Climate Change terms starting with N

27 terms

Naphtha A generic term applied to a petroleum fraction with an approximate boiling range between 122 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Natural gas A hydrocarbon gas obtained from underground sources, often in association with petroleum and coal deposits.
Natural gas liquids (NGLs) Those hydrocarbons in natural gas that are separated as liquids from the gas. Includes natural gas plant liquids and lease condensate.
Near Real Time When referred to in textual references, the ARM conception of "near-real time" is "with a few hours delay."
near-surface soil heat flux A quantity measured near the surface of the soil, according to the formula B = λ(dT/dz), where λ is the conductivity of the soil that the heat or…
near-surface soil moisture flux A quantity measured near the surface of the soil, according to the formula B = λ(dq/dz), where λ is the conductivity of the soil that the heat or…
negative feedback the process by which an initial change brings about an additional change in the opposite direction.
net radiation The difference between upwelling and downwelling, covering longwave and shortwave radiation.
Net terrestrial radiation Net terrestrial radiation Difference between the downward and upward terrestrial radiation fluxes; net flux of terrestrial radiation.
Neutral Stability An atmospheric condition that exists in unsaturated air when the environmental lapse rate equals the dry adiabatic rate, or in saturated air when the…
Nimbostratus (abbrev. NS)- A cloud of the class characterized by a formless layer that is almost uniformly dark gray; a rain cloud of the layer type, of low altitude…
nitrogen A colorless, tasteless element that comprises four-fifths of the atmosphere by volume, denoted by N2.
Nitrogen cycle Cyclic movement of nitrogen in different chemical forms from the environment, to organisms, and then back to the environment.
Nitrogen fixation The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to biologically usable nitrates.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) The products of all combustion processes formed by the combination of nitrogen and oxygen.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O) A powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of 296 times that of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Nitrous Oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) A powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential most recently evaluated at 310.
non-linear a system that is not describable as the sum of its parts and, as a result, is difficult to predict.
Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOCs) Organic compounds, other than methane, that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions.
Non-point source Large land area such as crop fields and urban areas that discharge pollutant into surface and underground water over a large area. See point source.
Nonbiodegradable Substance that cannot be broken down in the environment by natural processess. See biodegradable.
Nonlinearities Occur when changes in one variable cause a more than proportionate impact on another variable.
North American High North American High The relatively weak general area of high pressure which, as shown on mean charts of sea-level pressure, covers most of North America…
North Atlantic Oscillation (Abbrev. NAO) - the NAO is a large-scale fluctuation in atmospheric pressure between the subtropical high pressure system located near the Azores in the…
North Slope of Alaska (NSA) site The third ARM research site, the NSA locale has is located in Barrow, Alaska. Its polar regions are predicted to undergo the largest warming in response…
Nuclear electric power Electricity generated by an electric power plant whose turbines are driven by steam generated in a reactor by heat from the fissioning of nuclear fuel.
Nuclear Energy Energy that comes from splitting atoms of radioactive materials, such as uranium, and which produces radioactive wastes.