Cut-and-fillThe process of earth grading by excavating part of a higher area and using the excavated material for fill to raise the surface of an adjacent lower area.
Cut-In-SpeedThe lowest wind speed at which a wind turbine begins producing usable power.
Cut-Out-SpeedThe highest wind speed at which a wind turbine stops producing power.
cuticleLayer of cutin or wax, formed on the outer surface of leaves and fruits, thought to have evolved to reduce evaporative water loss.
CutoffAn impervious construction by means of which water is prevented from passing through foundation material.
Cutoff LowA closed upper-level low which has become completely displaced (cut off) from basic westerly current, and moves independently of that current.
Cutoff TrenchAn excavation later to be filled with impervious material to form a cutoff. Sometimes used incorrectly to describe the cutoff itself.
Cutoff trench (keyway)An excavation in the foundation of an embankment dam, usually located upstream of the dam axis or centerline crest which extends to bedrock or to an…
Cutoff WallA wall of impervious material (e.g., concrete, asphaltic concrete, timber, steel sheet piling, or impervious grout curtain) located in the foundation…
CuttingA detached plant part that, with appropriate treatment, can regenerate into a complete plant.
CyanobacteriaBlue-green algae, prokaryotic, photosynthetic organisms that generally have a blue-green tint and lack chloroplasts.
cybridA hybrid, originating from the fusion of a cytoplast (the cytoplasm without nucleus) with a whole cell derived from a different species.
CYCCyclone- A large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of low atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, clockwise in…
CycleIn alternating current, the current goes from zero potential or voltage to a maximum in one direction, back to zero, and then to a maximum potential or…
CYCLGNCyclogenesis - The formation or intensification of a cyclone or low-pressure storm system.
cyclic adenosine monophosphate(Abbreviations: cyclic AMP, cAMP). A "messenger" molecule that regulates many intracellular reactions by transducing signals from extracellular growth…
cyclic AMPAbbreviation for cyclic adenosine monophosphate.
Cyclic AMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate)A second messenger that regulates many intracellular reactions by transducing signals from extracellular growth factors to cellular metabolic pathways.
Cyclic StormA thunderstorm that undergoes cycles of intensification and weakening (pulses) while maintaining its individuality.
Cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk protein)Protein kinase that has to be complexed with a cyclin protein in order to act; different Cdk-cyclin complexes are thought to trigger different steps in…
CyclingPowerplant operation to meet the intermediated portion of the load (9 to 14 hours per day).
Cycling LossesThe loss of heat as the water circulates through a water heater tank and inlet and outlet pipes.
Cyclogenesis(Abbrev. CYCLGN) - The formation or intensification of a cyclone or low-pressure storm system.
cycloheximideA molecule that inhibits protein synthesis in eukaryotes, but not in prokaryotes.
CyclolysisCyclolysis Process of weakening or terminating of a cyclonic circulation in the atmosphere; the opposite of cyclogenesis.
Cyclone(abbrev. CYC) - A large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of low atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere…
Cyclone BurnerA furnace/combustion chamber in which finely ground fuel is blown in spirals in the combustion chamber to maximize combustion efficiency.
Cyclone movementCyclone movement The spatial displacement of a center of low pressure caused by the local redistribution of mass in the atmosphere.
Cyclone separatorA device used to remove particulate matter suspended in exhaust gases.
Cyclonic CirculationCirculation (or rotation) which is in the same sense as the Earth's rotation, i.e.
Cyclopean damA gravity dam in which the mass masonry consists primarily of large one-man or derrick stone embedded in concrete.
Cylinder gateA gate that resembles a large barrel, reinforced to withstand external pressure, with no top or bottom.
cystic fibrosisA common hereditary disease in which exocrine (secretory) glands produce abnormally thick mucus.
cytidineThe (ribo)nucleoside resulting from the combination of the base cytosine (C) and the sugar D-ribose.
cytotypeA maternally inherited cellular condition in Drosophila that regulates the activity of transposable P elements.
Czochralski ProcessA method of growing large size, high quality semiconductor crystal by slowly lifting a seed crystal from a molten bath of the material under careful…
DAB(Full term: single domain antibody ). Antibodies with only one (instead of two) protein chain derived from only one of the two domains of the normal…
Daily (or Next-Day) IndexesPublished (Platts, NGI, Dow Jones, SNL, ICE, NGW) price indices for commodities (gas or electricity) to be delivered the next day based on transactions…
Daily Climatological ReportAs the name indicates, this climatological product is issued daily by each National Weather Service office.
Daily DealsUsually transactions done on a day for delivery or settlement or both, the next day.
Daily Flood PeakThe maximum mean daily discharge occurring in a stream during a given flood event.
DaltonA unit of measurement equal to the mass of a hydrogen atom, 1.67 x 10E-24 gram/L (Avogadro's number).
DamA structure for impeding and controlling the flow of water in a water course, and which increases the water elevation to create the hydraulic head.
Dam FailureCatastrophic type of failure characterized by the sudden, rapid, and uncontrolled release of impounded water.
Dam failure hydrographA flood hydrograph resulting from a dam breach prepared for a specific location downstream from the dam.
Dam foundationThe excavated surface or undisturbed material upon which a dam is placed.
Dam safety deficiencyA physical condition capable of causing the sudden uncontrollable release of reservoir water by partial or complete failure of a dam, appurtenant…
Dam safety issueDam safety related issues and concerns are those which, if not adequately addressed could/would: 1 - Lead to a failure or malfunction reulting in an…
Dam tenderThe person responsible for the daily or routine operation and maintenance activities of a dam and its appurtenant structures.
DAMBRKIn hydrologic terms, the Dam Break Forecasting Model.
DAMDSee: directed amplification of minisatellite DNA.
DamperA movable plate used to control air flow; in a wood stove or fireplace, used to control the amount and direction of air going to the fire.
DampingResistance which reduces vibration by energy absorption.
Damping ratioThe ratio of the actual damping to the critical damping, critical damping being the minimum amount of damping which prevents free oscillatory vibration.
Dansgaard-Oeschger eventone of a series of climate changes during the last glacial period that occurred roughly every few thousand years.
DAPMIn hydrologic terms, the Data Acquisition Program Manager.
Dark EnergyAn energy causing the acceleration of the expansion of the universe, detectable through its gravitational effects.
Dark MatterMatter not visible to us because it emits no radiation that we can observe, but it is detectable gravitationally. A small fraction of it is baryonic, e.g.
Darrius (Wind) MachineA type of vertical-axis wind machine that has long, thin blades in the shape of loops connected to the top and bottom of the axle; often called an…
Dart LeaderA faint, negatively charged channel that travels more or less directly and continuously from cloud to ground.
Darwinian cloningSelection of a clone from a large number of essentially random starting points, rather than isolating a natural gene or making a carefully designed…
Data ArchiveServes as long-term storage for ARM data to keep data easily accessible. It is located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Data collection platformElectronic equipment device that gathers digital and analog data from monitoring devices and remotely relays that data to a central computer for…