geohazard
geological or environmental condition that can lead to risks or damages
gigawatt
one billion watts
gyre
spiral or vortex
heat engine
mechanical device that transforms part of the heat entering it into work
hub
part that holds or attaches blades together on a wind turbine
hydrocarbon
any organic compound that contains only hydrogen and carbon
hydrokinetic energy system
a system that converts the energy in moving water into mechanical and electrical energy
hydrophone
underwater microphone or listening device
hydrothermal vents
underwater geysers
jurisdiction
having authority or control
lease
contract authorizing exploration for and development and production of minerals for a specified period of time over a given area
methane
naturally occurring gaseous compound consisting of one carbon and four hydrogens; greenhouse gas; major component of natural gas
methane hydrate
methane trapped within a crystallized structure of water forming a solid similar to ice
mitigate
to make less severe
momentum
the product of the mass and velocity of an item
monopile
large steel tube driven into the seabed to support the tower of a wind turbine
mooring
a permanent structure anchored to the ocean floor that allows vessels or objects to temporarily or permanently be secured by attachment
moratorium
an authorized period of delay
nacelle
box that houses the major mechanical components of a wind turbine, including the drive shaft, gear box, and generator
nautical mile
unit of length used in air and sea navigation, equal to a minute of latitude
nonrenewable
a source of energy that cannot be replenished readily through natural processes
offshore
describing a region off the coast
organic material
material that was derived from a once living organism; contains carbon
osmosis
the movement of an item through a membrane to an area of higher concentration
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
all submerged lands lying seaward of state coastal waters (3 miles offshore) which are under U.S. jurisdiction
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
created on August 7, 1953, defines the OCS as all submerged lands lying seaward of state coastal waters (3 miles offshore) which are under U.S. jurisdiction
overtopping device
a wave energy generation device that focuses waves in the direction of a catch basin or reservoir to generate electricity
period
the time for the wave to make one complete cycle; the time for two crests to pass a point
permeability
the ability of an item to allow fluids to pass through it
point absorber
floating structure that absorbs wave energy from all directions
porous
having pores or tiny cavities that can trap fluids
porosity
a measure of the open space in a rock, the number of pores
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Exploring Ocean Energy and Resources