New Jersey Water Science Center Glossary
A glossary of terms used on the New Jersey Water Science Center web pages.
A
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
Electronic instruments used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to measure water velocity, depth, and discharge by measuring reflected soundwaves to calculate distance and movement in rivers and estuaries.
Aquifer
Aquifer
A geological formation that can store and transmit water, providing a source for wells and springs.
D
Datum
Datum
A USGS datum is a geodetic reference system used to define precise horizontal and vertical positions for mapping, surveying, and geospatial data in the United States.
Discharge
Discharge
The volume of water moving down a stream or river per unit of time, typically expressed in cubic feet per second (cfs).
G
Gage height
Gage height
The height of the water surface above an established datum, often used interchangeably with the more general term stage
Groundwater
Groundwater
Water that is found beneath the Earth's surface in soil pore spaces and fractures of rock formations, contributing to aquifers and influencing surface
Groundwater recharge
Groundwater recharge
Processes through which water can enter a groundwater system.
H
Hydraulic modeling
Hydraulic modeling
Hydraulic modeling simulates and analyzes the behavior of water flow in various systems, such as rivers, channels, pipelines, or stormwater networks.
L
LiDAR
LiDAR
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems use lasers to measure the elevation of objects on the ground, in forests, under water and even in buildings.
R
Rating Curve
Rating Curve
A graphical representation of the relationship between the water surface elevation (stage) at a specific location and the corresponding flow rate (discharge) in a river or stream.
S
Stage
Stage
The height of the water surface above an established datum at a specific location in a stream or lake.
Streamflow
Streamflow
The flow of water in a natural or artificial stream, measured in cubic feet per second (cfs)
U
Unconfined Aquifer
Unconfined Aquifer
An aquifer that is directly replenished by surface water and is not capped by a layer of impermeable rock, allowing water to flow freely in and out.
Unmanned Aerial System
Unmanned Aerial System
An unmanned aircraft system that includes a drone, typically weighing less than 55 pounds (25 kg), along with the associated ground control station and communication links.
W
Wading Rod
Wading Rod
A wading rod is a graduated, hand-held rod used to measure water depth and position current meters in shallow streams for streamflow measurements.
Water Table
Water Table
The upper surface of an unconfined aquifer, where the soil or rock is saturated with water.