| Term | Definition | | RNA | RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a chain of nucleotides that is made based on the DNA sequence. The structure of RNA is similar to the structure of DNA. RNA functions in many ways in cells, including playing the important role of carrying instructions from DNA during protein production. In certain viruses, RNA rather than DNA may carry the genetic information. |
| Salt Water Intrusion | Displacement of fresh or ground water by the advance of salt water due to its greater density, usually in coastal and estuarine areas. |
| Sampling | Taking samples that are "typical", so as not to get too high or too low of an estimate accidentally. For example, if we were measuring the average heights of all citizens in California, but we accidentally sampled no children, then our estimate would be too high. We would want to sample an array of ages that are typical for the state. |
| Science Denial / Denialism | The outright refusal to accept established scientific consensus (e.g., climate change denial, evolution denial). |
| Scientific Method | The scientific method is the process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation. The basic process involves making an observation, forming a hypothesis, making a prediction, conducting an experiment and finally analyzing the results. |
| Scientific Model | A model that uses our knowledge of natural processes to predict outcomes, make hypotheses and explain phenomena. Models can be material (like the paper airplane), conceptual, or mathematical. A scientific model is often a computer program that attempts to simulate a particular system and to predict how the system would behave in the real world. See also "Model" and "Computerized simulation". |
| Sea Level Rise | The increase in ocean water levels at a specific location, taking into account both global sea level rise and local factors, such as local subsidence and uplift. Relative sea level rise is measured with respect to a specified vertical datum relative to the land, which may also be changing elevation over time. |
| Serology | Measurement of antibodies and other immunological properties present in blood serum. |
| Single-Blind | When either the experimenter or subject is unaware whether the subject is getting the treatment or a placebo. Blinding the researcher helps prevent bias when the results are analyzed. Blinding the subject prevents the participant from having a biased reaction. |
| Sink | Any process, activity or mechanism which removes a greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas or aerosol from the atmosphere. |
