Glossary (trial version)

Click on the first letter of the word/phrase you wish to look up.

Base flow

Water flow appearing in a river or stream as a result of groundwater discharge, with a characteristic delayed reaction to recharge. Most clearly visible after direct runoff has stopped.

Base saturation

The proportion of the (cation) exchange capacity that is saturated with cations

Biodiversity

The frequency and variety of living organisms found within a specified geographic region

Biomass

total weight, volume or energy equivalent of organisms in a given area

Biorights

an initiative to create a financial system which will pay people to protect their natural resources and to develop sustainable ways of using them

Biosphere

The part of a planet and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life

Blackwater

water rich in humic acids and with low nutrient concentrations

Bog

general term for ombrotrophic mires

BPPT

Indonesian Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology

Bulk density

The mass of soil per unit volume in an undisturbed condition. Normally equivalent to the dry bulk density (i.e. when only the dry soil mass is considered), but sometimes to the wet bulk density (i.e. when the mass of water present is also considered).

This glossary is based up on the published glossary taken from the following publication:

Rieley, J. O. and S. E. Page, (2005), Wise Use of Tropical Peatlands: Focus on Southeast Asia, ALTERRA - Wageningen University and Research Centre and the EU INCO - STRAPEAT and RESTORPEAT Partnerships, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Click here to download a PDF copy of the publication - http://www.restorpeat.alterra.wur.nl/download/WUG.pdf (Filesize: 23.3 Mbytes)