- Industry: Energy
- Number of terms: 9078
- Number of blossaries: 0
- Company Profile:
California’s primary energy policy and planning agency
The presence of trace atmospheric gases make the earth warmer than would direct sunlight alone. These gases (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), tropospheric ozone (O3), and water vapor (H2O)) allow visible light and ultraviolet light (short-wave radiation) to pass through the atmosphere and heat the earth's surface. This heat is re-radiated from the earth in form of infrared energy (long-wave radiation). The greenhouse gases absorb part of that energy before it escapes into space. This process of trapping the long-wave radiation is known as the greenhouse effect. Scientists estimate that without the greenhouse effect, the earth's surface would be roughly 54 degrees Fahrenheit colder than it is today too cold to support life as we know it. See GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.
Industry:Energy
The amount of ionizing radiation energy absorbed per unit mass of irradiated material at a specific location, such as a part of a human body.
Industry:Energy
A unit of measure that tells how much oil would have to be burned to produce the same amount of energy. For example, California's hydroelectric generation in 1983 was 58,000 barrels per day equivalent.
Industry:Energy
The characteristic tendency of some transparent materials (such as glass) to transmit radiation with relatively short wavelengths (such as sunlight) and block radiation of longer wavelengths (such as heat). This tendency leads to a heat build-up within the space enclosed by such a material.
Industry:Energy
A term used in the petroleum industry referring to the refining, transportation and marketing side of the business.
Industry:Energy
A power generating facility that is intended to run constantly at near capacity levels, as much of the time as possible.
Industry:Energy
The area of a surface including areas not belonging to that surface (such as windows and doors in a wall).
Industry:Energy
