Science terms starting with S

1,372 terms

  1. Snow Pellets Precipitation, usually of brief duration, consisting of crisp, white, opaque ice particles, round or conical in shape and about 2 to 5 mm in diameter.
  2. Snow Pillow An instrument used to measure snow water equivalents. Snow pillows typically have flat stainless steel surface areas.
  3. Snow Shower A snow shower is a short duration of moderate snowfall. Some accumulation is possible.
  4. Snow Squall A snow squall is an intense, but limited duration, period of moderate to heavy snowfall, accompanied by strong, gusty surface winds and possibly lightning…
  5. Snow Stake A 1-3/4 inch square, semi-permanent stake, marked in inch increments to measure snow depth.
  6. Snow Stick A portable rod used to measure snow depth.
  7. SNOw TELemetry (SNOTEL) An automated network of snowpack data collection sites. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly the Soil Conservation Service (SCS)…
  8. Snow Water Equivalent The water content obtained from melting accumulated snow.
  9. Snowboard A flat, solid, white material, such as painted plywood, approximately two feet square, which is laid on the ground, or snow surface by weather observers…
  10. Snowcover Also known as Snow Pack; the combined layers of snow and ice on the ground at any one time.
  11. Snowflake An agglomeration of snow crystals falling as a unit.
  12. Snowmelt Flooding Flooding caused primarily by the melting of snow.
  13. Snowpack The total snow and ice on the ground, including the new snow, the previous snow and ice which has not melted.
  14. Snowstorm Snowstorm Strong wind with snow.
  15. SNP The most common type of change in DNA (molecules inside cells that carry genetic information).
  16. SNR Signal-to-Noise Ratio
  17. snRNA See Small nuclear RNA.
  18. snRNP Abbreviation for small nuclear ribonucleoprotein.
  19. SNW Snowfall
  20. SNWFL Snowfall
  21. SO<sub>2</sub> See Sulfur dioxide
  22. Social disruption Social and psychological dislocation associated with the alteration or breakdown of social life in small rural communities that may occur as a result of…
  23. Social Science The branch of science that studies society and the relationships of individuals within a society.
  24. Social value (psychological value) Concept that the existence of wilderness provides a condition that could allow an individual to achieve control over stressful conditions, thus…
  25. Socioeconomic Relating to social or economic factors or to a combination of both social and economic factors.
  26. Socioeconomics The social and economic conditions in the study area.
  27. Sodic soil Contains sufficient exchangeable sodium to interfere with the growth of most crop plants.
  28. Sodicity The exchangeable-sodium content of the soil. High sodium content.
  29. sodium dodecyl sulphate (Abbreviation: SDS). A detergent used to solubilize protein and DNA from biological materials.
  30. sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Abbreviation: SDS-PAGE). A widely employed electrophoretic method for the separation of proteins from biological samples.
  31. Sodium Lights A type of high intensity discharge light that has the most lumens per watt of any light source.
  32. Soffit 1. The exposed underside of any architectural element, especially a roof. 2. The underside of a structural component such as a beam, arch, or recessed…
  33. softwood Generally, one of the botanical groups of trees that in most cases have needle-like or scale-like leaves; the conifers; also the wood produced by such…
  34. SOI The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) has been developed to monitor the Southern Oscillation using the difference between sea level pressures at Darwin…
  35. Soil Sediments or other unconsolidated accumulations of solid particles produced by the physical and chemical disintegration of rocks, and which may or may not…
  36. soil amelioration The improvement of poor soils. Includes the fungal and bacterial break down of plant organic matter, to form humus; the release of minerals - such as…
  37. Soil Carbon A major component of the terrestrial biosphere pool in the carbon cycle. The amount of carbon in the soil is a function of the historical vegetative cover…
  38. Soil cement A mixture of water, cement, and natural soil, usually processed in a tumble and mixed to a specific consistency, then placed in lifts and rolled to…
  39. Soil classification Systematic arrangement of soils into classes of one or more categories or levels of classification for a specific objective.
  40. Soil compaction Compression of the soil which results in reduced soil pore space (the spaces between soil particles), decreased movement of water and air into and within…
  41. Soil conservation Protection of soil against physical loss by erosion and chemical deterioration by the application of management and land-use methods that safeguard the…
  42. Soil conservation practices See minimal tillage practices.
  43. Soil Conservation Service The former name of a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture, renamed the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
  44. Soil Conservation Service (SCS) The Soil Conservation Service, now known as the NRCS (National Resources Conservation Services).
  45. Soil deposition A general term for the accumulation of sediments by either physical or chemical sedimentation.
  46. Soil horizon A layer of soil developed in response to localized chemical and physical processes resulting from the activities of soil organisms, the addition of…
  47. Soil horizon mixing Soil horizon mixing occurs when soil is disturbed by activities such as excavation.
  48. Soil Moisture Water stored in soils.
  49. Soil subsidence The lowering of the normal level of the ground, usually due to overpumping of water from wells.
  50. soil temperature The temperature measured near the surface of the soil.
  51. Soil-cement bedding A mixture of soil, portland cement, and water placed for pipe bedding.
  52. soil-less culture Growing plants in nutrient solution without soil. Synonym: hydroponics.
  53. Solar Access or Rights The legal issues related to protecting or ensuring access to sunlight to operate a solar energy system, or use solar energy for heating and cooling.
  54. Solar Air Heater A type of solar thermal system where air is heated in a collector and either transferred directly to the interior space or to a storage medium, such as a…
  55. Solar Altitude Angle The angle between a line from a point on the earth's surface to the center of the solar disc, and a line extending horizontally from the point.
  56. Solar Array A group of solar collectors or solar modules connected together.
  57. Solar Azimuth The angle between the sun's apparent position in the sky and true south, as measured on a horizontal plane.
  58. Solar Cell A solar photovoltaic device with a specified area.
  59. Solar Collector A device used to collect, absorb, and transfer solar energy to a working fluid.
  60. Solar collector array That portion of the solar energy facility containing components that track and capture sunlight and convert it to other useful forms of energy, typically…
  61. Solar Constant The average amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth's upper atmosphere on a surface perpendicular to the sun's rays; equal to 1353 Watts per…
  62. Solar Cooling The use of solar thermal energy or solar electricity to power a cooling appliance.
  63. Solar Coordinates In solar-terrestrial terms, Central Meridian Distance (CMD). The angular distance in solar longitude measured from the central meridian
  64. Solar Cycle An approximately 11-year pattern in the number of sunspots, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), solar flares, and other solar activity.
  65. Solar Declination The apparent angle of the sun north or south of the earth's equatorial plane. The earth's rotation on its axis causes a daily change in the declination.
  66. Solar Distillation The process of distilling (purifying) water using solar energy. Water can be placed in an air tight solar collector with a sloped glazing material, and as…
  67. Solar Eclipse The passing of the Moon between the Sun and Earth. In a total solar eclipse, the Moon blocks all light from the solar disk, allowing us to see the solar…
  68. Solar energy Electromagnetic energy transmitted from the sun (solar radiation). The amount that reaches the earth is equal to one billionth of total solar energy…
  69. Solar Energy Collector See solar collector.
  70. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) A national trade association of solar energy equipment manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, installers, and consultants.
  71. Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) A federally funded institute, created by the Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1974, that conducted research and development of…
  72. Solar energy technology Any engineered method for harnessing, storing, and using the Sun's energy.
  73. Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) Lands identified by the BLM as best-suited for large-scale production of solar energy.
  74. Solar Film A window glazing coating, usually tinted bronze or gray, used to reduce building cooling loads, glare, and fabric fading.
  75. Solar Flare An explosive release of electromagnetic radiation and huge quantities of charged particles from a small area of the solar surface.
  76. Solar Fraction The percentage of a building's seasonal energy requirements that can be met by a solar energy device(s) or system(s).
  77. Solar Furnace A device that achieves very high temperatures by the use of reflectors to focus and concentrate sunlight onto a small receiver.
  78. Solar Gain The amount of energy that a building absorbs due to solar energy striking its exterior and conducting to the interior or passing through windows and being…
  79. Solar Irradiation The amount of solar radiation, both direct and diffuse, received at any location.
  80. Solar Mass A term used for materials used to absorb and store solar energy.
  81. Solar Maximum The month(s) during the 11-year solar cycle when the number of Sunspots reaches a maximum.
  82. Solar Minimum The month(s) during the 11-year solar cycle when the number of Sunspots is lowest.
  83. Solar module See Photovoltaic (PV) module
  84. Solar Module (Panel) A solar photovoltaic device that produces a specified power output under defined test conditions, usually composed of groups of solar cells connected in…
  85. Solar Noon The time of the day, at a specific location, when the sun reaches its highest, apparent point in the sky; equal to true or due, geographic south.
  86. Solar One A solar thermal electric central receiver power plant ("power tower") located in Barstow, California, and completed in 1981.
  87. Solar Panel See Photovoltaic Module.
  88. Solar Pond A body of water that contains brackish (highly saline) water that forms layers of differing salinity (stratifies) that absorb and trap solar energy.
  89. Solar Power (or Energy) Use of sunlight, or solar energy, to heat and light buildings, generate electricity (using solar photovoltaic systems - PV cells/panels), heat hot water…
  90. Solar Power Satellite A solar power station investigated by NASA that entailed a satellite in geosynchronous orbit that would consist of a very large array of solar…
  91. Solar power tower See Power tower
  92. Solar Radiation A general term for the visible and near visible (ultraviolet and near-infrared) electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by the sun.
  93. Solar Sector Boundary (SSB) In solar-terrestrial terms, the apparent solar origin, or base, of the interplanetary sector boundary marked by the larger-scale polarity inversion lines.
  94. Solar Simulator An apparatus that replicates the solar spectrum, and used for testing solar energy conversion devices.
  95. Solar Space Heater A solar energy system designed to provide heat to individual rooms in a building.
  96. Solar Spectral Irradiance (SSI) The amount of radiant energy of a particular wavelength that falls on a surface in a given amount of time.
  97. Solar Spectrum The total distribution of electromagnetic radiation emanating from the sun. The different regions of the solar spectrum are described by their wavelength…
  98. Solar System The Sun and the family of objects that orbit it. The Solar System includes things like planets, moons, comets and asteroids, and a mysterious form of…
  99. Solar Thermal Electric Systems Solar energy conversion technologies that convert solar energy to electricity, by heating a working fluid to power a turbine that drives a generator.
  100. Solar Thermal Parabolic Dishes A solar thermal technology that uses a modular mirror system that approximates a parabola and incorporates two-axis tracking to focus the sunlight onto…