Coastal FloodingFlooding that occurs from storms where water is driven onto land from an adjacent body of water.
Coastal Planning AreasDistinct geographic locations subject to site-specific, ongoing management and/or regulatory planning within legally defined, fixed boundaries that…
Coastal WatersIn the Great Lakes region, the waters within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States consisting of the Great Lakes, their connecting waters…
Coastal Waters Forecast (CWF)The marine forecast for areas, including bays, harbors, and sounds, from a line approximating the mean high water mark (average height of high water over…
Coastal Zone Management ActNational law encouraging states to develop coastal management programs. The act establishes a method for the federal government to approve states´ plans…
Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)(CZMA)National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides funding for implementation and sets standards (including prevention of non-point…
Coastal/Lakeshore Flood AdvisoryMinor flooding is possible (i.e., over and above normal high tide levels. Coastal/Lakeshore Flood Advisories are issued using the Coastal/Lakeshore Hazard…
Coastal/Lakeshore Flood WarningFlooding that will pose a serious threat to life and property is occurring, imminent or highly likely.
Coastal/Lakeshore Flood WatchFlooding with significant impacts is possible. Coastal/Lakeshore Flood Watches are issued using the Coastal/Lakeshore Hazard Message (CFW) product.
Coastal/Lakeshore Flooding(i) (Oceanic) Coastal Flooding is the inundation of land areas adjacent to bodies of salt water connected to the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, or Gulf of…
Coaster gateA rectangular gate similar in construction and appearance to the tractor gate except sealing is accomplished in much the same way as a ring seal gate.
Coat protein (capsid)The coating of a protein that enclosed the nucleic acid core of a virus.
CoatingThe protective material applied to the outer surface of a material, frequently metalwork.
Cobble (cobblestone)A rock fragment, usually rounded or semirounded, with an average dimension between 3 to 12 inches; will pass a 12-inch screen, but not a 3-inch screen.
CodesLegal documents that regulate construction to protect the health, safety, and welfare of people.
Codex Alimentarius CommissionAn international regulatory body (part of FAO) responsible for the definition of a set of international food standards.
codingLitigation Support: Automated or human process through which documents are examined and evaluated using predetermined codes, and the results of those…
coding sequenceThat portion of a gene which directly specifies the amino acid sequence of its product.
coding strandThe strand of a DNA double helix that contains the same base sequence (after substituting U for T) found in the mRNA molecule resulting from transcription…
CodominanceSituation in which two different alleles for a genetic trait are both expressed. See also: autosomal dominant, recessive gene
CodonA group of three nucleotides that specifies addition of one of the 20 amino acids during translation of an mRNA into a polypeptide.
codon optimizationAn experimental strategy in which codons within a cloned gene - ones not generally used by the host cell translation system - are changed by in vitro…
Coefficient of consolidationA coefficient that relates the change in excess pore pressure with time to the excess pore pressure diffusion in the soil mass in terms of soil mass and…
Coefficient of Heat Transmission (U-Value)A value that describes the ability of a material to conduct heat. The number of Btu that flow through 1 square foot of material, in one hour.
Coefficient of Performance (COP)(COP)A ratio of the work or useful energy output of a system versus the amount of work or energy inputted into the system as determined by using the same…
Coefficient of Utilization (CU)(CU)A term used for lighting appliances; the ratio of lumens received on a flat surface to the light output, in lumens, from a lamp; used to evaluate the…
Coenzyme (cofactor)An organic molecule, such as a vitamin, that binds to an enzyme and is required for its catalytic activity.
Coffer DamA temporary structure enclosing all or part of a construction area so the construction can proceed in a dry area.
CofferdamA temporary structure enclosing all or part of the construction area so that construction can proceed in the dry.
CofiringThe use of two or more different fuels (e.g. wood and coal) simultaneously in the same combustion chamber of a power plant.
CogenerationThe generation of electricity or shaft power by an energy conversion system and the concurrent use of rejected thermal energy from the conversion system…
CogeneratorA class of energy producer that produces both heat and electricity from a single fuel.
Coherent RadarA radar that utilizes both signal phase and amplitude to determine target characteristics.
CohesionThe mutual attraction of soil particles due to molecular and capillary forces in the presence of water.
Cohesionless materials (cohesionless soil)Soil materials that when unconfined have little or no strength when air-dried and that have little or no cohesion when submerged.
Cohesive soilPredominantly clay and silt soil, fine-grained particles, that sticks together whether wet or dry.
COILAs a component of a heating or cooling appliance, rows of tubing or pipe with fins attached through which a heat transfer fluid is circulated and to…
coincidenceThe ratio of the observed to the expected frequency of double cross-overs, where the expected frequency is calculated by assuming that the two cross-over…
Coincidence FactorThe ratio of the coincident, maximum demand or two or more loads to the sum of their noncoincident maximum demand for a given period; the reciprocal of…
Coincident DemandThe demand of a consumer of electricity at the time of a power supplier's peak system demand.
Coisogenic or congenicNearly identical strains of an organism; they vary at only a single locus.
colchicineAn alkaloid, obtained from the autumn crocus Colchicum autumnale, which inhibits spindle formation.
Cold AdvectionTransport of cold air into a region by horizontal winds.
Cold Air AvalancheDownslope flow pulsations that occur at more or less regular intervals as cold air builds up on a peak or plateau, reaches a critical mass, and then…
Cold Air DamA shallow cold air mass which is carried up the slope of a mountain barrier, but with insufficient strength to surmount the barrier.
Cold Air Damming (CAD)The phenomenon in which a low-level cold air mass is trapped topographically. Often, this cold air is entrenched on the east side of mountainous terrain.
Cold Air FunnelA funnel cloud or (rarely) a small, relatively weak tornado that can develop from a small shower or thunderstorm when the air aloft is unusually cold…
cold frontA weather condition accompanied by high, clear skies, and a sudden drop in temperature.
Cold jointAn unplanned joint resulting when a concrete surface hardens before the next batch is placed against it. Fresh concrete placed on harden concrete.
Cold lowCold low (or cold cyclone) At a given level in the atmosphere, any low that is generally characterized by colder air near its center than around its…
Cold Night SkyThe low effective temperature of the sky on a clear night.
Cold OcclusionA frontal zone formed when a cold front overtakes a warm front and, being colder than the air ahead of the warm front, slides under the warm front…
Cold PoolA region of relatively cold air, represented on a weather map analysis as a relative minimum in temperature surrounded by closed isotherms.
Cold-water fisheryWater or water system which has an environment suitable for salmonoid fishes.
coleoptileProtective sheath covering the shoot apex of the embryo in the grasses.
coleorhizaA protective sheath surrounding the radicle in the grasses.
ColiformOrganisms common to the intestinal tract of humans and animals; the organisms' presence in waste water is an indicator of pollution.
Coliform bacteriaBacteria whose presence in waste water is an indicator of pollution and of potentially dangerous contamination.
collaborating programA program joining with the ARM Program to pursue a specific set of objectives by providing resources and participating in active planning and execution of…
Collar CloudA generally circular ring of cloud that may be observed on rare occasions surrounding the upper part of a wall cloud.
CollaringStarting a drill hole. When the hole is deep enough to hold the bit from slipping out of it, it is said to be collared.
CollateralAssets that are offered to secure a loan or other credit. For example, if you get a real estate mortgage, the bank's collateral is typically your house.
CollectionThe capture or obtaining of plant or animal specimens. This can include obtaining specimens for scientific study, pets, or illegal trade.
Collection EfficiencyThe fraction of droplets approaching a surface that actually deposit on that surface.
CollectorThe component of a solar energy heating system that collects solar radiation, and that contains components to absorb solar radiation and transfer the heat…
Collector EfficiencyThe ratio of solar radiation captured and transferred to the collector (heat transfer) fluid.
Collector FluidThe fluid, liquid (water or water/antifreeze solution) or air, used to absorb solar energy and transfer it for direct use, indirect heating of interior…
Collector TiltThe angle that a solar collector is positioned from horizontal.
collenchymaA tissue of living cells, found particularly in midribs and leaf petioles. Characterized by cell walls unevenly thickened with cellulose and…
Colloidal particlesSoil particles that are so small that the surface activity has an appreciable influence on the properties of the aggregate. Particles smaller than 0.
Colloidal suspensionA method of sediment transport in which water turbulence (movement) supports the weight of the sediment particles, thereby keeping them from settling out…
ColluviumA general term to include loose rock and soil material that accumulates at the base of a slope as the result of mass wasting processes.
ColonyA group of identical cells (clones) derived from a single progenitor cell.
colony hybridizationA technique that uses a nucleic acid probe to identify a recombinant bacterial colony carrying a particular inserted DNA.
Colony-forming cellsGroups of cells growing on a solid nutrient surface with each group being created from the multiplication of an individual cell.
Colony-stimulating factorsDiffusible proteins that stimulate the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells.
ColorThe sensible perception of hue, value and saturation characteristics of surfaces of window components.
Color RenditionHow colors appear when illuminated by a light source. Color rendition is generally considered to be a more important lighting quality than color…
Color TemperatureThe color of the light source. By convention, yellow-red colors (like the flames of a fire) are considered warm, and blue-green colors (like light from an…
Colorado LowA low pressure storm system that forms in winter in southeastern Colorado or northeastern New Mexico and tracks northeastward across the central plains of…
Columnar IceIce consisting of columnar shaped grain. The ordinary black ice is usually columnar-grained.
combinatorial libraryThe many novel combinations (consisting of one heavy and one light immunoglobulin chain coding region) that are generated when a heavy-chain library is…
Combined cycleTwo or more generation processes in series or in parallel, configured to optimize the energy output of the system.
Combined cycle plantA plant which achieves higher efficiency by employing two cycles in tandem. For example, heat rejected from a gas-fired turbine is used to generate steam…
Combined Heat and Power (CHP)(CHP)Also called cogeneration, CHP is the use of the waste heat generated by an engine or power station to produce useful heat, typically for heating of a…
Combined SeasCombination of both wind waves and swell. Also called "Seas" and is approximately equal to significant wave height.