WV1. Water Vapor (satellite imagery) 2. Wave 3. West Virginia
WVHTOn a buoy report, significant wave height (meters) is calculated as the average of the highest one-third of all of the wave heights during the 20-minute…
WWHOn a buoy report, Wind Wave Height is the vertical distance (meters) between any wind wave crest and the succeeding wind wave trough (independent of swell…
WWPOn a buoy report, Wind Wave Period is the time (in seconds) that it takes successive wind wave crests or troughs to pass a fixed point.
WWVNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) radio stations which broadcast a time and frequency service commonly known to mariners as the "Time…
WWVHNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) radio stations which broadcast a time and frequency service commonly known to mariners as the "Time…
X inactivationThe normal inactivation of one of the two X chromosomes in females.
X-BandA frequency band of microwave radiation in which radars operate.
X-linkedThe presence of a gene on the X-chromosome.
X-linked diseaseA genetic disease caused by a mutation on the X chromosome. In X-linked recessive conditions, a normal female "carrier" passes on the mutated X chromosome…
X-Ray BackgroundIn solar-terrestrial terms, a daily average background X-ray flux in the 1 to 8 angstrom range.
X-Ray BurstIn solar-terrestrial terms, a temporary enhancement of the X-ray emission of the sun.
X-ray crystallographyThe diffraction pattern of X-rays passing through a pure crystal of a substance.
X-Ray Flare ClassIn solar-terrestrial terms, rank of a flare based on its X-ray energy output. Flares are classified by the order of magnitude of the peak burst intensity…
X-RaysThe part of the electromagnetic spectrum whose radiation has much greater frequencies and smaller wavelengths than those of ultraviolet radiation.
xanthophyllA yellow oxygen-containing carotenoid, present in chloroplasts.
xeniaThe immediate effect of pollen on some characters of the endosperm.
xenobioticA chemical compound that is not produced by, and often cannot be degraded by, living organisms.
xenogeneicRefers to organ s, genetically engineered ("humanized") todecrease the chance of rejection, that have been grown in an animal of another species for…
XenograftThe cells of one species transplanted to another species.
XenotransplantationThe transplantation of tissue or organs from one species to another species, typically from pigs to humans. Zoonoses are an important issue.
XenotransplantionA transplant of tissue from an animal of one species to an animal of another species.
Xeric (habitat)Low in moisture. Dry environmental conditions. Habitats or sites characterized by their limited water availability.
XeriscapeLandscaping that does not require a lot of water.
xerophyteA plant very resistant to drought, typically adapted to extremely dry environments.
YearThe period during which the Earth completes one revolution around the sun.
yeastA unicellular ascomycete fungus, commonly found as a contaminant in plant tissue culture.
yeast artificial chromosome(Abbreviation: YAC ). A vector which can be propagated in budding yeast (Saccharamyces pombe), consisting of the minimal elements required for a…
yeast episomal vector(Abbreviation: YEp). A cloning plasmid vector for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae maintained as an extrachromosomal nuclear DNA molecule.
yeast extractA mixture of substances from yeast. See: organic complex ..
Yellow GreaseSecond-hand cooking oil that can be used to produce biodiesel.
Yellow SnowSnow given a golden or yellow appearance by the presence in it of pine, cypress pollen, or anthropogenic material or animal-produced material.
YieldYield is most commonly associated with a money market fund's return. "Current Yield" is based on daily return, "Effective Yield" on the annual compounded…
Yolk sacVital to the embryo for the formation of primordial and other cells that form the embryo. In mammals, it is small and devoid of a yolk.
Young-of-yearRefers to young (usually fish) produced in one reproductive year. Small fish, hatched from eggs spawned in the current year, are considered young-of-year…
Younger Dryasinterval of abrupt climate changes approximately 12,700-11,500 years ago. The name is derived from the Dryas plant, a cold-loving plant that pollen…
YurtAn octagonal shaped shelter that originated in Mongolia, and traditionally made from leather or canvas for easy transportation.
ZZulu time; the same as Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), i.e. 18z is the same as 18:00 UTC.
Z-DNAA region of DNA that is "flipped" into a lefthanded helix, characterized by alternating purines and pyrimidines, and which may be the target of a…
Z/R RelationshipThe empirical conversion relationship between radar reflectivity and precipitation rate.
ZeebruggeEuropean continental terminus of the Interconnector and Bacton-Balgzand pipelines linking the United Kingdom market with European gas receipts.
Zeeman effectA splitting of a spectral line into several components due to the presence of a static magnetic field.
Zero air voids curveThe curve showing the relationship between dry unit weights and corresponding moisture contents, assuming that all of the voids are completely filled with…
Zero DatumA reference "zero" elevation for a stream or river gage. This "zero" can be referenced (usually within ten feet of the bottom of the channel) to mean sea…
Zero-lot-line DevelopmentA development option where side yard restrictions are reduced and the building abuts a side lot line. Overall unit-lot densities are therefore increased.
zinc fingerA DNA-binding protein motif, characterized by two closely spaced cysteine and two histidine residues that serve as ligands for a single Zn2+ ion.
Zinc-finger proteinA secondary feature of some proteins containing a zinc atom; a DNA-binding protein.
ZombieThe classic version is a mindless, frequently violent, product of supernatural magic or pharmacology while the modern incarnation is a reanimated human…
Zona pellucidaA thick, transparent noncellular layer that surrounds and protects the oocyte.
Zonal FlowLarge-scale atmospheric flow in which the east-west component (i.e., latitudinal) is dominant.
Zonal priceA pricing mechanism for a specific zone within a control area.
ZoneA geographical area shown on a Flood Hazard Boundary Map or a Flood Insurance Rate Map that reflects the severity or type of flooding in the area.
Zone of AerationThe comparatively dry soil or rock located between the ground surface and the top of the water table.
zone of elongationThe section of the young root or shoot just behind the apical meristem, in which the cells are enlarging and elongating rapidly.
Zone of SaturationThe soil or rock located below the top of the ground water table that is saturated with water. See water table.
Zoned earthfill (or zoned embankment)An embankment dam composed of zones of selected materials where the permeability of the material increases to the upstream or downstream face from the…
Zoned Embankment DamAn embankment dam, which is composed of zones of selected materials having different degrees of porosity, permeability, and density.
ZoningThe ability of local governments to specify the use of private property in order to control development within designated areas of land.
zoo blotHybridization of cloned DNA from one species to DNA from a range of other organisms to determine the extent to which the cloned DNA is evolutionarily…
zoo FISHFluorescence in situ hybridization technique, probing metaphase chromosome s of one species with DNA from another species.