ExpertGlossary terms starting with A

3,515 terms

  1. Air handler In a forced air heating system this is the "box" containing the fan that circulates the air.
  2. Air Infiltration Measurement A building energy auditing technique used to determine and/or locate air leaks in a building shell or envelope.
  3. Air Mass A body of air covering a relatively wide area and exhibiting horizontally uniform properties.
  4. Air Mass Thunderstorm Generally, a thunderstorm not associated with a front or other type of synoptic-scale forcing mechanism.
  5. Air pollutant Any substance in the air which could, if in high enough concentration, harm humans, other animals, vegetation, or material.
  6. Air Pollution The presence of contaminants in the air in concentrations that prevent the normal dispersive ability of the air, and that interfere with biological…
  7. Air Pollution Control The use of devices to limit or prevent the release of pollution into the atmosphere.
  8. Air Pollution Potential The meteorological potential for air pollution problems, considered without regard to the presence or absence of actual pollution sources.
  9. air portable Denotes materiel that is suitable for transport by an aircraft loaded internally or externally, with no more than minor dismantling and reassembling…
  10. Air Pressure Specifically the air pressure of the tires. Changing the air pressure in the tires is a way to alter the setup and handling of a NASCAR race car.
  11. Air quality Measure of the health-related and visual characteristics of the air to which the general public and the environment are exposed.
  12. Air Quality Control Region (AQCR) An interstate or intrastate area designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the attainment and maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality…
  13. Air Quality Maintenance Area Specific populated area where air quality is a problem for one or more pollutants.
  14. Air Quality Model Mathematical or conceptual model used to estimate present or future air quality.
  15. Air Quality Standards The prescribed level of pollutants allowed in outside or indoor air as established by legislation.
  16. Air Register The component of a combustion device that regulates the amount of air entering the combustion chamber.
  17. Air release valve A valve, usually manually operated, which is used to release air from a pipe or fitting.
  18. Air Retarder/Barrier A material or structural element that inhibits air flow into and out of a building's envelope or shell.
  19. Air Rights Lots Air right lots are established by real property tax administration to reflect a party's right to construct an improvement above an existing area of land…
  20. Air slaking The process of breaking up or sloughing when an indurated soil is exposed to air.
  21. air sounding Measuring atmospheric phenomena or determining atmospheric conditions, especially by means of apparatus carried by balloons, rockets, or satellites.
  22. Air Space The area between the layers of glazing (panes) of a window.
  23. Air Stagnation A meteorological situation in which there is a major buildup of air pollution in the atmosphere.
  24. Air Stagnation Advisory This National Weather Service product is issued when major buildups of air pollution, smoke, dust, or industrial gases are expected near the ground for a…
  25. Air Surveillance The systematic observation of airspace by electronic, visual, or other means, primarily for the purpose of identifying and determining the movements of…
  26. Air temperature Air temperature (Also termed surface temperature in meteorology). The ambient temperature indicated by a thermometer exposed to the air but sheltered from…
  27. air terminal In grounding systems, the lightning rod or conductor placed on or above a building, structure, or external conductors for the purpose of intercepting…
  28. Air Toxin Toxic air pollutant.
  29. Air Transportable Mobile Unit A modularized transportable unit containing communications and observational equipment necessary to support a meteorologist preparing on-site forecasts at…
  30. Air Vent A pipe designed to provide air to the outlet conduit to reduce turbulence and prevent negative pressures during release of water.
  31. Air waves Air borne vibrations caused by explosions.
  32. Air-breathing A flying vehicle that uses the oxygen in the atmosphere as the oxidizer in its propulsion system. Examples are jet aircraft and cruise missiles.
  33. air-floating head Synonym floating head.
  34. air-ground radiotelephone service A radio service in which common carriers are authorized to offer and provide radio telecommunications service for hire to subscribers in aircraft. [47CFR]
  35. air-ground worldwide communications system A worldwide military network of ground stations that (a) provides two-way communications links between aircraft and ground stations for navigation and…
  36. Air-Source Heat Pump A type of heat pump that transfers heat from outdoor air to indoor air during the heating season, and works in reverse during the cooling season.
  37. Air-space ratio Ratio of volume of water that can be drained from a saturated soil or rock under the action of force of gravity to total volume of voids.
  38. air-spaced coaxial cable A coaxial cable in which air is the primary dielectric (insulator) between the inner and outer conductors.
  39. Air-to-Air Heat Pump see Air-Source Heat Pump.
  40. Air-to-Water Heat Pump A type of heat pump that transfers heat in outdoor air to water for space or water heating.
  41. Air-void ratio The ratio of the volume of airspace to the total volume of voids in a soil mass.
  42. Airborne Optional Adjunct (AOA) A test program to place an infrared (IR) sensor in an aircraft. (Superseded by Airborne Surveillance Testbed (AST).)
  43. airborne radio relay Airborne equipment used to relay radio transmission from selected originating transmitters. [JP1] 2.
  44. Airborne Snow Survey Program Center (NOHRSC) program that makes airborne snow water equivalent and soil moisture measurements over large areas of the country that are subject to…
  45. Airborne Snow Water Equivalent Measurement Theory A theory based on the fact that natural terrestrial gamma radiation is emitted from the potassium, uranium, and thorium radioisotopes in the upper eight…
  46. Airborne Surveillance Testbed (AST) A Boeing 767 aircraft with a large infrared sensor designed to address optical sensor issues.
  47. Airborne transmission In this type of transmission, infective agents are spread as aerosols, and usually enter a person through the respiratory tract.
  48. aircraft Earth station A mobile Earth station in the aeronautical mobile-satellite service located on board an aircraft. [NTIA] [RR]
  49. aircraft emergency frequency An international aeronautical emergency frequency, such as 121.5 MHz (civil) and 243.
  50. aircraft station A mobile station in the aeronautical mobile service, other than a survival craft station, located on board an aircraft. [RR]
  51. airdrome control station An aeronautical station providing communication between an airdrome control tower and aircraft. [NTIA] Synonym airport control station.
  52. AIRFA American Indian Religious Freedom Act.
  53. airlift fermenter A cylindrical fermentation vessel in which the cells are mixed by air introduced at the base of the vessel and that rises through the column of culture…
  54. Airlock Entry A building architectural element (vestibule) with two airtight doors that reduces the amount of air infiltration and exfiltration when the exterior most…
  55. AIRMET Airman's Meteorological advisory (WA)
  56. AIRMS Airborne Infrared Measurement System
  57. airport control station Synonym airdrome control station.
  58. AIRREQSUP Air Request Support (JFACC term).
  59. AIRS Atmospheric Infrared Sounder
  60. Airspace Control in the Combat Zone A process used to increase combat effectiveness by promoting safe, efficient and flexible use of airspace.
  61. Airspace Control Plan The document approved by the joint force commander that provides specific planning guidance and procedures for the airspace control system for the joint…
  62. AIRSUPREQ Air Support Request (JFACC term).
  63. Airtight Drywall Approach (ADA) A building construction technique used to create a continuous air retarder that uses the drywall, gaskets, and caulking.
  64. AIS automated information system
  65. AISC American Institute of Steel Construction.
  66. AIST Advanced Interceptor and Systems Technology.
  67. AIT Advanced Interceptor Technologies.
  68. AIT (Advanced Intelligent Tape) "Advanced Intelligent Tape", a high-speed, high-capacitymagnetic tape data storage format developed and controlledby Sony.
  69. AIV Aviation Impact Variables
  70. AJ Antijam .
  71. AJAX Asynchronous JavaScript and XML is a technique which allows a web page to request additional data from a server without requiring a new page to load.
  72. AJCC staging system (... STAY-jing SIS-tem) A system developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer for describing the extent of cancer in a patient's body.
  73. AJPO Ada Joint Program Office.
  74. AJTBP Augmented Joint Theater Battle Picture.
  75. aka also known as.
  76. AL Acquisition Logistician.
  77. Alagille syndrome A rare inherited liver disorder seen in infants and young children. The disease is characterized by a buildup of bile in the liver due to a deficiency or…
  78. alanine aminopeptidase An enzyme that is used as a biomarker to detect damage to the kidneys, and that may be used to help diagnose certain kidney disorders.
  79. alanine transferase An enzyme found in the liver and other tissues. A high level of alanine transferase released into the blood may be a sign of liver damage, cancer, or…
  80. alanosine A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites. Also called SDX-102.
  81. alarm Alert, Locate, and Report Missiles.
  82. alarm center A location that receives local and remote alarms. Note: An alarm center is usually in a technical control facility.
  83. alarm event An instantaneous occurrence that changes at least one of the attributes of the alarm status of an object.
  84. alarm indication signal (AIS) A signal transmitted in lieu of the normal signal to maintain transmission continuity and to indicate to the receiving equipment that there is a…
  85. alarm indicator A device that responds to a signal from an alarm sensor. Note: Examples of alarm indicators include bells, lamps, horns, gongs, and buzzers.
  86. alarm sensor In communications systems, any device that (a) can sense an abnormal condition within the system and provide a signal indicating the presence or nature of…
  87. alarm status A set of attributes that describes the alarms currently defined for an object, for example, perceived severity, alarm state, etc.
  88. alarm surveillance A set of functions that enables the monitoring or interrogation (or both) of the telecommunications network concerning alarm-related events or conditions.
  89. ALAS Advanced Liquid Axial Stage.
  90. Alaska Current A North Pacific Ocean current flowing counterclockwise in the Gulf of Alaska. It is the northward flowing (warm) division of the Aleutian Current
  91. ALB Albuquerque Projects Office (Albuquerque, NM).
  92. ALBCS Airborne Laser Beam Control System.
  93. Albedo The ratio of light reflected by a surface to the light falling on it.
  94. Albedo (effects) The fraction of solar radiation reflected by a surface or object, often expressed as a percentage.
  95. Alberta Clipper A fast moving low pressure system that moves southeast out of Canadian Province of Alberta (southwest Canada) through the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes…
  96. Alberta Low Alberta Low A low centered on the eastern slope of the Canadian Rockies in the province of Alberta, Canada.
  97. albinism (AL-bye-niz-em) A group of genetic conditions marked by little or none of the pigment melanin in the skin, hair, and/or eyes.
  98. albino 1. An organism lacking pigmentation, due to genetic factors. The condition is albinism 2. A conspicuous plastid mutant involving loss of chlorophyll.
  99. Albumin (al-BYOO-min) A type of protein found in blood, egg white, milk, and other substances.
  100. Albuminuria The presence of simple protein in the urine, sometimes indicative of kidney disease.