:::••:•:•:::: :::::: ::::::
United States Office of Research and EPA/620/R-93/013
Environmental Protection Development October 1993
Agency Washington DC 20460
v>EPA • Master Glossary
I Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program
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EPA/620/R-93/013
October 1993
Environmental Monitoring
and Assessment Program
Master Glossary
EMAP Research and Assessment Center
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
Office Of Research And Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
^gg> Printed on Recycled Paper
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
Abstract
Earlier versions (1990-1992) established two purposes for the Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program's glossary: it promotes coherent language among the EMAP community and provides
access to the program's publications. EMAP personnel have used the original glossary as a guide to keep
EMAP terminology consistent in discussions and documents; the users of EMAP's publications have
consulted it to derive deeper understanding of particular concepts or processes. This version-now called
the Master Glossary-Asa supports access to EMAP documents by supplying authors and seekers of
information with words that can be used to search electronic information databases and find which EMAP
documents are available and where they are kept
The original authors and editors of the glossary foresaw that EMAP terminology would evolve as
the program continued to develop. As in earlier versions, the audiences-the users of EMAP's documents-
always are considered when writers prepare communications and strive for language as uncomplicated and
jargon-free as possible.
This Master Glossary clarifies terms that describe EMAP's conceptual framework, research, and
field work. Undoubtedly, the users of EMAP's documents recognize that a glossary cannot stand alone as
well as convey a complete understanding of EMAP's philosophy and the approaches that guide its strategies
for ecological monitoring or assessment. The Master Glossary aims to assist readers as they investigate
other EMAP products and seek EMAP information. It provides a concordance (Appendix A) that can be
used by authors to construct an index to another EMAP document; it also lists selected Library of Congress
Subject Headings (Appendix B) to assist authors in choosing descriptive key words. Finally, EMAP's
Master Glossary contains terms from the Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment (Risk Assessment
Forum) and the entire Glossary of Quality Assurance Terms (Appendix C) used by the Quality Assurance
Management Staff (QAMS) within the Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems and Quality Assurance of
EPA's Office of Research and Development.
Keywords:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-handbooks, manuals, etc.;
communication of technical information, USEPA-EMAP
Preferred citation: ,.,..' j
EMAP (Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program). 1993. Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program: Master Glossary. EPA/620/R-93A)13, Research Triangle Park, NC: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program.
Notice*
The'information in this document has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency under Contract 68-C8-0006 to ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc. This document
has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for
publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use;
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Master Glossary
October 1993
Acknowledgements
This Master Glossary began when Penelope Kellar (Kilkelly Environmental Associates) brought
together a variety of glossaries developed independently for several EMAP documents, recognizing early
the importance of EMAP's language. William Baillargeon (ManTech Environmental Technology Inc ) who
assembled and reconciled the initial glossary, has provided continuing and comprehensive advice 'for its
evolution. Several members of EMAP's original Integration and Assessment Team reviewed the first draft
and subsequent drafts, providing additional definitions. These individuals included Dan Vallero (EPA-
AREAL), D. Eric Hyatt (EPA-AREAL), Dean Carpenter (ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc ) and
Mary Fabnzio (ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc.). Jay Messer (EPA-AREAL), Kent Thornton
(FTN Associates), and Dick Novitzki (ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc.), commented on the final
form of the initial glossary, the first draft. Valuable comments of a later draft were provided bv Dick
?' D°Ug N°rt0n (EPA-EPIC)' Walt Heck (USDA-ARS), George Hess (NCSU), and Steve Peck
r0lyn Hunsaker <0ak Rid8e National Laboratory), Sue Norton (EPA-OHEA), and Don Rodier
reconciled EMAP risk assessment terminology with EPA guidance in ecological risk
M,The °riginal Versi°" Of the glossarv reflected this reconciliation for terms most integral to
EMAP; Bill van der Schalie (EPA-ORD) and Jay Garner (EPA-ECAO) reviewed the original.
u A u J 1993' the 8lossary came into revision because EMAP managers realized that many words
had been added to, refined, or eliminated from EMAP's vocabulary. They also decided it should be entitled
Master Glossary because it will be used to customize specific glossaries for each EMAP publication In
l*er?^ISed Master Glossary> terms nave been reconciled to current usage by means of contributions from
EMAP managers, including technical coordinators and technical directors. In addition, terms have been
incorporated from EMAP's Integration and Assessment groups for Design and Statistics Landscape
Characterization, Indicator Development, Assessment and Reporting; from the Glossary of Quality
Assurance Terms (Quality Assurance Management Staff); and from the Framework for Ecological Risk
Assessment (Risk Assessment Forum). .
Notes from contributors now follow definitions to inform readers of changes in usage synonyms
or preferred terms (See:) and related terms (See related:). Writers of EMAP documents suggested that
words appear in boldface type to show they are defined elsewhere in the Master Glossary; EMAP managers
also suggested that acronyms and abbreviations specific to EMAP appear within the Master Glossary and
/, nno^v,? e the guides t0 acronyms and abbreviations already published in EPA's Terms of Environment
(1992, 1993) and m the Glossary of Quality Assurance Terms (QAMS 1993).
New to this 1993 revision is an appendix (B) that lists controlled vocabulary terms from the Library
of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) to supplement terminology as authors select title words and key
words. Lynn El-Hoshy, Senior Cataloging Policy Specialist (Catalog Policy and Support Office Library
ot Congress) provided information on new subject headings for environmental sciences as well as insight
on how EMAP documents might take advantage of LCSH as key words. EMAP authors who use scientific
terms or EMAP terms in their titles and abstracts and who use LCSH as key words enable seekers of EMAP
information to more easily find it.
•L, v -The editor thanks those who contributed to this version of the Master Glossary: Daniel H.
McKenzie and Harold V. Kibby, Acting Deputy Directors of EMAP (ERL-Corvallis); Linda Looney
Management Services Assistant (ERL-Corvallis); John F. Paul, Associate Director of EMAP-Near Coastal-'
Technical Coordinators Anthony Olsen (Design and Statistics, ERL-Corvallis), Craig Barber (Indicator
Development, ERL-Athens), Denice Shaw (Landscape Characterization, EMAP-Center) D Eric Hvatt
(Assessment and Reporting-EMAP Center), and Linda Kirkland (Quality Assurance, HQV Lee Alter
(Assessment and Reporting-EMAP Center), Kent Thornton (FTN Associates, Little Rock, ARV Fred
Haeberer (Quality Assurance Management Staff); Jack Gentile (Scientific Coordinator, Risk Assessment
J-orum, ERL-Narragansett) and the remaining technical directors of EMAP resource groups and technical
coordinators of EMAP integration and assessment groups who also reviewed the manuscript.
Cynthia B. Chapman, ELS, Technical Editor
ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc.
Corvallis, Oregon
iii
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
Preface
Purpose
Earlier versions (199IM992) established two purposes for EMAP's Master Glossary; it promotes
coherent language among the EMAP community and provides access to the program's publications, EMAP
personnel have used it to keep EMAP terminology consistent in discussions and documents; the users of
EMAP's publications have consulted it to .derive a deeper understanding of EMAP's conceptual framework,
activities, and processes. Undoubtedly, the users of EMAP's reports recognize that a glossary cannot stand
alone and adequately convey a detailed understanding of the program's philosophy and strategies for
ecological monitoring or assessment The glossary aims to assist users as they consult other EMAP products.
When EMAP's authors prepare communications, it is important for them to consider audiencesr-tbe
various users of EMAP's information«and strive for language as simple and jargon-free as possible. As the
first contributors to the glossary foresaw, EMAP terminology continues to evolve as the program develops,
Assumptions and Usage ..*,-«.<
Each contributor and editor has maintained one principal assumption in developing the glossary:
it must be useful. Together with its concordance (Appendix A), this Master Glossary can serve as a
reference or as files from which EMAP authors can construct publication-specific glossaries. With this in
mind, the content of the EMAP Master Glossary has been guided by several criteria:
1. It includes terms broadly applicable and relevant to the program as a whole or terms with EMAP usage
* that is different or more restricted than common definitions. Terms specific to individual resource or
cross-cutting groups have been included only to properly support documentation for those groups.
2. It includes basic scientific terminology like ecosystem and variance as well as more complex scientific
expressions related to EMAP science, such as terminology about design, statistics, and indicators.
3. It avoids legitimizing slang terms as official EMAP language. Perhaps the only exception to this criterion
is 40-hex, already a firmly ingrained bit of jargon.
4. It avoids, when possible, terms that are concatenations (chains) of other defined words. For example,
if both ecology and indicators are defined, it is unnecessary to define ecological indicators. On the
other hand, landscape ecology has a meaning that is broader than a the sum of its separate terms.
5. It explains or describes terms in EMAP's context by providing connections to other EMAP terms, for
example, to synonyms or preferred terms (See:) or to related words (See related:)."
For certain expressions in this Master Glossary, particularly those relating to ecological risk
assessment, EPA continues to adjust definitions, with the most recent published in Terms of Environment
(1992, 1993). The Agency's environmental results agenda has called for coordination and cooperation
among the Comparative Risk and Strategic Planning communities, the Risk Assessment Forum, and EMAP.
As EPA develops and operates within its ecological risk assessment paradigm, the terminology
communicates to decision makers, scientists, and other users the results of actual ecological risk
assessments. It is, therefore, especially important that our language agree with other parts of this important
initiative. EMAP uses EPA's definitions as first meanings with refinements noted, and EMAP plans to
revise quarterly then publish this Master Glossary at least annually.
Access
This version of the Master Glossary supports access to EMAP's publications by supplying authors
and seekers of information with words that can be used to search electronic information databases and find
which EMAP documents are available and where they are kept. Terms in environmental science and the
many disciplines that constitute it have come under scrutiny as people search for information in complex
bibliographic data bases. Appendix B of the Master Glossary has been compiled as a selected list of
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). It is intended to help authors choose supplemental
descriptions from a controlled, cataloguing vocabulary to use as key words and to supplement the EMAP
terms selected for titles and abstracts so that EMAP publications will be easier for users to find.
Also for convenience and access, Appendix C includes the Glossary of Quality Assurance Terms
of the Quality Assurance Management Staff (QAMS) within the Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems,
and Quality Assurance in EPA's Office of Research and Development.
IV
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Master Glossary
October 1993
Contents
Abstract
Key words ' ..
Preferred citation
Notice ' ..
u
Acknowledgements
Preface .
•*,***••••** ••••••••••*•••••••••••..»...., iv
Purpose ''' " .
Assumptions and Usage . .. •
Access
• • iv
Glossary 1
Appendix A: Concordance ,,-
Appendix B: Library of Congress Subject Headings 17
Free-floating Subdivisions
Selected Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) IS
Appendix C: Glossary of Quality Assurance Terms . 29
Terms . '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 29
Acronyms -..
References
Index • ... ..................... 46
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
For Additional Information
To be put on the distribution list for EMAP's Monitor, a newsletter, send your name,
affiliation, and mailing address to:
Dorothy Williams
EMAP Monitor
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (G-72)
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
For more information on EMAP databases or information systems contact:
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EMAP-lnformation Management
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (RD-680)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 10460
(202) 260-3255 '-
FAX: (202) 260-4346
For more information on EMAP assessments and reports contact:
Technical Coordinator
EMAP-Assessment and Reporting
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (MD-75)
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-0673
To order EPA brochures, posters, magazines, and non-technical reports, contact:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Information Access Branch- Public Information Center (PIC)
401 M Street, SW PM-211B
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 260-7751
FAX: (202) 260-6257
(Have the "EPA" number or title or subject of inquiry ready when ordering.)
To order EPA technical reports, including EMAP technical reports or videos, contact:
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U.S. Department of Commerce
Springfield, VA 22161
NTIS QuikService (703) 487-4650 and ask for PR-846/827
Orders: (800) 553-NTIS
(Have the "PB" number ready when ordering.)
Numbers for EMAP publications can be located through the Government Printing
Office and NTIS bibliographic databases as well as in the EPA Publications
Bibliography.
VI
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Master Glossary
October 1993
Glossary
abiotic: Nonliving characteristic of the environment; the
physical and chemical components that relate to the state
of ecological resources. (Term added 1993, See related:
biotic, condition indicator, indicator.)
accuracy: The degree to which a calculation, a
measurement, or set of measurements agree with a true
value or an accepted reference value. "Accuracy
includes a combination of random error (precision) and
systematic error (bias) components which are due to
sampling and analytical operations; a data quality
indicator. EPA recommends that this term not be used
and that precision and bias be used to convey the
information usually associated with accuracy (QAMS
1993, 1)."
acid deposition: "A complex chemical and atmospheric
phenomenon that occurs when emissions of sulfur and
nitrogen compounds and other substances are transformed
by chemical processes in the atmosphere, often far from
the original sources, and then deposited on earth in either
a wet or dry form. The wet forms, popularly called "acid
rain," can fall as rain, snow, or fog. The dry forms are
acidic gases or particulates." (EPA 1992, 1)
adaptive sampling strategy: A sampling strategy that
allows modification of sampling 'design and analysis to
adapt to changing objectives or to changing
circumstances.
agroecosystem: A dynamic association of crops, pastures,
livestock, other flora and fauna, atmosphere, soils and
water. Agroecosystems are contained within larger
landscapes that include uncultivated land, drainage
networks, rural communities, and wildlife.
Alber's map projection: A standard map projection for
representing the conterminous 48 United States. This is a
conic equal area projection.
ancillary data: Data collected from studies within EMAP
but not used directly in the computation of an indicator.
Ancillary data can help characterize parameters and
assist in the interpretation of data sets; time, stage of tide,
and weather conditions are examples of ancillary data.
(Term added 1993. See related: auxiliary data.)
annual statistical summary: A document that presents a
brief and comprehensive report of EMAP data collected
on a single EMAP resource for a specific year. Annual
statistical summaries may include cumulative
frequency distributions, estimates of the extent of
nominal or subnominal condition, comparisons among
regions, or comparisons of data over time.
area frame; A sampling frame obtained by dividing a
region into well-defined, identifiable subregions that in
aggregate comprise the total area of the region of
interest. The subregions are sampling units defined on
maps or other cartographic materials. (See related:
frame.)
area sample: The units selected for measurements from an
area frame.
arid ecosystems: Terrestrial systems characterized by a
climate regime where the potential evapotranspiration
exceeds precipitation, annual precipitation is not less than
5 cm and not more than 60 cm, and daily and seasonal
temperatures range from -40*C to 50*C. The vegetation
is dominated by woody perennials, succulents, arid
drought resistant trees.
assessment: Interpretation and evaluation of EMAP results
for the purpose of answering policy-relevant questions
about ecological resources, including (1) determination of
the fraction of the population that meets a socially
defined value and (2) association among indicators of
ecological condition and stressors.
'"f
assessment endpoint: Formal expressions of the actual
environmental value that is to be protected (Suter 1990).
Risk Assessment Forum defines this as an: "explicit
expression of the environmental value that is to be
protected (RAF 1992, 37). Operationally in EMAP, an
assessment endpoint is the range, proportion, or
percentage of a resource that is know with statistical
confidence to be in a specified condition. (See related:
condition indicator, nominal, and subnominal.)
association rule: A rule that unambiguously links a single
resource sampling unit with a grid point. Several
association rules have been identified in selecting a Tier
2 sample via the EMAP grid.
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
attribute: Any property, quality, or characteristic of a
sampling unit. The indicators and other measures used
to characterize a sampling site or resource unit are
representations of the attributes of that unit or site. A
characteristic of a map feature (point, line, or polygon)
described by numbers or text; for example, attributes of
a tree, represented by a point might include height and
species. (See related: continuous.)
augmented sample: A grid-based sample whose size has
been increased by using a denser grid.
auxiliary data: Data derived from a source other than
EMAP, that is, from an experiment or from another
monitoring or sampling program, either Federal or State.
The sampling methods and quality assurance protocols of
auxiliary data must be evaluated before the data are used.
It is always important to establish the population
represented by auxiliary data. (Preferred term 1993;
replaces "non-EMAP data," and "found data," deleted in
1993; see related: ancillary data.)
azimuthal map projection: One of a class of map
projections formed by projecting coordinates from the
Earth's surface directly onto a plane that is either tangent
at a point on the surface or that intersects the surface in a
circle. When the plane intersects the surface, the
projection is said to be the secant case.
baseline grid: The fixed position of the EMAP grid as
established by the position of the hexagon overlaying the
United States. This is distinguished from the sampling
grid, which is shifted a random direction and distance
from the baseline grid. (See related: grid, 40-hex.)
bias: In a sampling context, the difference between the
conceptual weighted average value of an estimator over
all possible samples and the true value of the quantity
being estimated. An estimator is said to be unbiased if
that difference is zero. The "systematic or persistent
distortion of a measurement process which deprives the
result of representativeness (i.e., the expected sample
measurement is different than the sample's true value). A
data quality indicator" (QAMS 1993, 3).
bioaccumulants: "Substances that increase in concentration
in living organisms as they take in contaminated air,
water, or food because the substances are very slowly
metabolized or excreted" (EPA 1992,4).
bioassay: A laboratory or field test in which living
organisms are used to detect the presence of or test the
effect of a particular substance, factor, or condition.
Results are compared to a standard preparation or control
to determine the relative strength of the substance, factor,
or condition.
biodiversity: The variety and variability among living
organisms and the ecosystems in which they occur.
Biodiversity includes the numbers of different items and
their relative frequencies; these items are organized at
many levels, ranging from complete ecosystems to the
biochemical structures that are the molecular basis of
heredity. Thus, biodiversity encompasses expressions of
the relative abundances of different ecosystems, species,
and genes (OTA 1987).
biogeographic province: Geographic areas characterized by
specific plant formations and associated fauna.
biomarker: Biochemical, physiological, or histological
indicators of either exposure to or effects of xenobiotic
chemicals at the suborganismal or organismal level
(Huggett et al. 1992).
biomass: "All of the living material in a given area; often
refers to vegetation" (EPA 1992, 4).
biome: "Entire community of living organisms in a single
major ecological area" (EPA 1992, 4).
biotic: Of or pertaining to living organisms. (Term added
1993. See related: indicator, condition indicator,
abiotic, stressor indicator. Biotic condition indicator
replaces: "response indicator.")
calibration: Statistical transformation of a variable to
correct for scale or bias, or otherwise to impose the
properties of another variable. Example: let two labs use
different protocols of chemical analysis. Designate one
protocol as the standard and generate a transformation
function to convert the data from the second protocol into
representation of the standard. Calibration will be
required as a routine statistical procedure in many aspects
of EMAP. New protocols will replace old ones.
Surrogate attributes will be extensively measured, to be
calibrated to represent the target attribute. Use of
multiple laboratories invariably involves laboratory bias,
which can be reduced by calibration, analytic equipment
requires periodic calibration, and the data generated by
such a process can also benefit from statistical calibration.
Double-sample methods can utilize calibration in many
ways to enhance the precision of estimates based on small
subsamples.
candidate indicator (Deleted term 1993. See: indicator
development.)
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Master Glossary
October 1993
cdf. Cumulative distribution function. (See: cumulative
distribution).
change: As used in EMAP, the difference in the
distribution of measurements of condition indicators
between two time periods. (See related: status, trends.)
characterization: Determination of the attributes of
resource units, populations, or sampling units. A
prominent use in EMAP is characterization of 40-hexes.
classification: The process of assigning a resource unit to
one of a set of classes defined by values of specified
attributes. For example, forest sites will be classified into
the designated forest types, depending on the species
composition of the forest. Systematic arrangement of
objects into groups or categories according to established
criteria. '
Committee to Review EPA's Environmental Monitoring
and Assessment Program (See: National Academy of
Sciences.)
community: "All of the populations occupying a given
area" (Odum 1959, 6); Odum's definition was adapted by
the Risk Assessment Forum to read: "an assemblage of
populations of different species within a specified location
in space and time" (RAF 1992, 37). "In ecology, a group
of interacting populations in time and space. Sometimes,
a particular subgrouping may be specified, such as the
fish community in a lake or the soil arthropod community
in a forest" (EPA 1993, 6).
comparability: "The degree to which different methods, data
sets and/or decisions agree or can be represented as
similar; a data quality indicator " (QAMS 1993, 6).
completeness: "The amount of valid data obtained
compared to the planned amount, and [it is] usually
expressed as a percentage; a data quality indicator"
(QAMS 1993, 6).
conceptual model: A "conceptual model describes a series
of working hypotheses of how the stressor might affect
ecological components. The conceptual model also
describes the ecosystem potentially at risk, the
relationship between measurement [endpoints] and
assessment endpoints, and exposure scenarios" (RAF
1992, 37).
condition: The distribution of scores describing resource
attributes without respect to any societal value or desired
use, that is, a state of being. (New term 1993.)
condition indicator: A characteristic of the environment that
• provides quantitative estimates of the state of ecological
resources and is conceptually tied to a value. (New term
1993; replaces environmental indicator. See related:
indicator, abiotic, biotic, stressor indicator.)
confidence coefficient: "The probability statement that
accompanies a confidence interval and is equal to unity
minus the associated type I error rate (false positive rate).
A confidence coefficient of 0.10 implies that 90% of the
intervals resulting from repeated sampling of a population
will include the unknown (true) population parameter
(QAMS 1993, 6).
confidence interval: An interval defined by two values,
called confidence limits, calculated from sample data
using a procedure which ensures that the unknown true
value of the quantity of interest falls between such
calculated values in a specified percentage of samples.
Commonly, the specified percentage is 95%; the resulting
confidence interval is then called a 95% confidence
interval. A one-sided confidence interval is defined by a
single calculated value called an upper (or lower)
confidence limit. "The numerical interval constructed
around a point estimate of a population parameter,
combined with a probability statement (the confidence
coefficient) linking it to the population's true parameter
value. If the same confidence interval construction
technique and assumptions are used to calculate future
intervals, they will include the unknown population
parameter with the same specified probability" (QAMS
1993, 6). (See related: confidence coefficient.)
conformal map projection: One of a class of map
projections that preserves angular relationships between
the map and the surface of the earth. At any point on the
map, measurement of orientation angles is correct. A
conformal map projection cannot be equal-area.
conical (or conic) map projection: One of a class of map
projections formed by projecting coordinates from the
earth's surface onto a cone that either intersects the
surface of the earth or is tangent to a circle on the
surface. When the cone intersects the sphere, the
projection is said to be the secant case.
continuous: A characteristic of an attribute that is
conceptualized as a surface over some region. Examples
are certain attributes of a resource, such as chemical
stressor indicators measured in estuaries.
core indicator (See: indicator development.)
cross-cutting group: In EMAP's Integration and
Assessment section, one group of scientific and
administrative personnel headed by a technical
coordinator (TC) and charged with addressing specific
cross-program, integrative issues in EMAP, such as
Landscape Characterization, Design and Statistics,
Indicator Development, Information Management,
Assessment and Reporting, Logistics, Methods, and
Quality Assurance. (See related: resource group.)
cumulative distribution: A means of representing the
variation of some attribute by giving running totals of
the resource with attribute values less than or equal to a
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
specified series of values. For example, a cumulative
area! distribution of lakes would give, for any value a of
area, the total area covered by lakes with individual area
less than or equal to a. A cumulative frequency
distribution for lake area would give the total number of
lakes with area less than or equal to a. The cumulative
distribution function (cdf) of some specified attribute of
a population is the function F(x) that gives the
proportion of the population with value of the attribute
less than or equal to x, for any choice of x. For example,
if the attribute was lake area in hectares, F(a) would
give the proportion of lakes with area less than or equal
to a ha. (In some cases, the word "cumulative" may be
omitted in discussions of the cdf, and the cdf is called the
distribution function.)
oa-
F(x)
04-
OZ"
QJO-
00
100.0
200.0
X
300.0
Cumulative distribution function
cylindrical (or cylindric) map projection: One of a class
of map projections formed by projecting coordinates from
the earth's surface onto a cylinder that either intersects
the surface in two small circles or is tangent to a great
circle on the surface. When the cylinder intersects the
surface, the projection is said to be the secant case.
data quality: "The totality of features and characteristics of
data that bears on their ability to satisfy a given purpose;
the sum of the degrees of excellence for factors related to
data" (QAMS 1993, 7).
data quality indicators: "Quantitative statistics and
qualitative descriptors that are used to interpret the degree
of acceptability or utility of data to the user. The
principal data quality indicators are bias, precision,
accuracy, comparability, completeness, and
representativeness" (QAMS 1993, 7).
data quality objective (DQO): "Quantitative and
qualitative statements of the overall level of uncertainty
that a decision-maker is willing to accept in results or
decisions derived from environmental data. DQOs
provide the statistical framework for planning and
managing environmental data operations consistent with
the data user's needs" (QAMS 1993, 8). A data quality
objective may include goals for accuracy, precision, and
limits of detection. It may also include goals for
completeness, comparability, and representativeness.
Data quality objectives are established before sampling
is begun and may influence the level of effort required to
select a sample. .
deconvolution: The process of removing the influence of
extraneous variation from an apparent cumulative
distribution. Extraneous variation—such as random errors
in measurement-has the effect of inflating observed
variation relative to true population variation. The
cumulative distribution that will be estimated when
extraneous variation is present is the convolution of the
population distribution (which is the cumulative
distribution of interest) and the distribution of the
extraneous variable. The convolution cumulative
distribution will be flatter (have longer tails) than the
population cumulative distribution.
demonstration field program: A collection of
demonstration research projects to provide preliminary
estimates .of resource condition for one or more indicators
applied to one or more resource" classes over a standard
Federal region. A demonstration field program is likely
to include a group of pilot research projects to increase
the cost-effectiveness of the program. The
demonstration field program does not have a data
quality objective, but the individual pilot and
demonstration research projects do have DQOs. '(New
term 1993. See related: demonstration project,
implementation field program, pilot field program,
pilot project.)
demonstration project: A field research project designed
to provide preliminary estimates of a resource condition
for a single indicator over a standard Federal region for
one or more resource classes. Separate demonstration
projects are defined for each indicator of condition; in a
demonstration project, quality data objectives are
stated for preliminary statistical estimates. (See related:
demonstration field program, implementation field
program, pilot field program, pilot project.)
design-based: Statistical inferences using methodology
based on the sampling design. Such inferences derive
their properties from the design protocols.
design-unbiased: Indicates that an estimator is unbiased
under the design protocol. This property does not,
however, prevent bias from entering estimates from other,
sources. Design-unbiased estimators of variance do not
always exist under EMAP designs.
developmental indicator (Deleted term 1993. See:
indicator development.)
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Master Glossary
October 1993
diagnostic indicator (Deleted term 1993. See: stressor
indicator.)
digital line graph (DLG): Digital data produced by the
U.S. Geological Survey. These data include digital
information from the USGS map base categories such as
transportation, hydrography, contours, and public land
survey boundaries.
discrete resource: A resource consisting of a collection of
distinct units, such as lakes or stream reaches. Such a
resource will be described as a finite population of such
units. (See related: attribute, continuous, extensive
resource, resource.)
distribution function (See: cumulative distribution.)
domain: The area! extent of a resource; the region occupied
by a resource.
double sample: A sample of a sample. Specifically in
EMAP, resource attributes from remote sensing or
cartographic materials can be measured on a larger
sample than those attributes requiring field measurements.
Attributes on the former sample can be used to guide
selection of the latter sample.
ecology: "The relationship of living things to one another
and their environment, or the study of such relationships"
(EPA 1992, 10).
ecological health: A metaphor used to invoke ideas about
the integrity, complexity, and autonomy of an ecosystem
(Norton 1991). A definition of ecosystem health as an
actual entity with specific scale has not been resolved; the
terms are useful because they facilitate "a set of rules of
thumb, which can be thought of analogically, for
analyzing what is going wrong when environing (sic)
systems undergo rapid change" (Norton 1991, 116). (See
related: epidemiologic ecology, condition, nominal,
subnominal.)
ecological indicator (Deleted term 1993. See: condition
indicator.)
Ecological Effects Committee (See: Science Advisory
Board.)
ecological risk assessment: A process that evaluates the
likelihood that adverse ecological effects may occur or
are occurring as a result of exposure to one or more
srressors (RAF 1992, 37). (See related: risk assessment.)
ecoregion: A relatively homogeneous geographic area
"perceived by simultaneously analyzing a combination of
causal and integrative factors including land surface form,
soils, land uses, and potential natural vegetation.
(Omernik 1987, 123) Ecoregions "was coined by J.M.
Crowley (1967) and popularized by R.G. Baily (1976) to
define a mapped classification of ecosystem regions of
the U.S.. . .Ecoregions are generally considered to be the
regions of relative homogeneity in ecological systems or
in relationships between organisms and their
environments" (123).
ecosystem: The biotic community and its abiotic
environment (Krebs 1978) within a specified location in
space and time (added by RAF 1992). "The interacting
system of a biological community and its non-living
environmental surroundings" (EPA 1992, 10).
ecosystem functions: Energy circuits, food chains, diversity
patterns in time and space, nutrient cycles, development
and evolution, and control within an ecosystem. (Odum
1971,8)
ecosystem structure: Pattern of the interrelations of
organisms in time and in spatial arrangements. (Odum
1971,8-9)
ecotone: A habitat created by the juxtaposition of distinctly
different habitats; an edge habitat; an ecological zone or
boundary where two or more ecosystems meet.
entire: Being whole, not convoluted or divided into distinct
spatial parts. In EMAP, this property affects the
precision of certain sample statistics. (See related:
fragmented.)
environment: "The sum of all external conditions affecting
the life, development, and survival of an organism" (EPA
1992, 11). (See related: habitat.)
environmental assessment: An environmental analysis
prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy
Act to determine whether a Federal action should
significantly affect the environment and thus require a
more detailed environmental impact statement.
environmental indicator (Deleted term 1993. See:
indicator.)
environmental value (See: value.)
epidemiologic ecology: The study of the effects of human,
physical, biological, and chemical stressors on conditions
of ecosystems, broadly conceived. This area of ecology
uses epidemiological concepts and methods to associate
ecological effects or responses with stressors through
assessments, long-term monitoring data, and results of
research. (Proposed new term 1993. See related:
ecological health, condition, nominal, subnominal,
stressor.)
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equal-area (equivalent) projection: One of a class of map
projections that preserves area relationships between the
map and the surface of the Earth. On an equal-area
projection, two areas that are equal on the surface of the
Earth will also be equal on the map. A projection cannot
be both conformal and equal-area.
estuary: "Regions of interaction between rivers and
nearshore ocean waters, where tidal action and river
flow mix fresh and salt water. Such areas include
bays, mouths of rivers, salt marshes, and lagoons.
These brackish water ecosystems shelter and feed
marine life, birds, and wildlife" (EPA 1992, 11). In
EMAP, large estuaries are defined as those estuaries
greater than 260 km2 in surface area and with aspect
ratios (i.e., length/average width) of less than 20.
Large tidal rivers are defined as that portion of the
river that is tidally influenced (i.e, detectable tide > 2.5
cm), greater than 260 km2, and with an aspect ratio of
greater than 20. Small estuaries and small tidal rivers
are those systems whose surface areas fell between 2.6
km2 and 260 km2. (See related: wetlands.)
exposure indicator (Deleted term 1993. See: stressor
indicator.)
extensive resource: A resource covering a large area that is
not ecologically integrated and is not a collection of
natural units, for example, large marshes or rangelands.
Characterization of an extensive resource is scale-
dependent.
40-hex: The landscape description hexagon that is
established on each of the grid points in the EMAP grid.
Actual size of these hexagons is 634.5/16 = 39.7km2.
forest: Land with at least 10% of its surface area stocked
by trees of any size or formerly having had such trees as
cover and not currently built-up or developed for
agricultural use (USDAFS 1989).
found data (Deleted term 1993. See: auxiliary data,
judgment sample.)
fragmented: Being divided or convoluted into distinct
parts, rather than entire. In EMAP, the spatial
fragmentation of resources and the spatial/temporal
fragmentation of resource attributes affect the precision
of certain population statistics, so that attention must be
given to this state. (See related: entire.)
frame: A representation of a population, used to
implement a sampling strategy as, for example, (1) a list
frame that lists the identifying units in the population—
for instance, a list of all the lakes in the United States
between 10 and 2000 ha-or (2) an area frame that
consists of explicit descriptions of a partition of the area!
extent of an areal universe—like the NASS frame. (See
related: area frame, sampling unit.)
frame, conceptual: An explicit definition of a frame that
does not involve a tangible realization.
geographic information system (CIS): A collection of
computer hardware, software, and geographic data
designed to capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze,
and display geographically referenced data.
Great Lakes: In EMAP, the resource that encompasses
the five Great Lakes-Superior, Michigan, Huron,
Erie, and Ontario, including river mouths up to the
maximum extent of lake influence; wetlands
contiguous to the lakes; and the connecting channels,
Lake St Clair and the upper portion of the St.
Lawrence Seaway.
grid: A data structure commonly used to represent map
features. A cellular-based data structure composed of
cells or pixels arranged in rows and columns (also called.
a "raster"). (See related: 40-hex.)
grid enhancement: Increasing the grid density, a method
for augmenting the sample. When the sample size is too
small, as will occur for rare resources, the grid density
may be increased in order to obtain a sample size
adequate for population description. Grid enhancement
is one method of producing an augmented sample.
grid, hierarchical: Having nested levels and structure; the
density of the EMAP grid is readily increased or reduced
in a regular manner into hierarchical levels of density.
Adjacent levels may differ in density by a variety of
factors: 3,4, 7, or many functions of these base factors.
The grid of points at one level will be contained in the
grid at a higher density.
grid randomization: The process of randomly positioning
the grid so that each (discrete) unit of area of fixed size
is equally likely to contain a grid point. This process is
the basis for the probability sample designation for
EMAP monitoring.
grid, triangular (EMAP): A lattice of points in exact
equilateral triangular structure on a plane. The EMAP
grid points are 27.1 km-, apart.
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habitat: "The place where a population (e.g., human,
animal, plant, microorganism) lives and its surroundings,
both living and non-living" (EPA 1992, 14).
habitat indicator (Deleted term 1992. See: abiotic
condition indicator.)
heuristic method: In EMAP, a process for exploring and
organizing information to conceptually discover and
describe or postulate relationships among indicator
variables and key processes of an ecosystem or resource.
(New term 1993.)
hierarchial geometric decomposition: The mathematical
process of breaking down a geometric structure into
component parts. In the EMAP grid, the process by
which the triangular grid is subdivided into higher density
grids is hierarchial geometric decomposition. Related
notions are enhancement and disaggregation; the opposite
notion is composition of components into a larger whole.
hierarchical model: A construct in which component
variables and systems of ecological entities are defined to
have the smallest unit of spatial and temporal detail in the
lowest level; each higher level reflects processes and
interactions occurring at ever larger spatial and temporal
scales. Behaviors of a particular level in the hierarchical
model are determined both by constraints imposed by the
levels above and filtered or averaged behaviors of
components and subsystems of levels below. (New term
1993.)
implementation field program: The decision by EMAP to
make a long-term commitment to provide scientifically
defensible estimates of current status, trends, and changes
in condition indicators and association of these indicators
with selected stressors. The decision will include
consideration of (1) the link between values and
indicators proposed for implementation, (2) the scientific
basis for the indictor, (3) the scientific validity of the
proposed national sampling design, (4) a demonstrated
ability to meet the EMAP status and trends program
quality objectives, and (5) explicit plans that ensure the
implementation can be conducted and produce annual
statistical summaries. (New term 1993. See related:
demonstration field program, demonstration project,
pilot project, pilot field program.)
inclusion probability: The probability of including a
specific sampling unit within a sample.
index: Mathematical aggregation of indicators or metrics.
index period: The period of the year when measurement of
an indicator yields meaningful information.
index sample: A standardized judgment sample for which
explicit rules for generating the index measure are
formally prescribed. An index sample is appropriate
only for ecologically integrated systems. For example, in
the National Lake Survey, a lake in the probability
sample of lakes was field sampled at a prescribed season
of the year (index period), in a prescribed standardized
location in the lake (index site), and in a prescribed
manner (field protocol). (See related: judgment sample,
sample.)
indicator: In EMAP, characteristics of the environment,
both abiotic and biotic, that can provide quantitative
information on ecological resources. (Revised definition
1993. Preferred term for environmental indicator, deleted
1993.) "In biology, an organism, species, or community
whose characteristics show the presence of specific
environmental conditions, good or bad" (EPA 1992, 15).
(See related: condition indicator, stressor indicator,
biotic, abiotic.)
indicator development: The process through which an
indicator is identified, tested, and implemented. A
candidate indicator is identified and reviewed by peers
before it is selected for further evaluation as a research
indicator. Existing data are analyzed, simulation studies
are performed with realistic scenarios, and limited field
tests are conducted to evaluate the research indicator. In
the past, this research indicator was called a
"probationary core indicator" or a "development
indicator" as it was evaluated in regional demonstration
projects. An indicator is considered a core indicator
when it is selected for long-term, ecological monitoring
as a result of its acceptable performance , demonstrated
ability to satisfy the data quality objectives.
integrated assessment (Deleted term 1993. See:
assessment.)
integration: The formation, coordination, or blending of
units or components into a functioning or unified whole.
In EMAP, integration refers to a coordinated approach to
environmental monitoring, research, and assessment,
both among EMAP resource groups and with other
environmental monitoring programs. Integration in
EMAP also refers to the technical processes involved in
normalizing and combining data for interpretation and
assessment.
interpenetrating subsamples: If a sample is partitioned
into subsamples, each of which closely reflects the
structure of the full design, then the subsamples are said
to mutually interpenetrate the frame. The EMAP design
prescribes 4 interpenetrating grids, each with density one-
fourth of the base grid. Together, these four grids
constitute the baseline grid.
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judgment sample: A form of non-probability sample in
which the sample is chosen according to the judgment of
the sampler.
K
gathering data on attributes such as elevation,
demographics, soils, physiographic regions, and others.
landscape ecology: The study of distribution patterns of
communities and ecosystems, the ecological processes
that affect those patterns, and changes in pattern and
process over time (Forman and Godron 1986). In EMAP,
a resource group.
landscape indictor (Deleted term 1993. See: condition
indicator.)
list frame: (See: frame. See related: area frame.)
kriging: A weighted, moving-average estimation technique
based on geostatistics that uses the spatial correlation of
point measurements to estimate values at adjacent,
unmeasured points (Hunsaker and Carpenter 1990, xxiii).
A sophisticated technique for filling in missing data
values, kriging is named after a South African engineer,
D.G. Krige, who first developed the method. The kriging
routine preserves known data values, estimates missing
data values, and also "estimates the variance at every
missing data location. . .After kriging, the filled matrix
contains the best possible estimate of the missing data
values, in the sense that the variance has been minimized"
(Fortner 1992; 215, 167-176).
lake: In EMAP, a standing body of water greater than 1
hectare (about 2.5 acre) that has at least 1000 m2 (about
0.25 acre) of open water and is at least 1 meter (about 3
feet) deep at its deepest point. (See related: surface
waters, wetlands.)
Lambert's azimuthal map projection: The map projection
used for laying out the EMAP grid. This is an equal-
area projection.
landscape: The set of traits, patterns, and structure of a
specific geographic area, including its biological
composition, its physical environment, and its
anthropogenic patterns. An area where interacting
ecosystems are grouped and repeated in similar form.
landscape characterization: Documentation of the traits
and patterns of the essential elements of the landscape,
including attributes of the physical environment,
biological composition, and anthropogenic patterns. In
EMAP, landscape characterization emphasizes the process
of describing land use or land cover, but also includes
management indicator (Deleted term 1993. See: stressor
indicator.)
map projection: A mathematical formula or algorithm for
translating the coordinates of features on the surface of
the Earth to a plane for representation on a flat map.
map resolution: The accuracy with which the location and
shape of map features are depicted for a given map scale.
map scale: A statement of a measure on the map and the
equivalent measure on the earth, often expressed as a
representative fraction of distance, such as 1:24,000.
marginal condition: The state that exists when the
nominal and subnominal criteria are not contiguous.
measurement: A quantifiable attribute that is tied to an
indicator.
measurement endpoint: A measurable ecological
characteristic that is related to the valued characteristic
chosen as the assessment endpoint (Suter 1990). RAF
added to Suter: " Measurement endpoints are often
expressed as the statistical or arithmetic summaries of the
observations that comprise [sic] the measurement" (RAF
1992, 38).
meridian: One of a group of abstract lines on the surface
of the Earth formed by the longitude and latitude
coordinate system. Meridians represent lines of equal
longitude and,thus converge at the poles. All meridians
are great circles. (See related: parallel.)
meridional zones: Areas on the surface of the earth formed
by adjacent meridians.
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modeling: "Development of a mathematical or physical
representation of a system or theory that accounts for all
or some of its known properties. Models are often used
to test the effect of changes of components on the overall
performance of the system" (EPA 1992, 18).
monitoring: In EMAP, the periodic collection of data that
is used to determine the condition of ecological
resources. "Periodic or continuous surveillance or testing
to determine the level of compliance with statutory
requirements and/or pollutant levels in various media [air,
soil, water] or in humans, plants, and animals" (EPA
1992, 18).
N
National Academy of Sciences (NAS): The National
Academy of Sciences/National Research Council
(NRC) performs level 2 peer review to determine if
EMAP projects have overall scientific merit and integrate
both internally and with other government-sponsored
monitoring programs. Two commissions of the NRC-the
Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources
(specifically, its Water Science and Technology Board)
and the Commission on Life Sciences-jointly organized
the Committee to Review EPA's Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment Program in 1991.
This NAS/NRC committee holds about 12 meetings
and produces two or three reports every two years; its
primary purpose is to consider the scientific and technical
aspects of EMAP as designed as well as considering ways
to increase EMAP's usefulness in monitoring conditions
and trends in six representative types of ecosystems. The
Committee also reviews the overall design objectives of
the program, the indicator strategies, data collection
methods, data analysis interpretation, and communication
plans. Preparation for NAS/NRC reviews is coordinated
by the Director of OMMSQA, EPA-ORD, who is also
responsible for funding. (Term added 1993.)
nominal: Referring to the state of having desirable or
acceptable ecological condition. The quantified standard
established for a condition indicator to represent the
desirable or acceptable condition is called a nominal
assessment endpoint. (See related: marginal,
subnominal, assessment endpoint.)
NRC (See: National Research Council)
off-frame data (See preferred term: auxiliary data.)
Office of Modelling, Monitoring Systems, and Quality
Assurance (OMMSQA): The office within EPA's Office
of Research and Development responsible for EMAP
management within the Agency.
on-frame data: Data acquired by a sampling approach that
provides a probability sample. (See preferred term:
attribute .)
parallel: One of a group of abstract lines on the surface of
the earth formed by the latitude and longitude coordinate
system: parallels represent lines of equal latitude. Only
the parallel at the equator is a great circle; other
parallels are small circles. (See related: meridian.)
parameter: "Any quantity such as a mean or a standard
deviation characterizing a population. Commonly
misused for 'variable,' 'characteristic,' or 'property'"
(QAMS 1993, 15).
pattern: In EMAP, the location, distribution, and
composition of structural landscape components within a
particular geographic area or in a spatial context
peer review: In EMAP, peer review means written, critical
response provided by scientists and other technically
qualified participants in the process. EMAP documents
are subject to formal peer review procedures at laboratory
and program levels. In EMAP, Level 1 peer reviews are
performed by EPA's Science Advisory Board, level 2 by
the NAS National Research Council, level 3 by specialist
panel peer reviews, and level 4 by internal EPA
respondents. (Added term 1993. See related: National
Academy of Sciences, Science Advisory Board.)
pilot field program: A collection of pilot projects whose
objectives are to provide the scientific information
required prior to a decision to implement a monitoring
design for a resource. Preliminary estimates of resource
condition are not planned and will not be made from a
pilot field program, which does not have a data quality
objective; the individual pilot projects and
demonstration projects do have DQOs. (New term
1993. See related: demonstration field program,
demonstration project, implementation field program,
pilot project.)
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Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
pilot project: A research project that requires field work to
meet a stated research project quality objective, and the
objective is not to provide preliminary estimates of
resource condition. Each research activity on an indicator
should be described as an individual pilot project usually
during a single index period. Pilot projects are used to
evaluate indicators, sampling strategy, methods, and
logistics. (See related: demonstration field program,
demonstration project, implementation field program,
pilot field program.)
population: "A group of .interbreeding organisms occupying
a particular space; the number of humans or other living
creatures in a designated area" (EPA 1992, 22 after Odum
[1953] 1959, 6). In statistics and sampling design, the
total universe addressed in a sampling effort; an
assemblage of units of a particular resource, or any subset
of extensive resources, about which inferences are desired
or made. RAF defines population to be "an aggregate of
individuals of a species within a specified location in
space and time" (RAF 1992, 38).
population estimation: Classic survey estimation of
population parameters. Such estimates will not reflect
spatial configuration except through identification of the
population, or of subpopulations, which may be defined
by spatial attributes.
population units: The entities that make up a target
population. The units can be defined in many ways,
depending on the survey objectives and the type of
measurement to be made. Typically, definitions of
environmental units include (1) an explicit statement of
the characteristics each population unit must possess in
order to be considered a member of the target population
and a (2) specification of location in space and time.
precision: The degree to which replicate measurements of
the same attribute agree or are exact. "The degree to
which a set of observations or measurements of the same
property, usually obtained under similar conditions,
conform to themselves; a data quality indicator"
(QAMS 1993,16). (See related: accuracy, bias.)
probability sample: A sample chosen in such a manner
that the probabilities of including the selected units in the
sample are known, and all population units have a
positive probability of selection. This implies that the
target population is represented by the sample and that
the target population is explicitly defined.
probationary core indicator (Deleted term 1992. See:
indicator development.)
projection: A mathematical model that transforms the
locations of features on the Earth's surface to locations on
a two-dimensional surface. (Term added 1993.)
quality assessment: "The evaluation of environmental data
to determine if they meet the quality criteria required for
a specific application" (QAMS 1993, 17).
quality assurance (QA): "An integrated system of activities
involving planning, quality control, quality assessment,
reporting and quality improvement to ensure that a
product or service meets defined standards of quality with
a stated level of confidence" (QAMS 1993, 7).
In EMAP, quality assurance consists of multiple
steps taken to ensure that all data quality objectives are
achieved. (See related: quality assessment, data
quality objectives, quality control.)
quality control (QC): "The overall system of technical
activities whose purpose is to measure and control the
quality of a product or service so that it meets the needs
of users. The aim is to provide quality that is
satisfactory, adequate, dependable, and economical"
(QAMS 1993, 17).
In EMAP, quality control consists of specific steps
taken during the data collection process to ensure that
equipment and procedures are operating as intended and
that they will allow data quality objectives to be
achieved. (See related: data quality objectives, quality
assessment, quality assurance, QA/QC.)
QA/QC:' Quality Assurance/Quality Control. "A system
of procedures, checks,' audits, and corrective actions to
ensure that all EPA research design and performance,
environmental monitoring and sampling, and other
technical and reporting activities are of the highest
achievable quality" (EPA 1992, 23).
quantile: The value of an attribute indexing a specified
proportion of a population distribution or distribution
function. Quartiles (25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles), the
median (50th percentile), and other percentiles are special
cases of quantiles.
R
recovery: The partial or full return of a population or
community to a condition that existed before the
introduction of the stressor (RAF 1992, 38).
randomization: The process of imposing an element of
chance on the selection of a sample. Randomization is a
step in the design protocol and may take many forms; it
is the basis for determining the design-based properties
of the resulting probability sample.
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reference condition: The set of attributes of ecological
resources that assist in identifying the location of a
portion of the resource population along a condition
continuum from the worst possible condition to the best
possible condition given the prevailing topography, soil,
geology, potential vegetation, and general land use of the
region. Reference condition typically refers to the best
resource condition, but it is used more broadly in EMAP.
(Term added 1993.)
reference site: One of a population of bench mark or
control sampling locations that, taken collectively,
represent an ecoregion or other large biogeographic area;
the sites, as a whole, represent the best ecological
conditions that can be reasonably attained, given the
prevailing topography, soil, geology, potential vegetation,
and general land use of the region or clearly subnominal
condition.
region: Any explicitly defined geographic area. In the
EMAP objectives, region refers to the ten standard
Federal regions (OMB 1974).
relation: The concept of function, correlation, or
association between or among attributes, which may be
qualitative as well as quantitative.
representativeness: "The degree to which data accurately
and precisely represent the frequency distribution of a
specific variable in the population; a data quality
indicator" (QAMS 1993, 20).
research indicator (Deleted term 1993. See: indicator
development)
research project: A single, focussed activity with a single
primary research objective. The project includes the
entire research process of initial planning, conduct of
research (including field work if necessary), and
evaluation (analysis and reporting). A research project
involving field work may require several years to
complete. Many EMAP research projects will not
require field work: such projects include development of
conceptual models for an indicator, development of a
proposed national sampling design strategy, analysis of
existing data for indicator development, and others.
resource: In EMAP, an ecological entity that is identified
as a target of sampling and is a group of general, broad
ecosystem types or ecological entities sharing certain
basic characteristics. Seven such categories currently are
identified within EMAP: estuaries, Great Lakes, inland
surface waters, wetlands, forests, arid ecosystems,.and
agroecosystems. These categories define the
organizational structure of monitoring groups in EMAP
and are the resources addressed by EMAP assessments.
A resource can be characterized as belonging to one of
two types, discrete and extensive, that pose different
problems of sampling and representation.
resource assessment (See: assessment.)
resource class: A subdivision of a resource; examples
include small lakes, oak-hickory forests, emergent
estuarine wetlands, field cropland, small estuaries, and
sagebrush dominated desert scrub.
resource domain: The areal extent of a resource; the
region occupied by a resource.
resource group: In EMAP's Resource Monitoring and
Research section, a group of scientific and administrative
personnel, headed by a technical director (TD),
responsible for research, monitoring, and assessments
for a given EMAP resource. There are seven such
groups in EMAP: Estuaries, Great Lakes, Inland Surface
Waters, Wetlands, Forests, Arid Ecosystems, and
Agroecosystems. Landscape ecology is also considered a
resource group in EMAP. (See related: cross-cutting
group.)
resource unit: A unit of a discrete resource, for example,
a lake. A population of such a resource will be an
explicit set of resource units.
response indicator (Deleted term 1993. See: biotic
condition indicator.)
risk: "A measure of the probability that damage to life,
health, property, and/or the environment will occur as a
result of a given hazard" (EPA 1992, 25). In statistics,
"the expected loss due to the use of a given decision
procedure" (QAMS 1993, 20).
risk assessment: "Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of
the risk posed to human health and/or the environment by
the actual or potential presence and/or use of specific
pollutants" (EPA 1992, 25).
risk characterization: Determination of the nature of a
given risk and quantifying of the potential for adverse
change to the environment from that risk. "A phase of
ecological risk assessment that integrates the results of the
exposure and ecological effects analyses to evaluate the
likelihood of adverse ecological effects associated with
exposure to a stressor. The ecological significance of the
adverse effects is discussed, including consideration of
the types and magnitudes of the effects, their spatial and
temporal patterns, and the likelihood of recovery" (RAF
1992,38). ,
risk communication: "The exchange of information about
environmental risks among risk assessors, risk managers,
the general public, news media, special interest groups,
and others" (EPA 1992, 25).
risk management: "The process of evaluating and selecting
alternative regulatory and non-regulatory responses to
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risk. The selection process necessarily requires the
consideration of scientific, legal, economic, and
behavioral factors" (EPA 1992, 25).
stressor: "Any physical, chemical, or biological entity that
can induce an adverse response" (RAF 1992, 38).
sample: A subset of the units from a frame. A sample
may also be a subset of resource units from a
population or a set of sampling units. (See related:
judgment sample, probability sample.)
sampling strategy: A sampling design, together with a plan
of analysis and estimation. The design consists of a
frame, either explicit or implicit, together with a protocol
for selection of sampling units.
sampling unit: An entity that is subject to selection and
characterization under a sampling design. A sample
consists of a set of sampling units or sites that will be
characterized. Sampling units are defined by the frame;
they may correspond to resource units, or they may be
artificial units constructed for the sole purpose of the
sampling design.
Science Advisory Board (SAB): A peer review panel
internal to EPA. The Ecological Effects Committee of
the SAB conducts reviews of EMAP's overall program
and the conceptual framework for integrating EMAP with
ORD's Ecological Risk Assessment program. Preparation
for SAB reviews is coordinated by the Director of the
Office of Modeling, Monitoring systems, and Quality
Assurance (OMMSQA); the Assistant Administrator for
ORD is responsible for funding. SAB review is
considered level 1 peer review.
spatial model: A set of rules and procedures for conducting
spatial analysis to derive new information that can be
analyzed to aid in problem solving and planning. (New
term 1993.)
spatial statistics: Statistical methodology and theory that
accounts for spatial aspects of a spatially distributed data
set. Conventional population estimation does not
normally account for.spatial attributes, except perhaps
for spatial identity of subpopulations.
status: The distribution of scores for condition indicators
with relation to the reference condition associated with
specific social values or desired uses for a specific time
period. (Term added 1993. See related: change,
condition, trends.)
stratum (strata): A sampling structure that restricts sample
randomization/selection to a subset of the frame. In-
clusion probabilities may or may not differ among strata.
stressor indicator: A characteristic of the environment
that is suspected to elicit a change in the state of an
ecological resource, and they include both natural and
human-induced stressors. Selected stressor indicators
will be monitored in EMAP only when a relationship
between specific condition and stressor indicators are
known or if a testable hypothesis can be formulated. (See
related: indicator, condition indicator.)
subnominal: Having undesirable or unacceptable ecological
condition. The quantified standard established for a
condition indicator to represent unacceptable or
undesirable ecological condition is called the subnominal
assessment endpoint. (See related: assessment endpoint,
marginal, nominal.)
subpopulation: Any subset of a population, usually having
a specific attribute that distinguishes its members from
the rest of the population, for example, lakes from a
specified population that are above 1000 m in elevation.
Subpopulations are important entities in the EMAP plan.
Any defined subpopulation is subject to characterization
via estimation of subpopulation attributes and
comparison to other subpopulations. It is this focus that
imposes the greatest restrictions on the EMAP design and
establishes the primary directions of the EMAP analyses.
surface fitting: A statistical procedure of estimating the
parameters of a surface model or of approximating an
implied surface by distribution free methods from a
spatially distributed sample. A two-dimensional
generalization of regression.
surface waters: The inland surface waters consisting of all
the Nation's lakes (other than the Great Lakes), rivers,
and streams. Lakes are distinguished from wetlands by
depth and by size. Streams (and rivers) will be identified
from stream traces on maps and confirmed in field visits.
Streams are operationally defined as any first or higher
order stream that is represented as a blue line on a USGS
1:100,000 topographic map.
"All water naturally open to the atmosphere (rivers,
lakes, reservoirs, ponds, streams, impoundments, seas,
estuaries, etc.) and all springs, wells, or other collectors
directly influenced by surface water" (EPA 1992, 28).
(See related: lake, wetlands.)
systematic sample: A sampling design that utilizes regular
spacing between the sample points, in one sense or
another. The EMAP design selects samples via the
triangular grid. Spatial arrangement of the selected
resource units is not always strictly systematic, but the
systematic grid is an important aspect of the design.
12
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Master Glossary
October 1993
target population: A specific resource set that is the
object or target of investigation.
technical coordinator (TC): The individual responsible for
directing the activities of an individual cross-cutting
group.
technical director (TD): The individual responsible for
directing the activities of an individual resource group.
tessellation: A pavement or tiling of a space by a mosaic
pattern. The EMAP design prescribes a regular
tessellation on the United States, consisting of hexagons
of 634.5 km2.
Tier 1 resource: A specific designation given an EMAP
resource class that will be treated as a stratum at Tier 2.
Tier I/Tier 2: The EMAP design is a multi-stage, or multi-
phase, design. These two terms describe the multi-stage
structure of EMAP's monitoring activities. Tier 1 refers
to studies that reflect the structure of the sampling grid,
and these studies characterize the extend of the resource
and its geographical distribution. Tier 2 refers to a
double sample from a Tier 1 sample; these studies
quantify the ecological condition on a national or regional
basis. (See related: Tier 3/Tier 4.)
Tier 3/Tier 4: The general investigation of status and
nature of environmental issues involves other levels of
investigation below those of monitoring: in EMAP,. these
, activities are designated as Tier 3 or Tier 4. Tier 3
studies are specialized, intensive studies of a finite
duration to help diagnose or determine the extent of a
degraded condition. Tier 4 studies are basic research
studies that support EMAP, and they complement Tier 1,
Tier 2, and Tier 3 studies.
total quality management (TQM): A system that is
implemented in every aspect of an organization with the
focus of providing quality; that is^ highly valued
products. The system provides a framework for planning,
documentation, communication, etc. and strongly
emphasizes a client-oriented perspective. "The process
whereby an entire organization, led by senior
management, commits to focusing on quality as a first
priority in every activity. TQM implementation creates a
culture in which everyone in the organization shares the
responsibility for continuously improving the quality of
products and services in order to satisfy the customer"
(QAMS 1993, 26).
trends: The changes in the distribution of scores for
condition indicators over multiple time periods. (See
related: status, change.)
trophic levels: "A functional classification of taxa within a
community that is based on feeding relationships (e.g.,
aquatic and terrestrial green plants comprise (sic) the first
trophic level and herbivores comprise (sic) the second.)
(RAF 1992, 38).
u
universal transverse mercator (UTM) projection: The
map projection used in many standard map series. This
projection uses the Mercator projection formula on
meridional zones; it is a cylindrical conformal projection.
universe: The total entity of interest in a sampling program,
often together with some structural features. The EMAP
universe is the entire United States, together with
adjoining waters. (See related: population.)
value: A characteristic of the environment that is desired.
In the past, the term "environmental value" was defined
to mean characteristic of the environment that contributes
to the quality of life provided to an area's inhabitants; for
example, the ability of an area to provide desired
functions such as food, clean water and air, aesthetic
experience, recreation, and desired animal and plant
species. Biodiversity, sustainability, and aesthetics are
examples of environmental values (Suter 1990). A
quantity's magnitude.
variance: A measure of the variability or precision of a set
of observations.
vector: A coordinate-based data structure commonly used
to represent map features. (Term added 1993.)
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
X
watershed: "The terrestrial area of the landscape
contributing to flow at a given stream location. The land
area that drains into a stream" (EPA 1992, 31),
xenobiotic: "A chemical or other stressor that does not
occur naturally in the environment. Xenobiotics occur as
a result of anthropogenic activities such as the application
of pesticides and the discharge of industrial chemicals to
air, land, or water" (RAF 1992, 38),
Watershed
weights: In a probability sample, the sample weights are
the inverses of the inclusion probabilities; these are
always known for a probability sample.
wetlands: Lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic
systems where the water table is usually at or near the
surface or where shallow water covers the land and where
at least one of the following attributes holds: (1) at least
periodically, the land supports aquatic plants
predominantly; (2) undrained hydric soils are the
predominant substrate; and (3) at some time during the
growing season, the substrate is saturated with water or
covered by shallow water (Cowardin et al. 1979).
"An area that is saturated by surface or ground
water with vegetation adapted for life under those soil
conditions, as swamps, bogs, fens, marshes, and estuaries
(EPA 1993, 30).
14
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Master Glossary
October 1993
Appendix A: Concordance
abiotic
accuracy
acid deposition
adaptive sampling strategy
agroecosystem
Alber's map projection
ancillary data
annual statistical summary
area frame
area sample
arid ecosystem
assessment
assessment endpoint
association rule
attribute
augmented sample
auxiliary data
azimuthal map projection
baseline grid
bias
bioaccumulants
bioassay
biodiversity
biogeographic province
biomarker
biomass
biome
biotic
calibration
candidate indicator
cdf
changes
characterization
classification
Committee to Review
community
comparability
completeness
conceptual model
condition
condition indicator
confidence coefficient
confidence interval
conformal map projection
continuous
cross-cutting group
cumulative distribution
cylindrical map projection
cylindric map projection
data quality
data quality indicators
data quality objective
DQO
deconvqlution
demonstration field program
demonstration project
design-based
design-unbiased
digital line graph
DLG
discrete resource
domain
double sample
ecology
Ecological Effects Committee
ecological health
ecological risk assessment
ecoregion
ecosystem
ecosystem function
ecosystem health
ecosystem structure
ecotone
entire
environment
environmental assessment
epidemiologic ecology
equal-area projection
equivalent projection
estuary
extensive resource
40-hex
forest
fragmented
frame
frame, conceptual
geographic information system
CIS
Great Lakes
grid
grid enhancement
. grid, hierarchical
grid randomization
grid, triangular
habitat
heuristic method
15
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
hierarchical geometric decomposition
hierarchical model
implementation field program
inclusion probability
index
index period
index sample
indicator
indicator development
integration
interpenetrating subsamples
judgment sample
kriging
Lambert's azimuthal map projection
landscape
landscape characterization
landscape classification
landscape description
landscape ecology
map projection
map resolution
map scale
marginal condition
measurement
measurement endpoint
meridian
meridional zones
modeling
monitoring
National Academy of Sciences
NAS
National Research Council
NRC
nominal
Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems, and Quality
Assurance
OMMSQA
on-frame data
parallel
parameter ' '
pattern
peer review
pilot field program
pilot project
population
population estimation
population units
precision
probability sample
quality assessment
quality assurance
QA
quality control
QC
QA/QC
quantile
randomization
recovery
reference condition
reference site
region
relation
representativeness
research project
resource
resource class
resource domain
resource group
resource unit
risk
risk assessment
risk characterization
risk communication
risk management
sample
sampling strategy
sampling unit
Science Advisory Board
SAB
spatial statistics
status
strata
stratum
stressor
stressor indicator
subnominal
subpopulation
surface fitting
surface waters
systematic sample
target population
technical coordinator
TC
technical director
TD
tessellation
Tier 1 resource
Tier I/Tier 2
Tier 3/Tier 4
total quality management
TQM
trends
trophic levels
universal transverse mercator projection
UTM
universe
value
variance
watershed
weights
wetlands
xenobiotic
16
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Master Glossary
October 1993
Appendix B: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) describe the
most specific contents of publications for cataloging purposes.
It is important for authors to select a suite of key words that
represent EMAP's national or regional scope, multiple
indicators, and many conditions in each of their documents-
that is, the more general scope for a narrow topic. Otherwise,
catalogers and indexers of electronic bibliographic systems will
assign terms based on their perception of a specific organism,
single resource, and particular geographic location as well as
on traditional effects-oriented rather than stress-oriented use of
professional terminology. Both the Government Printing
Office database and the National Technical Information Service
database employ LCSH, abstracts, and key words in their
indexing and cataloging. Furthermore, EPA's Public
Information Product Inventory requires key words on its
newest certification form (EPA Form 2200-5 [1-92]).
For example, the concept of "ecological indicators" is not a
LCSH; "environmental indicators" is, but by LCSH definition,
"environmental indicators" means single-point source of
pollution in one place at one time. If an author wanted to
describe an EMAP statistical summary for estuaries; LCSH
does contain the terms "estuarine ecology" and "indicators
(biology)," and both can be further refined by adding a
geographic subdivision such as "--United States" or the floating
subheading "—statistics," which would adequately convey the
contents of the work. It is likely that a cataloger would assign
"environmental indicators," or a specific plant, animal, or
chemical name, and provide a geographic subdivision for each
state or local site mentioned in the work~a LCSH description
that essentially loses the multiple indicator, status-and-trends,
national or regional nature of the EMAP study. Of course, such
specific cataloging also would make the EMAP study difficult,
if not impossible, to find in the literature.
Consequently, it is important for authors to consider a suite
of key words from LCSH to complement or supplement
technical, scientific, or EMAP terms used in the title and
abstract of a work. Since the Library of Congress online
catalog, the Government Printing Office database, and the
National Technical Information Service database permit
electronic searching of titles, abstracts, and subject heading
fields, careful construction of such a suite of key words will
enable seekers of EMAP information to find it. Moreover, this
practice is encouraged by LC-trained catalogers who seriously
consider terms selected by an author when assigning LCSH to
a work. In GPO and NTIS, the terms are simply taken from
authors' suggestions.
LCSH evolve as the disciplines adapt and alter their
terminology; however, the Library maintains LCSH as a
controlled vocabulary, specifying certain numbers of location
for collections of works by subject-the Library of Congress
call number system. In March 1993, the Library proposed the
new general terms, environmental conditions (catalog
numbers GE140, general works; GE150-United States; GE160,
other regions or countries) and environmental risk assessment
(GE145), to accommodate the many multidisciplinary texts
emerging in the field.
To make the list of LCSH below easier to read and follow,
acronyms notify the reader about the hierarchy of the terms:
UF = used for.. .the term that follows UF
USE = use the term specified as the preferred LCSH
BT = broader term
NT = narrower term
RT = related term
Free-floating Subdivisions
For Library of Congress Subject Headings (boldfaced
in the selection below), the following terms can be added as
free-floating subdivisions for more specific description (italics
have been used here to show character-by-character what must
follow the subject heading; italics are not needed when an
author constructs a key word):
—atlases
—charts, diagrams, etc.
—data processing
—decision making
—design
—environmental aspects
—evaluation ,
-experiments ("how to," methods)
—field work ("how to," methods)
-graphic methods (problem solving using graphs)
—handbooks, manuals, etc.
—laboratory manuals
—management
—measurement
—observations
—planning
—quality control
—remote sensing
-research (may subdivide geographically)
—risk
—risk assessment
—scientific applications
—social aspects (people groups)
-sociological aspects (institutional groups)
-standards (may subdivide geographically)
-statistical methods (problem solving, after topic)
—statistics
—tables
—technique
—testing (drugs and chemicals)
—toxicology
With names of places (geographic features or jurisdictions)
—environmental conditions
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
Selected Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
agricultural ecology (may subdivide geographically)
[S441 through S481 (local)]; [S589.7 (general)]
UF agriculture-ecology
BT agriculture-environmental aspects
ecology
RT agricultural pollution
permaculture
NT agricultural conservation
crops-ecology
crops and climate
field crops-ecology
garden ecology
agricultural geography (may subdivide geographically)
[S439 through S482 (local)]; [S494.5.G46 (general)]
UF geography, agricultural
BT economic geography
physical geography
NT agricultural systems
crop zones
soil geography
agricultural services (may subdivide geographically)
[S21 through S482]
UF services, agricultural
BT agriculture
NT agriculture-information services
agricultural statistics
USE agriculture-statistical methods
agriculture-statistics
agricultural surveys (may subdivide geographically)
[S21 through S400 (documents)]; [S441 through S482
(local)]; [S494.5.E8 (methodology)]
Works on the methods and techniques employed in
conducting agricultural surveys, and reports of individual
surveys.
BT surveys
-United States
agricultural systems (May subdivide geographically)
[S439 through S481 (local)]; [S494.5.S95 (general)]
UF farming systems
systems, agricultural
systems, farming
BT agricultural geography
RT farm management
NT agroforestry
agropastoral systems
alternative agriculture
cropping systems
grazing
pastoral systems
tillage
agriculture-information systems
[S494.5.I47]
BT agricultural services
agriculture-documentation
communication in agriculture
agriculture-research
[S539.5 through S542.3]
UF agricultural research
. NT national agricultural research systems
agriculture-statistics
UF agricultural census
agricultural statistics
agriculture and politics (may subdivide geographically)
UF agriculture-political aspects
politics and agriculture
BT politics, practical
agriculture and state (may subdivide geographically)
UF agrarian question
agricultural policy
agriculture=government policy
state and agriculture
BT economic policy
industry and state
RT land reform
-environmental aspects (may subdivide geographically)
Works on the environmental aspects of government
agricultural policy
AGRIS (information retrieval system)
[Z699.5.A5]
UF International Information System for the Agricultural
Sciences and Technology
BT information storage and retrieval systems-
agriculture
agro-forestry
USE agroforestry
agroforestry (may subdivide geographically)
[S494.5.A45 (agriculture)]
Works on any sustainable land use system that maintains or
increases total yields by combining agricultural crops, tree
crops, forest trees, and/or livestock on the same unit of land,
either alternately or at the same time, using management
practices that suit the social and cultural characteristics of
the local people and the economic and ecological conditions
of the area.
UF agro-forestry
BT agricultural systems
agriculture
forests and forestry
land use, rural
RT food crops
intercropping
18
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Master Glossary
October 1993
multiple cropping
shifting cultivation
tree crops
NT hedgerow intercropping
•research (may subdivide geographically)
-on-farm [S494.5.A5]
UF on-farm experimentation in agroforestry
on-farm research in agroforestry
agropastoral systems (may subdivide geographically)
[S494.5.A47]
BT agricultural systems
arid regions (may subdivide geographically)
[GB611 through GB618]
UF arid zones
semiarid regions
BT Earth
extreme environments
NT deserts
wadis
ecological agriculture
USE organic farming
ecological communities
USE biotic communities
ecological competition
USE competition (biology)
ecological genetics
BT ecology
genetics
NT plant ecological genetics
ecological heterogeneity
(may subdivide geographically) [QH541.14.E24]
UF heterogeneity, ecological
BT ecology
arid regions agriculture (may subdivide geographically)
[S612 through S616]
UF dryland farming
BT agriculture
crop zones
desert reclamation
NT arid regions forestry
dry farming
irrigation farming
arid regions climate (may subdivide geographically)
[QC93.7)
Subdivision usually subdivided by place, i.e., arid regions
climate-United States
arid regions ecology (may subdivide geographically)
BT ecology
NT desert ecology
arid soils (may subdivide geographically)
[S592.17.A73 (general)];[S599 through S599.9 (local)]
UF aridic soils
aridisols
arid zone research
USE arid regions-research
arid zones
USE arid regions
benthos (may subdivide geographically)
BT aquatic biology
marine microbiology
ocean bottom
ecological indicators
USE environmental indicators
RT indicators (biology)
ecology (may subdivide geographically)
[QH540-QH541]
Works on the relationship between organisms and their
environment. Works on the relationship between humans
and the natural environment described by human ecology.
Works on the relationship between humans and the
geographical environment are described by human
geography.
UF balance of nature
biology-Ecology
bionomics ,
environment
environmental biology ,
ecology
RT population biology
SA subdivision
—environmental aspects after subjects, e.g.
agricultural chemicals-environmental aspects
NT agricultural ecology .
anaerobiosis
animal ecology
animal-plant relationships
aquatic ecology
arid regions ecology
bioclimatology
biogeochemical cycles
biological productivity
biotic communities
botany-ecology
canal ecology
cave ecology
chaparral ecology
chemical ecology
colonies (biology)
communism and ecology
competition (biology)
19
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
conservation of natural resources
ecological genetics
ecological heterogeneity
ecotones
environmental chemistry
extreme environments
fire ecology
forest ecology
food chains (ecology)
freshwater ecology
grassland ecology
habitat (ecology)
habitat partitioning (biology)
hedgerow ecology
household ecology
human ecology
indicators (biology)
island ecology
lagoon ecology
lake ecology
landscape ecology
life zones
llanos ecology
meadow ecology
microbial ecology
microclimatology
mountain ecology
mud flat ecology
niche (ecology)
paleoecology
paramo ecology
pasture ecology
prairie ecology
predation (biology)
radioecology
range ecology
resource partitioning (ecology)
restoration ecology
riparian ecology
roadside ecology
sand dune ecology
savanna ecology
seashore ecology
slirubland ecology
soil ecology
steppe ecology
tidal flat ecology
tide pool ecology, landlocked
tundra ecology
urban ecology
urban ecology (biology)
wetland ecology
xeric ecology
—bibliography
RT environmental literature
—experiments
-philosophy
UF ecophilosophy
NT Gaia hypothesis
-research (may subdivide geographically)
[QH541.2-QH541.264]
UF ecological research
NT research natural areas
stable isotopes in ecological research
-social aspects
USE human ecology
—study and teaching (may subdivide
geographically)
NT games in ecology education
national environmental study areas
-activity programs
BT activity programs in education
ecology, social
USE human ecology
ECOMAP (computer program)
UF ecological mapping (computer program)
environment
USE subdivision
—environmental aspects after subject, e.g.
agricultural chemicals~e«v/>o«menfa/ aspects
USE acclimatization
adaptation (biology)
ecology
euthenics
man-influence of environment
environment (aesthetics)
[BH301.E58]
environmental auditing (may subdivide geographically)
[TD 194.7]
UF environmental compliance auditing
environmental biology
USE ecology
environmental chemistry (may subdivide geographically)
[TD193]
NT air-pollution
environmental geochemistry
also USE information storage and retrieval systems-
-environmental chemistry
environmental conditions (proposed new term March 1993)
([GE140] proposed new call number)
environmental contaminants
USE pollutants
environmental effects
USE environmental engineering
environmental engineering (may subdivide geographically)
UF environmental control
20
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Master Glossary
October 1993
environmental effects
environmental management
environmental stresses
BT engineering
RT environmental health
environmental protection
pollution
NT environmental auditing
environmental impact consultants
environmental impact statements
environmental indexes
environmental indicators
environmental monitoring
environmental indexes
[GF23.I53 (human ecology)]
Works on the construction of environmental indexes. The
indexes themselves are described by the heading human
ecology subdivided by place or ecology subdivided by
place.
UF • environmental indices
indexes, environmental
BT environmental engineering
environmental monitoring
human ecology
NT air quality indexes
environmental indicators (may subdivide geographically)
[TD 193.2]
UF ecological indicators
BT environmental engineering
environmental indicators, biological
USE indicators (biology)
environmental indices
USE environmental indexes
environmental geology (may subdivide geographically)
[QE38]
UF geoecology
geology, environmental
BT environmental protection
physical geology
environmental monitoring (may subdivide geographically)
[QH541.15.M64 (ecology)
UF ecological monitoring
monitoring, environmental
BT environmental engineering
RT pollution-measurement
NT environmental impact analysis (may subdivide
geographically [TD194.6]
UF environmental assessment
BT environmental monitoring
RT environmental auditing
SA subdivision
—measurement under special pollutants or other
environmental subjects, i.e., water quality-
measurement
environmental laboratories (may subdivide geographically)
[TD178.8] .• • ' • »
environmental law (may subdivide geographically)
UF environmental control
environmental management
environmental protection—law and legislation
BT environmental policy
environmental protection
RT environmental auditing
NT acid deposition-law and legislation
acid rain-law and legislation
air-pollution-law and legislation
costal zone management-law and legislation
environmental monitoring-iaw and legislation
estuarine area conservation-law and legislation
estuarine pollution-law and legislation
marine pollution-law and legislation
natural areas-law and legislation
natural resources-law and legislation
pollution-law and legislation
renewable natural resources-law and legislation
sediment control-law and legislation
shore protection-law and legislation
water-pollution-law and legislation
environmental literature (may subdivide geographically)
UF ecological literature
literature, ecological -
literature, environmental
RT ecology-bibliography
environmental mapping (may subdivide geographically)
UF environmental value mapping
mapping, environmental
value mapping, environmental
cartography
environmental protection-maps
BT
environmental policy (may subdivide geographically)
[HC79.E5] (proposed call number 1993: GE170-190)
UF environment and state
environmental control
environmental management
state and environment
BT environmental engineering
RT environmental auditing
environmental protection
human ecology
NT conservation of natural resources
environmental law
pollution
—research (may subdivide geographically)
UF environmental policy research
environmental protection (may subdivide geographically)
[TD169 through TD171.5]
UF environmental quality management
protection of environment
RT environmental engineering
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
environmental policy
NT agriculture-environmental aspects
conservation of natural resources
environmental geology
environmental impact analysis
environmental impact consultants
environmental impact statements
environmental law
landscape protection
water resources development-
environmental aspects
environmental quality management
USE environmental protection
environmental risk assessment (proposed subject heading
1993) ([GE145] proposed call number)
UF environment risk assessment
risk assessment, environmental
BT risk
risk assessment
environmental specimen banking (may subdivide
geographically)
UF banking, environmental specimen
specimen banking, environmental
BT environmental monitoring
environmental protection
environmental sciences (proposed subject heading 1993)
([GE140] proposed call number for general works)
environmental stresses
USE environmental engineering
environmental testing
[TA171]
UF environment testing
BT environmental engineering
testing
. -law and legislation (may subdivide geographically)
BT environmental law
estuarine biology (may subdivide geographically)
BT aquatic biology
brackish water biology
estuarine ecology (may subdivide geographically)
[QH541.5E8]
BT marine ecology
-research (may subdivide geographically)
estuarine fauna (may subdivide geographically)
[QL139]
BT coastal fauna
marine fauna
NT tidemarsh fauna
estuarine fisheries
BT fisheries
estuarine flora (may subdivide geographically)
[QK108 through QK474.5 (local)];
[QK938.E (general)]
BT aquatic plants
coastal flora
NT tidemarsh flora
estuarine oceanography (may subdivide geographically)
[GC96 through GC97.8]
Works on estuarine oceanography of a particular locality
are described by the heading oceanography subdivided by
locality, e.g. oceanography-Chesapeake Bay.
BT oceanography
NT estuarine sediments
estuarine pollution (may subdivide geographically)
BT marine pollution
-law and legislation (may subdivide geographically)
BT environmental law
environmental value mapping
USE environmental mapping
estuaries (may subdivide geographically)
[GC96 through GC97.8]
UF branching bays
crowned river mouths
firths
BT coasts
rivers
-computer program
-research (may subdivide geographically)
estuarine area conservation (may subdivide geographically)
BT wetland conservation
estuarine sediments (may subdivide geographically)
BT estuarine oceanography
marine sediments
sediments (geology)
eutrophication (may subdivide geographically)
[QH96.8.E9]
BT limnology
RT lake renewal
NT lakes-destratification
lakes-fertilization
reservoirs-destratification
water bloom
-control (may subdivide geographically)
22
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Master Glossary
October 1993
evapotranspiration (may subdivide geographically)
[QC915.5 through QC915.7 (general)]; [QK873 (plant
pathology)]; [S600.7.E93 (crops and climate)]
UF consumptive use
BT water supply
RT evaporation (meteorology)
plants-transpiration
plants-water requirements
forest biomass (may subdivide geographically)
[SD387.B48 (forestry)]
BT biomass
forests and forestry
forest conservation (may subdivide geographically)
[SD411 through SD428]
UF conservation of forests
forest preservation
preservation of forests.
BT conservation of natural resources
forest management
plant conservation
RT deforestation-control
forest declines (may subdivide geographically)
[SB762 through SB764 (local)]; [SB765 (general)]
UF forest dieback
BT dieback
tree declines
forest depletion
USE deforestation
forest districts (may subdivide geographically)
UF districts, forest
divisions, forest
forest administrative districts
forest divisions
BT forests and forestry
forest ecology (may subdivide geographically)
[QH541.5.F6 (general)]; [QK938.F6 (botany)]
UF forests and forestry-ecology
BT botany-ecology
NT forest dynamics
forest meteorology
forest microclimatology
forest site quality
jungle ecology
old growth forests
rain forest ecology
taiga ecology
timberline
trees-growth
forest fauna (may subdivide geographically)
[QL112]
UF forest animals
BT zoology
NT forest birds
forest insects
jungle fauna
mangrove fauna
rain forest fauna
forest flora (may subdivide geographically)
[QK108 through QK474.5 (local)];
[QK938.F6 (general)]
UF Forest plants
woodland plants
BT forests and forestry
plants
RT woodland garden plants
NT castinga plants
mangrove plants
rain forest plants
forest hydrology
USE hydrology, forest
forest influences (may subdivide geographically)
[SD416 through SD416.3 (general)]
UF forests and floods
forests and rainfall
forests and water-supply
forest landscape design (may subdivide geographically)
[SB475.9.F67 (landscape architecture)]
TJF Design of forest landscapes
forest design
forest landscapes, design of
landscape design of forests
BT forests and forestry
landscape architecture
forest landscape management (may subdivide
geographically) [SD387.L35 (forestry)]
UF landscape management of forests
management of forest landscapes
BT forest management
landscape protection
forest mapping (may subdivide geographically)
[SD387.M3]
UF forests and forestry-mapping
BT cartography
forest surveys
forests and forestry-maps
vegetation mapping
forest policy (may subdivide geographically)
[SD561 through SD668]
UF forestry and state
government and forestry
state and forestry
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
forest productivity (may subdivide geographically)
UF forest production
forest yield
productivity, forest
BT agricultural productivity
forests and forestry
primary productivity (biology)
RT forest site quality
forest protection (may subdivide geographically)
[SIM 11 through SD428)
UF protection of forests
forest reproduction (may subdivide geographically)
Works on the reproduction of forests by natural processes.
Works on artificial reproduction of forests are described
by reforestation.
TJF forest regeneration
regeneration (forestry)
BT reforestation
forest research laboratories
USE forestry laboratories
forest reserves (may subdivide geographically)
[SD426 through SD428]
UF forest preserves
forests, national
forests, state
national forests
preserves, forest
reserves, forest
state forests
forestry law and legislation (may subdivide geographically)
UF forest law
timber laws and legislation
forests and forestry (may subdivide geographically) [SD]
UF forest planting
forest production
forestation
forestry industry
silviculture
sylviculture
woods (forests)
BT agriculture
natural resources
NT aerial photography in forestry
agroforestry
arid regions forestry
brush
chaparral
communication in forestry
community forests
energy crops
exotic forestry
exotic forests
explosives in forestry
floodplain forestry
forest biomass
forest districts
forest flora
forest landowners
forest landscape design
forest productivity
forest site quality
forestry innovations
forestry projects
forests, submerged
frozen ground forestry
hardwoods
hydrology, forest
jungles
landscape gardening
old growth forests
planting (plant culture)
radioactive tracers in forestry
rain forests
reforestation
silvicultural systems
slash (logging)
sustainable forestry
taigas
tree farms
tree felling
tree planting
trees-growth
urban forestry
woodlots
-information storage and retrieval systems
USE information storage and retrieval systems-
forestry
-maps
NT forest mapping
-mensuration [SD551 through SD557]
UF forest mensuration
log scaling
timber-mensuration
timber cruising
NT dendrometer
—computer programs
--data processing
NT SILVI-STAR (computer system)
-research (may subdivide geographically)
-social aspects (may subdivide geographically)
[SD387.S55]
-thermographic methods
indicator plants
USE plant indicators
indicators (biology) [QH541.15.I5]
UF biological environmental indicators
biological indicators
ecological indicators
environmental indicators, biological
sentinel organisms
BT ecology
RT biological monitoring
biological reagents
NT biochemical markers
24
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Master Glossary
October 1993
plant indicators
water quality bioassay
indicators and test-papers
[QD77 (Analytic chemistry)]
UF chemical indicators
test-papers, chemical
BT chemistry—laboratory manuals
chemistry, analytic
volumetric analysis
RT chemical tests and reagents
NT biological reagents
chromogenic compounds
methylene blue
resazurin
indices
USE indexes
landscape (may subdivide geographically)
[BH301.L3 (aesthetics)]; [QH75 (natural history)]
UF natural scenery
scenery
scenic beauty
BT nature
NT mountains in literature
natural monuments
nature in literature
sea in literature
preservation of natural scenery
protection of scenic beauty
scenery preservation
BT environmental protection
nature conservation
RT landscape architecture
landscape assessment
regional planning
NT forest landscape management
natural monuments
stream conservation
-law and legislation (may subdivide
geographically)
resource allocation
[T57.77 (operations research)] ,
Works describing the apportionment of available resources
among different uses.
UF allocation of resources
resources allocation
BT economics
management
operations research
organization
planning
RT feasibility studies
resource allocation for commercial and recreational fishing
USE fishery resources-commercial vs. recreational use
landscape assessment (may subdivide geographically)
[GF9(Hhrough GF91]
UF * assessment, landscape
environmental perception
landscape evaluation
landscape perception
perception, landscape
BT human ecology
RT land use
landscape protection
landscape changes (may subdivide geographically)
UF change, landscape
BT geomorphology
resource-efficient agriculture
USE sustainable agriculture
resource partitioning (ecology) (may subdivide
geographically)
UF partitioning, resource (ecology)
BT competition (biology)
ecology
niche (ecology)
NT habitat partitioning (biology)
habitat selection
resource recovery
USE recycling (waste, etc.)
landscape ecology (may subdivide geographically)
[QH541.15.L35]
BT ecology
landscape evaluation
USE landscape assessment
resources, agricultural
USE agricultural resources
resources, aquatic
USE aquatic resources
landscape protection (may subdivide geographically)
[QH75]
UF beautification of the landscape
conservation of scenic beauty
natural beauty conservation
resources, marine
USE marine resources
resources, natural
USE natural resources
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
resources, renewable natural
USE renewable natural resources
resources allocation
USE resource allocation
risk (may subdivide geographically)
[HB615]
BT economics
uncertainty
RT probabilities
profit
-Sociological aspects
[HM201]
UF sociology of risk
sociology of uncertainty
uncertainty-sociological aspects
BT sociology
risk analysis
USE risk assessment
risk assessment (may subdivide geographically)
UF analysis, risk
assessment, risk
risk analysis
risk evaluation
BT evaluation
SA subdivision
--risk assessment after individual term, e.g.,
hazardous substances—rwA: assessment
risk communication
[T10.68]
UF communication of risk information
BT communication of technical information
NT health risk communication
risk evaluation
USE risk assessment
risk management (may subdivide geographically)
[HD61] (relates to health, insurance, business management)
risk perception (may subdivide geographically)
UF awareness, risk
perception, risk
risk awareness
BT perception
risk-taking (psychology) (may subdivide geographically)
[BF637.R57]
BT choice (psychology)
decision-making
motivation (psychology)
• soil ecology (may subdivide geographically)
[QH541.5.S6]
BT ecology
RT roots (botany)-ecology
soil geography (not subdivided geographically)
Works describing the scientific aspects of soil distribution.
Works on the soil geography of a particular place are
described by soils~/oca/ subdivision.
UF geography, soil
BT agricultural geography
soil science
soil surveys (may subdivide geographically)
[S592.14 (general)]; [S599 through S599.9 (local)];
[TE208 (highway engineering)]
BT natural resources surveys
statistics (may subdivide geographically)
[HA]
Works consisting of general statistical data not limited to a
specific place or topic and works on the discipline of
statistics; the latter description may be subdivided by
place. Works of statistical data on a specific place or
topic described by the place or topic with the subdivision -
statistics.
UF statistical methods
NT average
biometry
correlation (statistics)
data editing
data reduction
degree of freedom
error analysis (mathematics)
experimental design
frequency curves
large deviations
linear models (statistics)
numeracy
outliers (statistics)
panel analysis
political statistics
regression analysis
sampling (statistics)
smoothing (statistics)
spherical data
standard deviations
statistical decision
statistical services
-charts, diagrams, etc.
-computer programs
NT CSS (computer program)
FILESTAT (computer programs)
Interactive Statistical Programs
(computer programs)
KEYSTAT (computer programs)
STATCAT (computer programs)
STATLIB (computer programs)
STATMASTER (computer
programs)
-data processing
NT Genstat (computer system)
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October 1993
INDIOS (computer system)
S (computer system)
STATPAK (computer system)
-graphic methods [HA31]
UF diagrams, statistical
statistical diagrams
RT curve fitting
NT correlation (statistics)
maps, statistical
response surfaces (statistics)
trend surface analysis
stream classification
USE rivers-classification
stream conservation (may subdivide geographically)
UF preservation of streams and rivers
river conservation
stream improvement (ecology)
stream preservation
BT landscape protection
nature conservation
river engineering
stream ecology
water conservation
RT fish habitat improvement
stream ecology (may subdivide geographically)
[QH541.5S7]
UF river ecology
BT freshwater ecology
NT coulee ecology
stream conservation
tailwater ecology
valley ecology
stream fauna (may subdivide geographically)
[QL145]
UF river fauna
stream flora
USE stream plants
stream measurements (may subdivide geographically)
[GB1201 through GB1398 (hydrology)]
UF measurement of streams
river discharge measurements
stream flow measurements
stream gauging
streamflow data
BT hydraulic measurements
RT streamflow
Streamflow velocity
water-power
NT bedload-measurement
flood routing
flow meters
stream gaging stations
water current meters
sustainable agriculture (may subdivide geographically)
[S441 through S482 (local)]; [S494.5.S86 (general)]
UF low-input agriculture
low-input sustainable agriculture
lower input agriculture
resource-efficient agriculture
BT agriculture
RT alternative agriculture •
NT sustainable forestry
sustainable forestry *
ISD387.S87]
UF forest productivity, maintenance of long term
long-term forest productivity, maintenance of
maintenance of long-term forest productivity
BT forests and forestry
sustainable agriculture
water-pollution (may subdivide geographically)
[TD419 through TD428]
UF lakes-pollution
rivers-pollution
stream pollution
water contamination
water pollutants
water pollution'
BT pollution
NT acid pollution of rivers, lakes, etc.
aquatic organisms-effect of water pollution on
marine pollution
oil pollution of water
radioactive pollution of water
thermal pollution of rivers, lakes, etc.
viral pollution of water
water bloom
water salinization
--measurement
—point source identification
water quality
UF water-quality
water-sampling
UF water sampling
water-sensory evaluation
[TD375]
BT sensory evaluation
water quality
wetland conservation (may subdivide geographically
[QH75 through QH77]
UF wetlands conservation
BT nature conservation
NT estuarine area conservation
mangrove swamp conservation
-law and legislation (may subdivide geographically)
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Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
wetland ecology (may subdivide geographically)
[QH541.5.M3]
UF wetlands ecology
BT ecology
NT bog ecology
marsh ecology
moor ecology
peatland ecology
swamp ecology
wetland fauna (may subdivide geographically)
[QL113.8 through QL114.5]
UF wetlands fauna
BT aquatic animals
NT marsh fauna
moor fauna
swamp fauna
wetland flora (may subdivide geographically)
[QK938.M3]
UF wetlands flora
RT freshwater flora
NT marsh flora
muskeg flora
peatland flora
pond flora
spring flora
swamp flora
wetlands (may subdivide geographically)
[QH87.3]
BT aquatic resources
NT bogs
constructed wetlands
fens
marshes
moors and heaths
muskeg
peatlands
swamps
tidal flats
-law and legislation (may subdivide geographically)
28
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Master Glossary
October 1993
Appendix C: Glossary of Quality Assurance Terms'
Terms
Absolute method: a body of procedures and techniques for
which measurement is based entirely on physically
defined, fundamental quantities.
Acceptable quality level: a limit above which quality is
considered satisfactory and below which it is not. In
sampling inspection, the maximum percentage of defects
or failures that can be considered satisfactory as an
average.
Acceptable quality range: the interval, between specified
upper and lower limits of a sequence of values, within
which the values are considered to be satisfactory.
Acceptable value: an observed or corrected value that falls
within the acceptable range. See Corrected value and
Observed value.
Acceptance sampling: the procedure of drawing samples
from a lot or population to determine whether to accept or
reject a sampled lot or population.
Accepted reference value: a numerical quantity that serves
as an agreed-upon basis for comparison, and which is
derived as; 1) a theoretical or established quantity based
on scientific principles, 2) an assigned value, based on
experimental work of some recognized organization, or 3)
a consensus quantity based on collaborative experimental
work under the auspices of a scientific or engineering
group.
Accreditation: a formal recognition that an organization
(e.g., laboratory) is competent to carry out specific tasks
or specific types of tests. See also Certification.
Accreditation criterion: a requirement that a laboratory
must meet to receive authorization and approval to
perform a specified task.
Accredited laboratory: a laboratory which has been
evaluated and given approval to perform a specified
measurement or task, usually for a specific property or
analyte and for a specified period of time.
Accuracy: the degree of agreement between an observed
value and an accepted reference value. Accuracy includes
a combination of random error (precision) and systematic
error (bias) components which are due to sampling and
analytical operations; a data quality indicator. EPA
recommends that this term not be used and that precision
and bias be used to convey the information usually
associated with accuracy. See Precision and Bias.
Action lim it: See Control limit.
Adjusted value: the observed value after adjustment for
values of a blank or bias of the measurement system.
Aliquant: a subsample derived by a divisor that divides a
sample into a number of equal parts but leaves a
remainder, a subsample resulting from such a divisor. See
Subsample.
Aliquot: a subsample derived by a divisor that divides a
sample into a number of equal parts and leaves no
remainder; a subsample resulting from such a division. In
analytical chemistry the term aliquot is generally used to
define any representative portion of the sample.
Alpha error: See "Type I Error."
Alternate method: any body of procedures and techniques
of sample collection and/or analysis for a characteristic of
interest which is not a reference or approved equivalent
method but which has been demonstrated in specific cases
to produce results comparable to those obtained from a
reference method.
Analysis (chemical): the determination of the qualitative
and/or quantitative composition of a substance.
Analyte: the substance, a property of which is to be
measured by chemical analysis.
Permission to publish provided by Fred Haeberer, QAMS, who maintains this QAMS Glossary as a working document
Questions or comments about these terms can be directed to Mr. Haeberer at 202-260-5785.
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Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
Analytical batch: a group of samples, including quality
control samples, which are processed together using the
same method, the same lots of reagents, and at the same
time or in continuous, sequential time periods. Samples in
each batch should be of similar composition and share
common internal quality control standards.
Analytical blank: See Reagent blank.
Analytical limit of discrimination: See Method detection
limit.
Analytical reagent (AR): the American Chemical Society's
designation for the highest purity of certain chemical
reagents and solvents. See Reagent grade.
Arithmetic mean: the sum of all the values of a set of
measurements divided by the number of values in the set,
usually denoted by x'; a measure of central tendency. See
Measure of central tendency.
Assignable cause: a factor or an experimental variable
shown to significantly change the quality of an effect or a
result.
Audit: a systematic evaluation to determine the
conformance to quantitative specifications of some
operational function or activity. See Audit of data
quality. Performance evaluation audit, and Technical
systems audit, and also Review, and Management systems
review.
Audit of data quality (ADQ): a qualitative and
quantitative evaluation of the documentation and
procedures associated with environmental measurements to
verify that the resulting data are of acceptable quality.
Audit sample: See Performance evaluation sample.
Average: See Arithmetic mean.
Background level (environmental): the concentration of
substance in a defined control area during a fixed period
of time before, during or after a data gathering operation.
Batch: a quantity of material produced or processed in one
operation, considered to be a uniform discrete unit.
Batch-lot: the samples collected under sufficiently uniform
conditions to be processed as a group. See Batch. Batch
size.
Batch-sample: one of the samples drawn from a batch.
Batch-size: the number of samples in a batch-lot.
Beta error: See Type n Error.
Bias: the systematic or persistent distortion of a
measurement process which deprives the result of
representativeness (i.e., the expected sample measurement
is different than the sample's true value.) A data quality
indicator.
Blank sample: a clean sample or a sample of matrix
processed so as to measure artifacts in the measurement
(sampling and analysis) process.
Blind sample: a subsample submitted for analysis with a
composition and identity known to the submitter but
unknown to the analyst and used to test the analyst's or
laboratory's proficiency in the execution of the
measurement process. See Double-blind sample.
Bulk sample: a sample taken from a larger quantity (lot)
for analysis or recording purposes.
Calibrant: See Calibration standard.
Calibrate: to determine, by, measurement or comparison
with a standard, the correct value of each scale reading on
a meter or other device, or the correct value for each
setting of a control knob. The levels of the calibration
standards should bracket the range of planned
measurements. See Calibration curve,
Calibration-check: See Calibrate.
Calibration-check standard: See Calibration standard.
Calibration curve: the graphical relationship between the
known values for a series of calibration standards and
instrument responses.
Calibration drift: the difference between the instrument
response and a reference value after a period of operation
without recalibration.
Calibration standard: a substance or reference material
used to calibrate an instrument.
Candidate method: a body of procedures and techniques
of sample collection and/or analysis that is submitted for
approval as a reference method, an equivalent method, or
an alternative method.
Carrying-agent: any diluent or matrix used to entrain,
dilute or to act as a vehicle for a compound of interest.
CAS#: Chemical Abstracts Service registry number of
elements, chemical compounds, and certain mixtures.
Cause-effect diagram: a graphical representation of an
effect and possible causes. A popular one is the Ishikawa
"fish bone diagram."
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June 4, 1993
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Master Glossary
.October 1993
Central Une: the line on a control chart that represents the
expected value of the control chart statistic; often the
mean. See Control chart.
Certification: the process of testing and evaluation against
specifications designed to document, verify, and recognize
the competence of a person, organization, or other entity
to perform a function or service usually for a specified
time. See also Accreditation.
Certification of Data Quality: the real-time attestation that
the activities of an environmental data collection
operation's individual elements (e.g., sampling design,
sampling, sample handling, chemical analysis, data
reduction, etc.,) have been carried out in accordance with
the operation's requirements and that the results meet the
defined quality criteria.
Certified Reference Material (CRM): a reference material
that has one or more of its property values established by
a technically valid procedure and is accompanied by or
traceable to a certificate or other documentation issued by
a certifying body. See Certification and Reference
material.
Certified value: the reported numerical quantity that
appears on a certificate for a property of a reference
material.
Chain-of-custody: an unbroken trail of accountability that
insures the physical security of samples, data and records.
Chance cause: an unpredictable, random determinant of
variation of a response in a sampling or measurement
operation.
Characteristic: See Property.
Check sample: an uncontaminated sample matrix spiked
with known amounts of analytes usually from the same
source as the calibration standards. It is generally used to
establish the stability of the analytical system but may also
be used to assess the performance of all or a portion of
the measurement system. See also Quality control sample.
Check standard: a substance or reference material obtained
from a source independent from the source of the
calibration standard; used to prepare check samples,
Chi-square test: a statistical test of the agreement between
the observed frequency of events and (he frequency
expected according to some hypothesis,
Clean sample: a sample of a natural or synthetic matrix
containing no detectable amount of the analyte of interest
and no interfering material,
Coefficient of variation (CV): a measure of relative
dispersion (precision.) It is equal to the ratio of the
Standard deviation divided by the arithmetic mean.' See
also Relative standard deviation.
Collaborative testing: the evaluation of an analytical
method by typical or representative laboratories using
subsamples prepared from a homogeneous standard
sample.
Collocated sample: one of two or more independent
samples collected so that each is equally representative for
a given variable at a common space and time.
Collocated samplers: two or more identical sample
collection devices, located together in space and operated
simultaneously, to supply a series of duplicate or replicate
samples for estimating precision of the total measurement
system/process. •
Comparability: the degree to which different methods, data
sets and/or decisions agree or can be represented as
similar; a data quality indicator.
Completeness: the amount of valid data Obtained compared
to the planned amount, and usually expressed as a
percentage; a data quality indicator.
Component of variance: a part of the total variance
associated with a specified source of variation.
Composite sample: a sample prepared by physically
combining two or more samples having some specific
relationship and processed to ensure homogeneity. See
Flow-proportioned sample and Time- proportioned sample.
Confidence coefficient: the probability statement that
accompanies a confidence interval and is equal to unity
minus the associated type I error rate (false positive rate).
A confidence coefficient of 0.90 implies that 90% of the
intervals resulting from repeated sampling of a population
will include the unknown (true) population parameter. See
Confidence interval.
Confidence interval: the numerical interval constructed
around a point estimate of a population parameter,
combined with a probability statement (the confidence
coefficient) linking it to the population's true parameter
value. If the same confidence interval construction
technique and assumptions are used to calculate future
intervals, they will include the unknown population
parameter with the same specified probability. See
Confidence coefficient.
Control chart: a graph of some measurement plotted over
time or sequence of samjpling, together with control
limit(s) and, usually, a central line and warning limit(s).
See Central line, Control limit and Warning limit.
Control limit: a specified boundary on a control chart that,
if exceeded, indicates a process is out of statistical control,
and the process must be stopped, and corrective action
QAMS Glossary
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Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
taken before proceeding (e.g., for a Shewhart chart the
control limits are the mean plus and minus three standard
deviations, i.e., the 99.72% confidence level on either side
of the central line.)
Control sample: See Quality control sample and Check
sample.
Control standard: See Check standard.
Controlled variable: a variable that is set at a pre-selected
level when a controlled experiment is conducted.
Correlation: a measure of association between two
variables. See also Correlation coefficient.
Correlation coefficient: a number between -1 and 1 that
indicates the degree of linearity between two variables or
sets of numbers. The closer to -1 or +1, the stronger the
linear relationship between the two (i.e., the better the
correlation.) Values close to zero suggest no correlation
between the two variables. The most common correlation
coefficient is the product-moment, a measure of the degree
of linear relationship between two variables.
Critical-toxicity range: the interval between the highest
concentration at which all test organisms survive and the
lowest concentration at which all test organisms die within
the test period.
Daily standard: synonym for Calibration standard.
Data: facts or figures from which conclusions can be
inferred.
Data quality: the totality of features and characteristics of
data that bears on their ability to satisfy a given purpose;
the sum of the degrees of excellence for factors related to
data.
Data quality indicators: quantitative statistics and
qualitative descriptors that are used to interpret the degree
of acceptability or utility of data to the user. The
principal data quality indicators are bias, precision,
accuracy, comparability, completeness, and
representativeness.
Data Quality Objective (DQO): qualitative and
quantitative statements of the overall level of uncertainty
that a decision-maker is willing to accept in results or
decisions derived from environmental data. DQOs
provide the statistical framework for planning and
managing environmental data operations consistent with
the data user's needs.
Data reduction: the process of transforming raw data by
arithmetic or statistical calculations, standard curves,
concentration factors, etc., and collation into a more useful
form.
Data set: all the observed values for the samples in a test
or study; a group of data collected under similar
conditions and which, therefore, can be analyzed as a
whole.
Datum: the singular of data. See Data and Value.
Defensible: the ability to withstand any reasonable
challenge related to the veracity or integrity of laboratory
documents and derived data.
Degrees of freedom: the total number of items in a sample
minus the number of independent relationships existing
among them; the divisor used to calculate a variance term;
in the simplest cases, it is one less than the number of
observations.
Dependent variable: See Response variable.
Detection limit (DL): the lowest concentration or amount
of the target analyte that can be determined to be different
from zero by a single measurement at a stated level of
probability. See Method detection limit.
Determination: the application of the complete analytical
process of measuring the property of interest in a sample,
from selecting or measuring a test portion to the reporting
of results. See Test determination.
Diluent: a substance added to another to reduce the
concentration and resulting in a homogeneous end product
without chemically altering the compound of interest.
Dilution factor: the numerical value obtained from dividing
the new volume of a diluted substance by its original
volume.
Document control: a systematic procedure for indexing
documents by number, date and revision number for
archiving, storage, and retrieval.
Double-blind sample: a sample submitted to evaluate
performance with concentration and identity unknown to
the analyst. See Blind sample.
Duplicate: an adjective describing the taking of a second
sample or performance of a second measurement or
determination. Often incorrectly used as a noun and
substituted for "duplicate sample." Replicate is to be used
if there are more than two items. See Replicate.
Duplicate analyses or measurements: the analyses or
measurements of the variable of interest performed
identically on two subsamples of the same sample. The
results from duplicate analyses are used to evaluate
analytical or measurement precision but not the precision
of sampling, preservation or storage internal to the
laboratory.
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Master Glossary
October 1993
Duplicate samples: two samples taken from and
representative of the same population and carried through
all steps of the sampling and analytical procedures in an
identical manner. Duplicate samples are used to assess
variance of the total method including sampling and
analysis. See Collocated sample.
Dynamic blank: a sample-collection material or device
(e.g., filter or reagent solution) that is not exposed to the
material to be selectively captured but is transported and
processed in the same manner as the sample. See Field
blank. Instrumental blank and Sampling equipment blank.
Dynamic calibration: standardization of both the
measurement and collection systems using a reference
material similar to the unknown. For example, a series of
air-mixture standards containing sulfur dioxide of known
concentrations could be used to calibrate a sulfur dioxide
bubbler system.
Environmental sample: a sample of any material that is
collected from an environmental source.
Environmentally related measurement: any assessment of
environmental concern generated through or for field,
laboratory, or modelling processes; the value obtained
from such an assessment.
Equivalent method: any method of sampling and/or
analysis demonstrated to result in data having a consistent
and quantitatively known relationship to the results
obtained with a reference method under specified
conditions, and formally recognized by the EPA.
Error (measurement): the difference between an observed
or corrected value of a variable and a specified,
theoretically correct, or true value.
Error function: the mathematical relationship of the results
obtained from the measurement of one or more properties
and the error of the applied measurement process. See
Normal distribution.
Experimental variable: See Independent variable.
External quality control: the activities which are routinely
initiated and performed by persons outside of normal
operations to assess the capability and performance of a
measurement process.
False negative decision: See Type II Error.
False negative result: estimating (incorrectly) that an
analyte is not present when it actually is present.
False positive decision: See Type I Error.
False positive result: estimating (incorrectly) that an
analyte is present when it is actually not present.
Field blank: a clean sample (e.g., distilled water), carried
to the sampling site, exposed to sampling conditions (e.g.,
bottle caps removed, preservatives added) and returned to
the laboratory and treated as an environmental sample.
Field blanks are used to check for analytical artifacts
and/or background introduces by sampling and analytical
procedures. See Dynamic blank and Sampling equipment
blank.
Field duplicates: See Duplicate sample.
Field reagent blank: See Field blank.
Field sample: See Sample.
Flow rate: the quantity-per-unit time of a substance passing
a point, plane, or space; for example the volume or mass
of gas or liquid emerging from an orifice, pump, or
turbine or moving through a point in a conduit or channel.
Flow-proportioned sample: a sample or subsample
collected from a fluid system at a rate that produces a
constant ratio of sample accumulation to matrix flow rate.
Fortify: synonym for Spike.
Full-scale response: the maximum output of a
measurement instrument in a given range as displayed on
a meter or scale.
Functional analysis: a mathematical evaluation of each
component of the measurement system (sampling and
analysis) in order to quantitate the error for each
component. A functional analysis is usually performed
prior to a ruggedness test in order to determine those
variables which should be studied experimentally.
Geometric mean: the antilogarithm of the mean of the
logarithms of all the values in a set.
Good laboratory practices (GLP): either general
guidelines or formal regulations for performing basic
laboratory operations or activities that are known or
believed to influence the quality and integrity of the
results.
Goodness-of-fit: the measure of agreement between the
data in a data set and the expected or hypothesized values.
Grab sample: a single sample which is collected at one
point in time and place.
Gross sample: See Bulk sample.
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Homogeneity: the degree of uniformity of structure or
composition.
In-control: a condition indicating that performance of the
quality control system is within the specified control
limits, i.e., that a stable system of chance is operating and
resulting in statistical control. See Control chart.
Independent variable: See Controlled variable.
Inspection criterion: the specification(s) and rationale for
rejecting and accepting samples in a particular sampling
plan.
Instrument blank: a clean sample processed through the
instrumental steps of the measurement process; used to
determine instrument contamination. See Dynamic blank.
Interference: a positive or negative effect on a
measurement caused by a variable other than the one
being investigated.
Interference equivalent: the mass or concentration of a
foreign substance which gives the same measurement
response as one unit of mass or concentration of the
substance being measured.
Intel-laboratory calibration: the process, procedures, and
activities for standardizing a given measurement system to
ensure that laboratories participating in the same program
can produce comparable data.
Interlaboratory method validation study (IMVS): the
formal study of a sampling and/or analytical method,
conducted with replicate, representative matrix samples,
following a specific study protocol and utilizing a specific
written method, by a minimum of seven laboratories, for
the purpose of estimating interlaboratory precision, bias
and analytical interferences.
Interlaboratory precision: a measure of the variation,
usually given as the standard deviation, among the test
results from independent laboratories participating in the
same test.
Interlaboratory test: a test performed by two or more
laboratories on the same material for the purpose of
assessing the capabilities of an analytical method or for
comparing different methods.
Internal quality control: See Intralaboratory quality
control.
Internal standard: a standard added to a test portion of a
sample in a known amount and carried through the entire
determination procedure as a reference for calibration and
controlling the precision and bias of the applied analytical
method.
Intralaboratory quality control: the routine activities and
checks, such as periodic calibrations, duplicate analyses
and spiked samples, that are included in normal internal
procedures to control the accuracy and precision of
measurements.
Intralaboratory precision: a measure of the
method/sample specific analytical variation within a
laboratory; usually given as the standard deviation
estimated from the results of duplicate/replicate analyses.
See also Standard deviation and Variance.
Laboratory accreditation:
Accreditation.
See Accredited laboratory and
Laboratory blank: See Reagent blank.
Laboratory control sample: See Quality control sample.
Laboratory duplicates: synonym for Duplicate analyses.
Laboratory performance check solution: a solution of
method and surrogate analytes and internal standards; used
to evaluate the performance of the instrument system
against defined performance criteria.
Laboratory replicates: See Replicate analysis or
measurement.
Laboratory spiked blank: See Spiked laboratory blank.
Laboratory spiked sample: See Spiked sample.
Laboratory sample: a subsample of a field, bulk or batch
sample selected for laboratory analysis.
Least squares method: a technique for estimating model
coefficients which minimizes the sum of the squares of
the differences between each observed value and its
corresponding predicted value derived from the assumed
model.
Limit of detection (LOD): See Method detection limit.
Limit of quantification (LOQ): the concentration of
analyte in a specific matrix for which the probability of
producing analytical values above the method detection
limit is 99 percent.
Linearity: the degree of agreement between the calibration
curve of a method and a straight line assumption.
Lot: a number of units of an article or a parcel of articles
offered as one item; commonly, one of the units, such as a
sample of a substance under study. See Batch.
Lot size: the number of units in a particular lot. See Batch
lot and Batch size.
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Lower control limit: See Control limit.
Lower warning limit: See Warning limit.
Management systems review (MSR): the qualitative
assessment of a data collection operation and/or
organization^) to establish whether the prevailing quality
management structure, practices, and procedures are
adequate for ensuring that the type and quality of data
needed and expected are obtained. See Review and Audit
Matrix: a specific type of medium (e.g., surface water,
drinking water) in which the analyte of interest may be
contained. See Medium.
Matrix spike: See Spiked sample.
Matrix spike duplicate sample analysis: See Matrix,
Duplicate analysis and Spiked sample.
Maximum contaminant level: the highest permissible
concentration of a pollutant that may be delivered to any
receptor.
Maximum holding time: the length of time a sample can
be kept under specified conditions without undergoing
significant degradation of the analyte(s) or property of
interest.
Mean: See Arithmetic mean.
Measurement range: the range over which the precision
and/or recovery of a measurement method are regarded as
acceptable. See Acceptable quality range.
Measurement standard: a standard added to the prepared
test portion of a sample (e.g. to the concentrated extract or
the digestate) as a reference for calibrating and controlling
measurement or instrumental precision and bias.
Measure of central tendency: a statistic that describes the
grouping of values in a data set around some common
value (e.g., the median, arithmetic mean, or geometric
mean.)
Measure of dispersion: a statistic that describes the
variation of values in a data set around some common
value. See Coefficient of variation. Range, Variance and
Standard deviation.
.Medium: a substance (e.g., air, water, soil) which serves as
a carrier of the analytes of interest. See Matrix.
Medium blank: See Field blank and/or Laboratory blank.
Median: the middle value for an ordered set of n values;
represented by the central value when n is odd or by the
mean of the two most central values when n is even.
Method: a body of procedures and techniques for
performing a task (e.g., sampling, characterization,
quantification) systematically presented in the order in
which they are to be executed.
Method blank: a clean sample processed simultaneously
with and under the same conditions as samples containing
an analyte of interest through all steps of the analytical
procedure.
Method check sample: See Spiked laboratory blank.
Method detection limit (MDL): the minimum
concentration of an analyte that, in a given matrix and
with a specific method, has a 99% probability of being
identified, qualitatively or quantitatively measured, and
reported to be greater than zero. See Detection limit
Method of least squares: See Least squares method.
Method performance study: See Interiaboratory method
validation study.
Method quantification limit (MQL): See Limit of
quantification and also Method detection limit.
Minimum detectable level: See Method detection limit.
Mode: the most frequent value or values in a data set.
Multipoint calibration: the determination of correct scale
values by measuring or comparing instrument responses at
a series of standardized analyte concentrations; used to
define the range for generating quantitative data of
acceptable quality.
Noise: the sum of random errors in the response of a
measuring instrument.
Normal distribution: an idealized probability density
function that approximates the distribution of many
random variables associated with measurements of natural
phenomena and takes the form of a symmetric "bell-
shaped curve."
Observation: a fact or occurrence that is recognized and
recorded.
Observed value: the magnitude of a specific measurement;
a variable; a unit of space, time or quantity; a datum. The
observed value is that reported before correction for a
blank value. See Corrected value.
Outlier: an observed value that appears to be discordant
from the other observations in a sample. One of a set of
observations that appears to be discordant from the .others.
The declaration of an outlier is dependent on the
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significance level of the applied identification test. See
also Significance level.
Parameter: any quantity such as a mean or a standard
deviation characterizing a population. Commonly misused
for "variable", "characteristic" or "property."
Percentage standard deviation: synonym for Relative
standard deviation.
Performance evaluation audit: a type of audit in which
the quantitative data generated in a measurement system
are obtained independently and compared with routinely
obtained data to evaluate the proficiency of an analyst or
laboratory.
Performance evaluation sample (PE sample): a sample,
the composition of which is unknown to the analyst and is
provided to test whether the analyst/laboratory can
produce analytical results within specified performance
limits. See Blind sample and Performance evaluation
audit.
Population: all possible items or units which possess a
variable of interest and from which samples may be
drawn.
Precision: the degree to which a set of observations or
measurements of the same property, usually obtained
under similar conditions, conform to themselves; a data
quality indicator. Precision is usually expressed as
standard deviation, variance or range, in either absolute or
relative terms. See also Standard deviation and Variance.
Preventative maintenance: an orderly program of activities
designed to ensure against equipment failure.
Primary reference standard: See Primary standard.
Primary standard: a substance or device, with a property
or value that is unquestionably accepted (within specified
limits) in establishing the value of the same or related
property of another substance or device.
Probability: a number between zero and one inclusive,
reflecting the limiting proportion of the occurrence of an
event in an increasingly large number of identical trials,
each of which results in either the occurrence or
nonoccurrence of the event.
Probability sampling: sampling in which: (a) every
member of the population has a known probability of
being included in the sample; (b) the sample is drawn by
some method of random selection consistent with these
probabilities; and (c) the known probabilities of inclusion
are used in forming estimates from the sample. The
probability of selection need not be equal for members of
the population.
Procedure: a set of systematic instructions for performing
an operation.
Proficiency testing: a systematic program in which one or
more standardized samples is analyzed by one or more
laboratories to determine the capability of each participant.
Property: a quality or trait belonging and peculiar to a
thing; a response variable is a measure of a property.
Synonym for Characteristic.
Protocol: a detailed written procedure for a field and/or
-laboratory operation (e.g., sampling, analysis) which must
be strictly adhered to.
Quality: the sum of features and properties/characteristics
of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy
stated needs.
Quality assessment: the evaluation of environmental data
to determine if they meet the quality criteria required for a
specific application.
Quality assurance (QA): an integrated system of activities
involving planning, quality control, quality assessment,
reporting and quality improvement to ensure that a product
or service meets defined standards of quality with a stated
level of confidence.
Quality Assurance Narrative Statement: a description of
the quality assurance and quality control activities to be
followed for a research project.
Quality Assurance Objectives: the limits on bias,
precision, comparability, completeness and
representativeness defining the minimal acceptable levels
of performance as determined by the data user's
acceptable error bounds.
Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP): a formal
document describing the management policies, objectives,
principles, organizational authority, responsibilities,
accountability, and implementation plan of an agency,
organization or laboratory for ensuring quality in its
products and utility to its users.
Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPjP): a formal
document describing the detailed quality control
procedures by which the quality requirements defined for
the data and decisions pertaining to a specific project are
to be achieved.
Quality Circle: a small group of individuals from an
organization.or unit who have related interests and meet
regularly to consider problems or other matters related to
the quality of the product or process.
Quality control (QC): the overall system of technical
activities whose purpose is to measure and control the
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quality of a product or service so that it meets the needs
of users. The aim is to provide quality that is satisfactory,
adequate, dependable, and economical.
Quality control chart: See Control chart.
Quality control check sample: See Calibration standard.
Quality control sample: an uncontaminated sample matrix
spiked with known amounts of analytes from a source
independent from the calibration standards. It is generally
used to establish intralaboratory or analyst specific
precision and bias or to assess the performance of all or a
portion of the measurement system. See also Check
sample.
Quantitation limits: the maximum or minimum levels or
quantities of a target variable that can be quantified with
the certainty required by the data user.
Random: lacking a definite plan, purpose or pattern; due to
chance.
Random error: the deviation of an observed value from a
true value, which behaves like a variable in that any
particular value occurs as though chosen at random from a
probability distribution of such errors. The distribution of
random error is generally assumed to be normal.
Random sample or subsample: a subset of a population or
a subset of a sample, selected according to the laws of
chance with a randomization procedure.
Random variable: a quantity which may take any of the
values of a specified set with a specified relative
frequency or probability. It is defined by a set of possible
values, and by an associated probability function giving
the relative frequency of occurrence of each possible
value.
Randomization: the arrangement of a set of objects in a
random order, a set of treatments applied to a set of
experimental units is said to be randomized when the
treatment applied to any given unit is chosen at random
from those available and not already allocated.
Randomness: a basic statistical concept and property
implying an absence of a plan, purpose or pattern, or of
any tendency to favor one outcome rather than another.
Range: the difference between the minimum and the
maximum of a set of values.
Raw data: any original factual information from a
measurement activity or study recorded in laboratory
worksheets, records, memoranda, notes, or exact copies
thereof and that are necessary for the reconstruction and
evaluation of the report of the activity or study. Raw data
may include photographs, microfilm or microfiche copies,
computer printouts, magnetic media, including dictated
observations, and recorded data from automated
instruments. If exact copies of raw data have been
prepared (e.g., tapes which have been transcribed
verbatim, dated, and verified accurate by signature), the
exact copy or exact transcript may be substituted.
Reagent blank: a sample consisting of reagent(s), without
the target analyte or sample matrix, introduced into the
analytical procedure at the appropriate point and carried
through all subsequent steps to determine the contribution
of the reagents and of the involved analytical steps to
error in the observed value.
Reagent grade: the second highest purity designation for
reagents which conform to the current specifications of the
American Chemical Society Committee on Analytical
Reagents.
Records system (or plan): a written, documented group of
procedures describing required records, steps for
producing them, storage conditions, retention period and
circumstances for their destruction or other disposition.
Recovery efficiency: in an analytical method, the fraction
or percentage of a target analyte extracted from a sample
containing a known amount of the analyte.
Reference material: a material or substance, one or more
properties of which are sufficiently well established to be
used for the calibration of an apparatus, the assessment of
a measurement method, or assigning values to materials.
Reference method: a sampling and/or measurement method
which has been officially specified by an organization as
meeting its data quality requirements.
Reference standard: See Calibration standard.
Relative standard deviation: the standard deviation
expressed as a percentage of the mean recovery, i.e., the
coefficient of variation multiplied by 100.
Reliability: the likelihood that an instrument or device will
function under defined conditions for a specified period of
time.
Repeatability: the degree of agreement between mutually
independent test results produced by the same analyst
using the same test method and equipment on random
aliquots of the same sample within a short period of time.
Replicability: See Repeatability.
Replicate: an adjective or verb referring to the taking of
more than one sample or to the performance of more than
one analysis. Incorrectly used as a noun in place of
replicate analysis. Replicate is to be used when referring
to more than two items. See Duplicate.
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Replicate analyses or measurements: the analyses or
measurements of the variable of interest performed
identically on two or more subsamples of the same sample
within a short time interval. See Duplicate analyses or
measurements.
Replicate samples: two or more samples representing the
same population characteristic, time, and place, which are
independently carried through all steps of the sampling
and measurement process in an identical manner.
Replicate samples are used to assess total (sampling and
analysis) method variance. Often incorrectly used in place
of the term "replicate analysis." See Duplicate samples
and Replicate analysis.
Representative sample: a sample taken so as to reflect the
variable® of interest in the population as accurately and
precisely as specified. To ensure representativeness, the
sample may be either completely random or stratified
depending upon the conceptualized population and the
sampling objective (i.e., upon the decision to be made.)
Representativeness: the degree to which data accurately
and precisely represent the frequency distribution of a
specific variable in the population; a data quality indicator.
Reproducibility: the extent to which a method, test or
experiment yields the same or similar results when
performed on subsamples of the same sample by different
analysts or laboratories.
Response variable: a variable that is measured when a
controlled experiment is conducted.
Result: the product of a calculation, test method, test or
experiment. The result may be a value, data set, statistic,
tested hypothesis or an estimated effect.
Review: the assessment of management/operational
functions or activities to establish their conformance to
qualitative specifications or requirements. See
Management systems review and also, Audit.
Risk: the probability or likelihood of an adverse effect.
Risk (statistical): the expected loss due to the use of a
given decision procedure.
Robustness: (in)sensitivity of a statistical test method to
departures from underlying assumptions. See Ruggedness.
Rounded number: a number, reduced to a specified
number of significant digits or decimal places using
defined criteria.
Routine method: a defined plan of procedures and
techniques used regularly to perform a specific task.
'Ruggedness: the (in)sensitivity of an analytical test method
to departures from specified analytical or environmental
conditions. See Robustness.
Ruggedness testing: the carefully ordered testing of an
analytical method while making slight variations in test
conditions (as might be expected in routine use) to
determine how such variations affect test results. If a
variation affects the results significantly, the method
restrictions are tightened to minimize this variability.
Sample: a part of a larger whole or a single item of a
group; a finite part or subset of a statistical population. A
sample serves to provide data or information concerning
the properties of the whole group or population.
Sample data custody: See Chain-of-custody.
Sample variance (statistical): 'a measure of the dispersion
of a set of values. The sum of the squares of the
difference between the individual values of a set and the
arithmetic mean of the set, divided by one less than the
number of values in the set. (The square of the sample
standard deviation.) See also Measure of dispersion.
Sampling: the process of obtaining a representative portion
of the material of concern.
Sampling equipment blank: a clean sample that is
collected in a sample container with the sample-collection
device and returned to the laboratory as a sample.
Sampling equipment blanks are used to check the
cleanliness of sampling devices. See Dynamic blank.
Sampling error: the difference between an estimate of a
population value and its true value. Sampling error is due
to observing only a limited number of the total possible
values and is distinguished from errors due to imperfect
selection, bias in response, errors of observation,
measurement or recording, etc. See also Probability
sampling.
Scheduled maintenance: See Preventative maintenance.
Screening test: a quick test for coarsely assessing a
variable of interest.
Secondary standard: a standard whose value is based upon
comparison with a primary standard.
Selectivity (analytical chemistry): the capability of a
method or instrument to respond to a target substance.or
constituent in the presence of nontarget substances.
Sensitivity: capability of method or instrument to
discriminate between measurement responses representing
different levels of a variable of interest.
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Significance level: the magnitude of the acceptable
probability of rejecting a true null hypothesis or of
accepting a false null hypothesis; the difference between
the hypothetical value and the sample result.
Significant digit: any of the digits 0 through 9, excepting
leading zeros and some trailing zeros, which is used with
its place value to denote a numerical quantity to a desired
rounded number. See Rounded number.
Significant figure: See Significant digit.
Single operator precision: the degree of variation among
the individual measurements of a series of determinations
by the same analyst or operator, all other conditions being
equal.
Site: the area within boundaries established for a defined
activity.
Span-drift: the change in the output of a continuous
monitoring instrument over a stated time period during
which the instrument is not recalibrated.
Span-gas: a gas of known concentration which is used
routinely to calibrate the output level of an analyzer. See
Calibration check standard.
Specimen: See Sample.
Spike: a known mass of target analyte added to a blank
sample or subsample; used to determine recovery
efficiency or for other quality control purposes.
Spiked laboratory blank: See Spiked reagent blank.
Spiked reagent blank: a specified amount of reagent blank
fortified with a known mass of the target analyte; usually
used to determine the recovery efficiency of the method.
Spiked sample: a sample prepared by adding a known
mass of target analyte to a specified amount of matrix
sample for which an independent estimate of target analyte
concentration is available. Spiked samples are used, for
example, to determine the effect of the matrix on a
method's recovery efficiency.
Spiked sample duplicate analysis: See Duplicate analysis
and Spiked sample.
Split samples: two or more representative portions taken
from a sample or subsample and analyzed by different
analysts or laboratories. Split samples are used to
replicate the measurement of the variable(s) of interest.
Standard (measurement): a substance or material with a
property quantified with sufficient accuracy to permit its
use to evaluate the same property in a similar substance or
material. Standards are generally prepared by placing a
reference material in a matrix. See Reference material.
Standard addition: the procedure of adding known
increments of the analyte of interest to a sample to cause
increases in detection response. The level of the analyte
of interest present in the original sample is subsequently
established by extrapolation of the plotted responses.
Standard curve: See Calibration curve.
Standard deviation: the most common measure of the
dispersion or imprecision of observed values expressed as
the positive square root of the variance. See Variance.
Standard material: See Standard (measurement).
Reference material.
Standard method: an assemblage of techniques and
procedures based on consensus or other criteria, often
evaluated for its reliability by collaborative testing and
receiving organizational approval.
Standard operating procedure (SOP): a written document
which details the method of an operation, analysis or
action whose techniques and procedures are thoroughly
prescribed and which is accepted as the method for
performing certain routine or repetitive tasks.
Standard reference material (SRM): a certified reference
material produced by the U.S. National Institute of
Standards and Technology and characterized for absolute
content independent of analytical method.
Standard reference sample: See Secondary standard.
Standard solution: a solution containing a known
concentration of analytes, prepared and verified by a
prescribed method or procedure and used routinely in an
analytical method.
Standardization: the process of establishing the
quantitative relationship between a known mass of target
material (e.g., concentration) and the response variable
(e.g., the measurement system or instrument response.)
See Calibration, Calibration curve and Multipoint
calibration.
Statistic: an estimate of a population characteristic
calculated from a data set (observed or corrected values),
e.g., the mean or standard deviation.
Stratification: the division of a target population into
subsets or strata which are internally more homogeneous
with respect to the characteristic to be studied than the
population as a whole.
Stratified sampling: the sampling of a population that has
been stratified, part of the sample coming from each
stratum. See Stratification.
Stock solution: a concentrated solution of analyte(s) or
reagent(s) prepared and verified by prescribed
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procedure(s), and used for preparing working standards or
standard solutions.
Subsample: a representative portion of a sample. A
subsample may be taken from any laboratory or a field
sample. See Aliquant. Aliquot. Split sample and Test
portion.
Surrogate analyte: a pure substance with properties that
mimic the analyte of interest. It is unlikely to be found in
environmental samples and is added to them for quality
control purposes.
Surveillance: the act of maintaining supervision of or
vigilance over a well-specified portion of the environment
so that detailed information is provided concerning the
state of that portion.
!ualit\
Synthetic sample: a manufactured sample. See
control sample.
Systematic error: a consistent deviation in the results of
sampling and/or analytical processes from the expected or
known value. Such error is caused by human and
methodological bias.
Systems audit: See Technical systems audit.
Systems error: See Total systems error.
Target: the chosen object of investigation for which
qualitative and/or quantitative data or information is
desired, e.g., the analyte of interest.
Technical systems audit: a thorough, systematic on-site,
qualitative review of facilities, equipment, personnel,
training, procedures, record keeping, data validation, data
management, and reporting aspects of a total measurement
system.
Technique: a principle and/or the procedure of its
application for performing an operation.
Test: a procedure used to identify or characterize a
substance or constituent. See Method.
Test data: See Data.
Test determination: See Determination.
Test method: See Method.
Test portion: a subsample of the proper amount for
analysis and measurement of the property of interest. A
test portion may be taken from the bulk sample directly,
but often preliminary operations, such as mixing or further
reduction in particle size, are necessary. See Subsample.
Test result: a product obtained from performing a test
determination. See Test determination.
Test sample: See Test portion.
Test specimen: See Test portion.
Test unit: See Test portion.
Time-proportioned sample: a composite sample produced
by combining samples of a specific size, collected at
preselected, uniform time intervals.
Total Quality Management (TQM): the process whereby
an entire organization, led by senior management, commits
to focusing on quality as a first priority in every activity.
TQM implementation creates a culture in which everyone
in the organization shares the responsibility for
continuously improving the quality 'of products and
services, (i.e., for "doing the right thing, the right way, the
first time, on time.") in order to satisfy the customer.
Total measurement error: the sum of all the errors that
occur from the taking of the sample through the reporting
of results; the difference between the reported result and
the true value of the population that was to have been
sampled.
Traceability: an unbroken trail of accountability for
verifying or validating the chain-of-custody of samples,
data, the documentation of a procedure, or the values of a
standard.
Treatment (experimental): an experimental procedure
whose effect is to be measured and compared with the
effect of other treatments.
Trip blank: a clean sample of matrix that is carried to the
sampling site and transported to the laboratory for analysis
without having been exposed to sampling procedures.
Tuning: the process of adjusting a measurement device or
instrument, prior to its use, to ensure that it works
properly and meets established performance criteria.
Type I error, (alpha error): an (incorrect) decision
resulting from the rejection of a true hypothesis. (A false
positive decision.)
Type II error, (beta error): an (incorrect) decision
resulting from acceptance of a false hypothesis. (A false
negative decision.)
Uncertainty: a measure of the total variability associated
with sampling and measuring that includes the two major
error components: systematic error (bias) and random
error.
Universe: See Population.
QAMS Glossary
40
June 4, 1993
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Master Glossary
October 1993
Upper control limit: See Control limit.
Upper warning limit: See Warning limit.
User check: an evaluation of a written procedure (e.g.,
chemical analysis method) for clarity and accuracy in
which an independent laboratory analyzes a small number
of spiked samples, following the procedure exactly.
Valid study: a study conducted in accordance with
accepted scientific methodology, the results of which
satisfy predefined criteria.
Validated method: a method which has been determined to
meet certain performance criteria for sampling and/or
measurement operations.
Validation: the process of substantiating specified
performance criteria.
Value: the magnitude of a quantity. A single piece of
factual information obtained by observation or
measurement and used as a basis of calculation.
Variable: an entity subject to variation or change.
Variance: See Sample variance.
Verifiable: the ability to be proven or substantiated.
Warning limit: a specified boundary on a control chart that
indicates a process may be going out of statistical control
and that certain precautions are required. For example;
for a Shewhart ~ chart the warning limits are placed at
plus and minus two standard deviations of the mean (i.e.,
at the 95% confidence interval.)
Working standard: See Secondary standard.
Zero drift: the change in instrument output over a stated
time period of nonrecalibrated, continuous operation, when
the initial input concentration is zero; usually expressed as
a percentage of the full scale response.
Acronyms
AAPCO American Association of Pest Control Officials
ACS American Chemical Society
ADQ Audit of Data Quality
ANPRM Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making
AOAC Association of Official Analytical Chemists
AQCR Air Quality Control Region
ARAR Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate
Standards, Limitations, Criteria, and
Requirements
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
BACT Best Available Control Technology
BDAT Best Demonstrated Available Technology
CA Cooperative Agreement
CAA Clean Air Act
CAIR Comprehensive Assessment Information Rule
CAR Corrective Action Report
CAS Chemical Abstract Service
CBI Compliance Biomonitoring Inspection
CEI Compliance Evaluation Inspection
CEPP Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program ,
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Responsibility,
Compensation and Liability Act
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CGI Comprehensive Ground Water Inspection
CGME Comprehensive Ground-Water Monitoring
Evaluation
CIS Compliance Inspection Strategy
CLP Contract Laboratory Program
CME Construction Management Evaluation
COE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CRM Certified Reference Material
CSI Compliance Sampling Inspection
QAMS Glossary
41
June 4, 1993
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
CV Coefficient of Variation
CVVA Clean Water Act
DL Detection Limit
D&R Demolition and Renovation
DMR-QA Discharge Monitoring Report—QA Program
DPO Deputy Project Officer
DQO Data Quality Objectives
DU Decision Unit
EDCA Environmental Data Collection Activity
EDL Estimated Detection Level
EHMW Extra High Molecular Weight
EMAP ' Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Program
EMS Enforcement Management System
EMPC Estimated Maximum (Protocol) Concentration
ERAMS Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring
System
ERG Emergency Response Contractor
ERCS Emergency Response Cleanup Service
ERT Emergency Response Team
ESAT Environmental Service Assistance Team
ESP Electrostatic Precipitator
FDA Food and Drug Administration
FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide
Act
FISMP Field Inspection with Sampling
FIT Field Investigation Team
FR Federal Register
FRDS Federal Reporting Data System
FS Feasibility Study
GLP Good Laboratory Practice
HOPE High Density Polyethylene
HRS Hazard Ranking System
HWDMS Hazardous Waste Data Management System
I/A Innovative/Alternative (Technology)
I&M Inspection and Maintenance
ICP Inductivity Coupled Atomic Emission Plasma
Spectrometry
ICR Information Collection Request
IFB Invitation for Bidders
IMR Immediate Removal
IMVS Interlaboratory Method Validation Study
IRM Initial Remedial Measure
ISS Interim Status Survey
IU Industrial User
LAER Lowest Achievable Emissions Rate
LOEC Lowest Observed Effect Concentration
LOIS Loss of Interim Status
LOQ Limit of Quantification
MCL Maximum Contaminant Level
MCLG Maximum Contaminant Level Goals
MCP Municipal Compliance Plan
MDL Method Detection Limit
MIT Mechanical Integrity Test
MPRSA Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act
MSR Management Systems Review
MSIS Model State Information System
MTR Minimum Technology Requirements
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NADB National Aerometric Data Bank
NAMS National Air Monitoring Stations
QAMS Glossary
42
June 4, 1993
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Master Glossary
October 1993
NEAR Non-binding Preliminary Allocation of
Responsibility
NCLAN National Crop Loss Assessment Network
NCP National Contingency Plan
NEDS National Emissions Data Base
NEIC National Enforcement Investigations Center
(OECM, Denver)
NESHAP National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants
NHANES National Health and Nutrition Examination Study
NPDWR National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
NIOSH National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health
NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology
NMP National Municipal Policy
NOD Notice of Deficiency
NOEC No-Observed Effect Concentration
NOPES Non-Occupational Pesticide Exposure Study
NPAP National Performance Audit Program
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPHAP National Pesticide Hazard Assessment Program
NPL National Priority List
NPO National Program Office
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rule Making
NRC National Resource Center
NSPS New Source Performance Standards
NSR New Source Review
NTIS National Technical Information Service
O&M Operation and Management
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PA/SI Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection
PA Preliminary Assessment
PARS Precision and Accuracy Reporting System
PCI Pretreatment Compliance Inspection
PCS Permit Compliance System
PE Performance Evaluation
PE Program Element
PI Principal Investigator
PMC Project Management Conference
PO Project Officer
POTW Publicly-Owned Treatment Works
PQL Practical Quantitation Limits
PRP Potential Responsible Party
PSD Prevention of Significant Deterioration
PTE Potential to Emit
PTI Permit to Install
PWSSP Public Water System Supervision Program
QA Quality Assurance
QAMS Quality Assurance Management Staff
QAPjP Quality Assurance Project Plan
QAPP Quality Assurance Program Plan
QC Quality Control
QNCR Quarterly Non-Compliance Report
RA Remedial Action
RACM Reasonably Available Control Measures
RACT Reasonably Available Control Technologies
RAS Routine Analytical Service (CLP)
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RD Remedial Design
RE Relative Error
REM RI/FS Contractors
RFA RCRA Facility Assessment (RCRA site version
of PA/SI)
RFD Reference Doses
QAMS Glossary
43
June 4, 1993
-------
October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
RFP Request for Proposals
RFP Reasonable Further Progress (toward attainment)
RI Reconnaissance Inspection
RI Remedial Investigation
RI/FS Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
RMCL Recommended Maximum Contaminant Level
ROD Record of Decision
RPM Remedial Project Manager
RSCC Regional Sample Control Center (CLP).
RSD Risk Specific Doses
SAP Sample Analysis Plan
SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorizations Act
of 1986
SAROAD Storage and Retrieval of Aeromatic Data
SAS Special Analytical Service (CLP)
SBO Senior Budget Official
SCAP Superfund Comprehensive Accomplishment Plan
SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act
SI Site Inspection
SIF Site Inspection Follow-up
SIP State Implementation Plan
SLAM State and Local Air Monitoring Stations
SNC Significant Non-Compliance
SNUR Significant New Use Rule (TSCA 5(e))
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
SRM Standard Reference Material
SS Site Survey
SSID Site/Spill Identification Designation
STC Special Terms and Conditions
TAT Technical Assistance Team
TCLP Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure
TCM Traffic Control Measures
TDD Technical Direction Document
TEAM Total Exposure Assessment Methodology
TEGD Technical Enforcement Guidance Document
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
TOC Total Organic Carbon
TOX Total Organic Halides
TQM Total Quality Management
TSA Technical System Audit
TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act
TSD Temporary Storage and Disposal
TSDF Temporary Storage and Disposal Facility
TSP Total Suspended Particulates
TTO Total Toxic Organics (NPDES permits)
UIC Underground Injection Control
UST Underground Storage Tanks
VE Value Engineering
VE Visual Emissions
VOA Volatile Organics Analysis .
VOC Volatile Organic Contaminants ,
VOC Volatile Organic Chemicals
WAM Work Assignment Manager
WAP Waste Analysis Plan
WENDB Water Enforcement National Data Base
WLA Waste Load Allocation
WQM Waste Quality Management ;
QAMS Glossary
44
June 4, 1993
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Master Glossary
October 1993
References
Baily, R.G. 1976. Ecoregions of the United States. Map
(scale 1:7,500,000). Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Region.
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe.
1979. Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats
of the United States. FSWOBS7931. Washington, DC:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife
Service.
Crowley, J.M. 1967. Biogeography. Canadian Geographer
11:312-316.
EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1992. Terms
of Environment: Glossary, Abbreviations And Acronyms.
EPA175B92001. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Communications, Education, And
Public Affairs.
. 1993. Terms of Environment: Glossary,
Abbreviations And Acronyms. EPA175B93001.
Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Communications, Education, And Public Affairs.
Forman, R.T.T., and M. Godron. 1986. Landscape Ecology.
New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Fortner, B. 1992. The Data Handbook: A Guide To
Understanding the Organization and Visualization of
Technical Data. Champaign, IL: Spyglass, Inc.
Huggett, RJ., R.A. Kimerle, P.M. Mehrle Jr., H.L. Bergmen,
eds. 1992. Biomarkers—Biochemical, Physiological, and
Histological Markers of Anthropogenic Stress. Boca
Raton, LA: Lewis Publishers. •
Hunsaker, C.T., and D.E. Carpenter, eds. 1990. Ecological
Indicators for the Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program. EPA600390060. Research Triangle
Park, NC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office
of Research and Development.
Krebs, C J. 1978. Ecology: The Experimental Analysis of
Distribution and Abundance. New York, NY: Harper and
Row.
Norton, E.G. 1991. Ecological health and sustainable
resource management. In Ecological Economics: The
Science and Management of Sustainability, ed. R.
Costanza, 102-117. New York, NY: Columbia University
Press.
Odum, E.P. 1959. Fundamentals of Ecology. 2nd Edition.
Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co.
. 1971. Fundamentals of Ecology. 3rd Edition.
Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co.
OMB (Office of Management and Budget). 1974. Standard
Federal Regions. OMB Circular A-105. [April 4]
Washington, DC: Office of Management and Budget.
Omernik, J.M. 1987. Ecoregions of the conterminous
United States. Annals of the Association of American
Geographers 77(1): 118-125.
OTA (Office of Technology Assessment). 1987.
Technologies to Maintain Biological Diversity. OTA-F-
330 (contains OTA-F-331). Washington, DC: U.S.
Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. (Available'
from NTIS as PB87204494).
QAMS (Quality Assurance Management Staff). 1993.
Glossary of Quality Assurance Terms. Washington, DC:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Research and Development, Office of Modeling,
Monitoring Systems, and Quality Assurance. (April 15)
Suter, G.W. 1990. Endpoints for regional ecological risk
assessment. Environmental Management 14(l):9-23.
RAF (Risk Assessment Forum). 1992. Framework for
Ecological Risk Assessment. EPA600R92001.
Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
USDAFS (U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service).
1989. Interim Resource Inventory Glossary. Washington,
DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
45
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
Index
40-hex iv, 2, 6, 15
abiotic 1-3, 5, 7, 15
accuracy 1, 4, 8, 10, 15, 29, 32, 34, 39, 41, 43
acid deposition 1, 15, 21
adaptive sampling strategy 1, 15
agroecosystetn 1,15
Alber's map projection 1, 15
ancillary data 1, 2, 15
annual statistical summary 1, 15
area frame 1, 6, 8, 15
area sample 1,15
arid ecosystem 15
assessment ii, iii, iv, vi, 1, 3, 5, 7-12, 15-17, 21,
22, 25, 26, 33, 35-38, 41-45
assessment endpoint 1, 8, 15
association rule 1, 15
attribute 2-5, 8-10, 12, 15
augmented sample 2, 6, 15
auxiliary data 1,2, 6, 9, 15
azimuthal map projection 2, 8, 15, 16
baseline grid 2, 7, 15
bias 1, 2, 4, 10, 15, 29, 30, 32, 34-38, 40
bioaccumulants 2, 15
bioassay 2,15, 25
biodiversity 2, 13, 15
biogeographic province 2, 15
biomarker 2, 15
biomass 2, 15, 23, 24
biome 2, 15
biotic 1-3, 5,7, 11, 15, 19
calibration 2, 15, 30-35, 37, 39
candidate indicator 2,7, 15
cdf 3,4,15
changes iii, 3, 7-9, 15, 25
characterization iii, 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 35
classification 3, 5, 13, 15, 16, 27,45
community ii, iv, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 24
comparability 3,4, 15, 31, 32, 36
completeness 3,4, 15, 31, 32, 36
conceptual model 3, 15
condition 1-5, 7-13, 15, 16, 34
condition indicator 1-3, 5, 7, 8,11, 15
confidence coefficient 3, 15, 31
confidence interval 3, 15, 31, 41
conformal map projection 3,15
continuous 2, 3, 5, 9, 15, 30, 39, 41
cross-cutting group 3, 11, 13, 15
cross-cutting groups iv
cumulative distribution 3-5, 15
cylindric map projection 15
cylindrical map projection 15
data quality 1-4, 7, 9-11, 15, 29-32, 36-38, 41, 42
data quality indicators 4, 15, 32
data quality objective 4, 9, 15, 32
deconvolution 4, 15
demonstration field program 4, 7, 9, 10, 15
demonstration project 4, 7, 9, 10, 15
design-based 4, 10, 15
design-unbiased 4, 15
digital line graph 5, 15
discrete resource 5, 11, 15
DLG 5, 15
domain 5, 11, 15, 16
double sample 5, 13, 15
DQO 4, 15,32,42
Ecological Effects Committee 5, 12, 15
ecological health 5, 15, 45
ecological risk assessment ii, iii, iv, 5, 11, 12, 15,
45
ecology iv, 3, 5, 8, 11, 15-28; 45
ecoregion 5, 11, 15
ecosystem iv, 3, 5, 11, 15
ecosystem function 15
ecosystem health 5, 15
ecosystem structure 5, 15
ecotone 5, 15
entire ii, 2, 5, 6, 11, 13, 15, 34, 40
environment iii, iv, 1, 3, 5, 7-9, 11-15, 19-22, 40,
45
environmental assessment 5, 15, 21
epidemiologic ecology 5, 15
equal-area projection 6, 8, 15
equivalent projection 15
estuary 6, 15
extensive resource 5,6,15
46
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Master Glossary
October 1993
forest 3, 6, 15, 18, 20, 23-25, 27, 45
fragmented 5, 0,15
frame 1,6-9, 12, 15, 16
frame, conceptual 6, 15
geographic information system (GIS) 6, 15
Great Lakes 6, 11, }2, 15
grid 1, 2, 6-8, 12, 13, 1§
grid enhancement 6, 15
grid randomization 6,15
grid, hierarchical 6, 15
grid, triangular 6,15
habitat 5, 7, 15, 20, 25, 27
heuristic method 7, 15
hierarchical geometric decomposition 16
hierarchical model 7, 16
implementation field program 4, 7, 9, 10, 16
inclusion probability 7, 16
index ii, 7, 10, 16, 46
index period 7, 10, 16
index sample 7,16
indicator iii, 1-12, 15-17, 24, 29-31, 36, 38
indicator development iii, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 16
integration iii, 3, 7, 16
interpenetrating subsamples 7, 16
judgment sample 6-8, 12, 16
kriging 8, 16
Lambert's azimuthal map projection 8, 16
landscape iii, iv, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 16, 20, 22-25,
27, 45
landscape characterization iii, 3, 8, 16
landscape ecology iv, 8, 11, 16, 20, 25, 45
map projection 1-4, 8, 13, 15, 16
map resolution 8, 16
map scale 8, 16
marginal condition 8, 16
measurement 1-4, 7, 8, 10, 16, 17, 21, 27, 29-41
measurement endpoint 8, 16
meridian 8, 9, 16
meridional zones 8, 13, 16
modeling ii, iv, 9, 12, 16, 45
monitoring ii, iv, 2, 3, 5-7, 9-13, 16, 21, 22, 24,
39, 41, 42, 44, 45
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) 3, 9, 16
National Research Council (NRC) 9, 16, 43
nominal 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 16
Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems, and
Quality Assurance (OMMSQA) iv, 9,
12, 16, 45
on-frame data 9, 16
parallel 8, 9, 16
parameter 3, 9, 16, 31, 36
pgttern 5, §, 9, 13, 16, 37
peer review 9, 12, 16
jjikit field Program 4, 7, 9, 10, 16
pilot project 4, 7, 9, 10, 16
population Irl3,16, 19, 29, 31, 33, 3,6-40
population estimation 10, 12,16
population ijnits 10, 16
precision 1, 2,4-6, 1Q, 13, 16, 29, 31, 32, 34-37,
39,43
probability sample 6-10, 12, 14,16
QA/QG 10, 16
quality assessment 10,16, 36
quality assurance (QA) ii, iii, iv, 2, 9, 10, 12, 16,
29,36,42,43,45
quality control (QC) 10, 16, 17, 30-34, 36, 37,
39-41,43
quantile 10, 16
randomization 6, 10, 12, 15, 16, 37
recovery 10, 11, 16, 25, 35, 37, 39, 43
reference condition 11, 12, 16
reference site 11, 16
region 1,3-5,, 11, 16,41,45
relation 11, 12, 16
representativeness 2,4, 11, 16, 30, 32, 36, 38
research project 4, 10, 11, 16, 36
resource iii, iy, 1-13, 15-17, 20, 25-27, 43, 45
resource class 11,13,16
resource domain 11, 15, 16
resource group 3, 8, 11, 13, 16
resource groups iii, 7
resource unit 2, 3, 11, 16
risk ii, iii, iv, 1, 3, 5, 11, 12, 15-17, 22, 26, 38, 44,
45
risk assessment ii, iii, iv, 1, 3, 5, 11, 12, 15-17, 22,
26,45
risk characterization 11, 16
risk communication 11,16,26
risk management 12, 16, 26
sample 1-10, 12-16, 29-41, 44
sampling strategy 1, 6, 10, 12, 15, 16
sampling unit 1, 2, 6, 7, 12, 16
Science Advisory Board (SAB) 5, 9, 12, 16
spatial statistics 12, 16
status 7, 12, 13, 16, 17, 42
strata 12, 16, 39
stratum 12, 13, 16, 39
stressor 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10-12, 14, 16
stressor indicator 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 12, 16
subnominal 1, 5, 8, 11, 12, 16
subpopulation 12, 16
47
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October 1993
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
surface fitting 12,16
surface waters 8, 11, 12, 16
systematic sample 12, 16
target population 10, 13, 16, 39
technical coordinator (TC) vi, 3, 13, 16
technical director (TD) 11, 13, 16
tessellation 13, 16
Tier 1 resource 13, 16
Tier I/Tier 2 13, 16
TierS/Tier 4 13, 16
total quality management (TQM) 3, 13, 16, 40, 44
trends 7, 9, 12, 13,16, 17
universal transverse mercator projection 16
universe 6, 10, 13, 16, 40
UTM 13, 16
value 1-5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 21, 22, 29-41, 44
variance iv, 4, 8, 13, 16, 31-36, 38, 39, 41
watershed 14, 16
weights 14, 16
wetlands 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 27, 28, 45
xenobiotic 14,16
•&U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1993 - 550-001/80308
48
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