Fluidization |
(Environmental Engineering) The suspension of particles by sufficient upward velocity of the fluid. During fluidization the gravity force is overcome by a combination of buoyancy and fluid friction. |
Greenhouse gases |
(Environmental Engineering) Gases which trap solar radiation. Of the solar energy entering the earth's atmosphere a portion is reflected back and a portion penetrates onto the earth's surface. The portion reflected back from the earth's surface is at a different wavelength that when it entered. Carbon dioxide and other gases, which pass solar radiation, absorb this reflected radiation, increasing the earth's temperature. This is much like a greenhouse, hence the name. |
Groundwater |
(Environmental Engineering) Water which is contained in geologic strata. Also properly written as two words, ground water. |
Heterotrophic |
(Environmental Engineering) A group of organisms which obtain carbon for synthesis from other organic matter or proteins. |
Hindered (Zone) settling |
(Environmental Engineering) Settling in which particle concentrations are sufficient that particles interfere with the settling of other particles. Particles settle together as a body or structure with the water required to traverse the particle interstices. |
Hydrocarbon |
(Environmental Engineering) Any organic compound composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen. Two examples are methane gas and octane. |
Hypolimnion |
(Environmental Engineering) The lower layer of a lake. |
Infectious disease |
(Environmental Engineering) A disease caused by pathogenic organisms. |
Influent |
(Environmental Engineering) The fluid entering a system, process, tank, etc. An effluent from one process can be an influent to another process. See effluent. |
Kerogen |
(Environmental Engineering) A fossilized organic material present in oil shale and some other sedimentary rocks. |