Definitions - f

Science today recognizes that there is no way to prove the absolute truth of any hypothesis or model, since it is always possible that a different explanation might account for the same observation. In this sense, even the most well established physical laws are "conditional." Hence, with scientific methodology it is never possible to prove conclusively that a hypothesis is true, it is only possible to prove that it is false. (IPCC)

This definition is correct in that Falsifiability of a hypothesis disproves the hypothesis, but in order for a hypothesis to show a given cause and effect relation you still need explain the explicit relationship underpinning the hypothesis by proof; otherwise you leave yourself open to defining a hypothesis or model on the basis of co-incidence or misplace cause and effect (roosters crow every morning at Sun rise, therefore roosters cause the Sun to rise?...). Worse, you also leave falsifying the hypothesis to others to perform, which given they might not have an interest or wish to falsify your hypothesis; leads to essentially unproven conclusions and observations - a weak ground upon which to build further solid science.

See Postmodern Science

Electromagnetic energy transmitted from the sun (solar radiation). The amount that reaches the earth is equal to one billionth of total solar energy generated, or the equivalent of about 420 trillion kilowatt-hours.

Solar energy is the major driver of Earth's environment. About one 1kw per hour per meter square makes it way to the ground. Changes in solar energy over extended periods contributes to environmental shifts (Ice Ages).

This is an economic incentive-based alternative to command-and-control regulation. In an emissions trading program, sources of a particular pollutant (most often an air pollutant) are given permits to release a specified number of tons of the pollutant. The government issues only a limited number of permits consistent with the desired level of emissions. The owners of the permits may keep them and release the pollutants, or reduce their emissions and sell the permits. The fact that the permits have value as an item to be sold or traded gives the owner an incentive to reduce their emissions.

1st Order Consumers are animals that eat plants. They are the first step in the food chain.

 This is a photo-voltaic array set in at a fixed angle with respect to the Sun, it does not track the Sun across the sky..

Climate Control refers to the act of controlling the climate within a building and maintaining it over time.

Climate Control can be simple as controlling just the temperature via some form of basic air conditioning system; all the way through to a system that also manages humidity and actively filters the air.

Flexible Solar Panels are solar panels which can be bent or curved without an adverse impact on their viability as a solar panel.

A vehicle with a single fuel tank designed to run on varying blends of unleaded gasoline with either ethanol or methanol.

A battery operation in which the battery is normally connected to an external current source; for instance, a battery charger which supplies the battery load< under normal conditions, while also providing enough energy input to the battery to make up for its internal quiescent losses, thus keeping the battery always up to full power and ready for service.

Process by which clumps of solids in water or sewage aggregate through biological or chemical action so they can be separated from water or sewage.

Prediction of the stage, discharge, time of occurrence, and duration of a flood, especially of the peak discharge at a specified point on a stream, resulting from precipitation and/or snowmelt.

The highest magnitude of the stage of discharge attained by a flood. Also called peak stage or peak discharge.

Energy obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible, unlike, for example, the fossil fuels, of which there is a finite supply. Renewable sources of energy include wood, waste, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic, and solar thermal energy.

The channel of a river or stream and those parts of the adjacent floodplain adjoining the channel that are required to carry and discharge the base flood.

Floor cladding is the material used to construct the surface of a floor.

A flow battery, or a redox flow battery (after reduction–oxidation), is a type of rechargeable battery where rechargeability is provided by two chemical components dissolved in liquids contained within the system and separated by a membrane.

The addition of a chemical to increase the concentration of fluoride ions in drinking water to reduce the incidence of tooth decay.

A halocarbon in which some hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine; used in refrigerators and aerosols.

To help ensure the indoor air quality, mechanical systems are operated for a minimum of two weeks using 100 percent outside air at the end of construction and prior to building occupancy.

Solar Power refers to the act of using the Sun's energy to produce a power source, usually in the form of electricity. This is usually done using solar panels, although it can also be done using a solar mirror/concentrator to heat water to steam to power a turbine.

The act of dumping large amounts of rubbish such as furniture, building waste or packaging, on any land or street.

Foil insulation is a thin metallic film stretched over a surface to reduce heat transmission through a space by primarily radiated means. Often found in roof spaces. Some foils can come with a foam backing to give it extra strength and provide additional insulation against direct heat transmission.

A food allergy is an adverse immune response to a food protein. They are distinct from other adverse responses to food, such as food intolerance, pharmacological reactions, and toxin-mediated reactions.

A protein in the food is the most common allergic component. These kinds of allergies occur when the body's immune system mistakenly identifies a protein as harmful. Some proteins or fragments of proteins are resistant to digestion and those that are not broken down in the digestive process are tagged by the Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These tags fool the immune system into thinking that the protein is harmful. The immune system, thinking the organism (the individual) is under attack, triggers an allergic reaction. These reactions can range from mild to severe. Allergic responses include dermatitis, gastrointestinal and respiratory distress, including such life-threatening anaphylactic responses as biphasic anaphylaxis and vasodilation; these require immediate emergency intervention. Non-food protein allergies include latex sensitivity. Individuals with protein allergies commonly avoid contact with the problematic protein. Some medications may prevent, minimize or treat protein allergy reactions.

Original Wikipedia entry

Electromagnetic energy transmitted from the sun (solar radiation). The amount that reaches the earth is equal to one billionth of total solar energy generated, or the equivalent of about 420 trillion kilowatt-hours.

Solar energy is the major driver of Earth's environment. About one 1kw per hour per meter square makes it way to the ground. Changes in solar energy over extended periods contributes to environmental shifts (Ice Ages).

Food intolerance or non-allergic food hypersensitivity is a term used widely for varied physiological responses associated with a particular food, or compound found in a range of foods.

Food intolerance is negative reaction, often delayed, to a food, beverage, food additive, or compound found in foods that produces symptoms in one or more body organs and systems, but it is not a true food allergy. A true food allergy requires the presence of IgE antibodies against the food, and a food intolerance does not.

Original wikipedia entry

This is the distance your food has travelled from 'plough to plate'.

The complex inter meshing of individual food chains in an ecosystem.

A food web is a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.

A process that alters the energy balance of the climate system, i.e. changes the relative balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing infrared radiation from Earth. Such mechanisms include changes in solar irradiance, volcanic eruptions, and enhancement of the natural greenhouse effect by emission of carbon dioxide. See also Radiative Forcing.

This refers to a high incidence of decline and individual tree death due to a  change in climate conditions that makes trees vulnerable to disease and insect predation.

Material not harvested or removed from logging sites in commercial hardwood and softwood stands as well as material resulting from forest management operations such as precommercial thinnings and removal of dead and dying trees.

The biophysical environment is the symbiosis between the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables that comprise the Earth's biosphere.

Wikipedia Entry

A hydrocarbon that is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential most recently estimated at 21. Methane is produced through anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition of waste in landfills, animal digestion, decomposition of animal wastes, production and distribution of natural gas and petroleum, coal production, and incomplete fossil fuel combustion.

Convection triggered by intense solar heating of the earth's surface.

A wind generator that is NOT connected to a Load is freewheeling, and in danger of self-destruction from over speeding.

An optical device that focuses light like a magnifying glass; concentric rings are faced at slightly different angles so that light falling on any ring is focused to the same point.

Any material containing more than one-percent asbestos, and that can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure. (May include previously non-friable material which becomes broken or damaged by mechanical force.)

Also known as Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), plug-in hybrids are similar in design to conventional Hybrids except their battery can be recharged from an external power source such as electric vehicle charging points.

As a result they can travel significant distances, typically 40 miles, using just their electric motor before their internal combustion engine kicks in.

They are being widely touted as a means of cutting carbon emissions and urban air pollution, while improving vehicle fuel efficiency to a level where cars can travel upwards of 250 miles on a single tank of fuel.

A range of new plug-in hybrids are expected to be launched over the next two years, including GM's Chevy Volt and a new version of Toyota's Prius.

Plug in hybrids are expected to be more expensive than conventional cars, however they will result in reduced fuel costs and a number of governments are offering tax breaks to try and increase consumer take up.

Wood and wood products, possibly including coppices, scrubs, branches, etc., bought or gathered, and used by direct combustion.

Emissions from leaks in the mining, exploration or transport of fossil fuels, such as gas pipeline leaks.

The characteristic of a place where a variety of different activities (economic, political, social) occur; most often associated with urban places.

A chemical that keeps fungi from growing.

A method of preventing damage to horizontal-axis wind turbines by automatically turning them out of the wind using a spring loaded tail or other device.

A wind generator protection mechanism where the rotor shaft axis is offset horizontally from the yaw axis, and the tail boom is both offset horizontally and hinged diagonally, thus allowing the tail to fold up and in during high winds. This causes the blades to turn out of the wind, protecting the machine.