regarding or reply; this is
not the case for traditional letters. However, when used in an e-mail
[in] the matter of
subject, there is evidence that it functions as an abbreviation of regarding
rather than the Latin word for thing. The use of Latin re, in the sense of
"about, concerning", is English usage. Oh! The joys of intra (or inter?)office emails.
The current condition or situation. Referring to the state of affairs prior
the situation in which
to some upsetting event (cf. reset button techniques).
Commonly rendered subpoena. Said of a request, usually by a court, that
under penalty
must be complied with on pain of punishment.
What Thomas More (who wrote Utopia) accused the reformer, Martin
on the lavatory
Luther, of doing when he went to celebrate Mass. Who knew Latin could
be so much fun.
Thus the term "blank slate". Romans used to write on wax-covered
wooden tablets, which were erased by scraping with the flat end of
scraped tablet
the stylus. John Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth
before it had acquired any knowledge (or, these days, after high school),.
solid land
Often used to refer to the ground.
unknown land
Seen on old maps (along with “Monsters be here”).
ultra vires
beyond powers
verbatim
versus (vs.)
veto
via
word for word
towards
I forbid
by the road
vice
in place of
vide
vide infra (v.i.)
vide supra (v.s.)
"see" or "refer to"
"see below"
"see above"
vox nihili
voice of nothing
vox populi
voice of the people
"Without authority". Used to describe an action done without proper
authority, or acting without the rules.
Refers to perfect transcription or quotation.
Literally "in the direction". Mistakenly used in English as "against".
The right to unilaterally stop a certain piece of legislation.
"by way of" or "by means of"; e.g. "I'll contact you via e-mail."
"one who acts in place of another"; can be used as a separate word, or as
a hyphenated prefix: "Vice President" and "Vice-Chancellor".
….. vice, v.i.
Or "see earlier in this writing". Also shortened to just supra.
Applied to a useless or ambiguous phrase or statement. Should be used
more often.
Short non-prearranged interview with an ordinary person (e.g. on the
street); sometimes shortened to "vox pop". Loved by news stations and
radio shows. Often used as a propaganda technique, and why the
Americans still execute people.