Glossary & Water Terms
ACRE : a unit of measurement of land . It is equal to the area of land inside a square that is about 209 feet on each side ( 43,560 square feet ).
ACRE FOOT : the volume of water required to cover one acre of land to a depth of one foot ( 43,560 cubic feet or 325,851 gallons ).
AGRIBUSINESS : producers of agricultural goods and services , such as farm equipment makers , food and fiber processors , wholesalers , transporters , and retail food and fiber outlets . AGRICULTURE : the science , art and business of cultivating the soil , producing crops , raising livestock and making products available to meet the world ’ s food , and much of its clothing , shelter and other needs .
ALUM : a chemical used in the water cleaning process that makes particles stick together ( coagulate ) so they become heavy enough to sink to the bottom of a container .
AQUIFER : consists primarily of sand , gravel and porous rock through which water may move but which is surrounded by mainly impervious materials . Aquifers may be thin or thick , may be very small or may stretch for hundreds of miles . The refilling or replacement of water in aquifers is called recharging . ATLAS : book of maps . ATMOSPHERE : the gaseous mass or envelope surrounding Earth .
BACTERIA : microscopic organisms that live in water and on land . They help break down organic materials into simpler nutrients through a process called decay . BASIN : the area of land that drains to a particular river . BIOSOLIDS : solid materials of organic origin resulting from wastewater treatment ( at one time called sludge ); biosolids meet federal and state standards for use as fertilizers .
CANAL : a man-made waterway .
CLIMATE : the average weather conditions of a place or region . Includes the average rainfall , temperature , humidity and wind conditions .
COAGULATION : process of combining small particles with other small particles to create larger solids .
COAGULATE : to cause small particles to combine with other small particles .
COLLAGE : an artistic composition of materials and objects pasted over a surface .
COMMUNITIES : a group of people living in the same locality ; common possession or participation .
COMPOSTING : mixing decaying organic matter ( grass clippings , leaves , etc .) to form a rich soil conditioner .
COMPOUND : a combination of two or more elements or parts ; atoms of two or more different elements combined .
CONDENSATION : the process of changing a gas into a liquid ; for example , when steam or water vapor turns into water . CONDENSE : to undergo condensation . CONSERVATION ( water ): the wise use of water with methods ranging from more efficient practices in farm , home and industry to capturing water for use through water storage or conservation projects .
CONSERVATION ( soil ): a combination of land use and practices to protect and improve soil and to prevent soil deterioration from erosion , exhaustion of plant nutrients , accumulation of toxic salts , excessive compaction or other adverse effects . CULTIVATION : to prepare and improve land for raising crops . CYCLE : a periodically repeated sequence of events .
DAM : structure built to stop the flow of water down a stream . DENSITY : the mass per unit of volume of a substance . DIARY : a daily record , especially a personal record of events , experiences and observations . DISINFECT : to cleanse of disease-carrying microorganisms .
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DISINFECTANT : an agent that disinfects ( like chlorine ). DISINFECTION : the process of cleansing pathogenic microorganisms ( in our case , from water ). DISSOLVE : to reduce to liquid form ; to break up or disperse . DIVERSION : removal of water from any body of water by canal , pipe or other conduit . DOWNSTREAM : in the direction of a stream ’ s current . DRAINAGE BASIN : see Basin ; see Watershed . DRIP IRRIGATION : a method of irrigating that is done by drilling holes in a hose or pipe so water flows to individual plants . DROUGHT : a long period with no rain .
ELEMENT : a substance composed of atoms .
EROSION : a natural process by which rock and soil are broken loose from the Earth ’ s surface at one location and moved to another by wind , moving water , ice and landslides . ESSENTIAL : necessary . EVAPORATE : to change a liquid to vapor . EVAPORATION : the process of changing a liquid to a gas ( vapor ); for example , when water turns into steam or water vapor .
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION : the total moisture loss from an area controlled by climactic conditions and plant processes ( evaporation and transpiration ; ET ).
FARMER : a person who operates or works on a farm for the purpose of producing a crop or livestock .
FERTILIZERS : materials added to soil to make it better for growing crops . Manure , composts from decayed leaves and certain chemicals are common materials used as fertilizers . FILTRATE : to put through a filter . FILTRATION : the process of putting water through filters to clean the water . FLOAT : to remain suspended on the surface of water without sinking . FLOC : a mass formed as a result of flocculation . FLOCCULATION : the process of causing particles to form lumps or masses . FLOOD : an overflowing of water onto land . FLOOD IRRIGATION : a method of irrigating that is done by causing water to overflow onto land to reach crops . FRESH WATER : salt-free water . FURROW IRRIGATION : a method of irrigation in which water flows down small ditches ( furrows ) between rows of crops .
GAS : a state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by very low density . GERMINATE : to begin to grow ; sprout . GLACIER : a huge mass of compacted snow . GLOBE : a sphere showing a representation of Earth . GROUNDWATER : groundwater , as opposed to surface water , is water that does not runoff , and is not taken up by plants , but soaks down into an aquifer .
H 2
O : water ( 2 hydrogen atoms with one oxygen atom ). HAZARDOUS : dangerous . HYDROGEN : a colorless gaseous element . HYDROLOGIC CYCLE : the cycle of water movement from the atmosphere to Earth and back again through evaporation , transpiration , condensation , precipitation , percolation , runoff and storage . See Water Cycle .
ICE : frozen water . IRRIGATE : to supply with water by means of ditches , pipes , etc . IRRIGATION : the artificial distribution of water on the land surface to establish a crop or to increase crop yield where the precipitation is inadequate .