and time.” “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.”
Comparability
“The degree to which different methods, datasets 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 [it is] usually expressed as a percentage; a data quality
indicator.”
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.”
Condition
The distribution of scores describing resource attributes without
respect to any societal value or desired use, that is, a state of being.
Condition indicator
A characteristic of the environment that provides quantitative estimates of the state of ecological resources and is conceptually tied to
a value.
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.
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.”
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.
Crosscutting 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,
220
S. O. Darkwah et al.
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.”
Comparability
“The degree to which different methods, datasets 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 [it is] usually expressed as a percentage; a data quality
indicator.”
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.”
Condition
The distribution of scores describing resource attributes without
respect to any societal value or desired use, that is, a state of being.
Condition indicator
A characteristic of the environment that provides quantitative estimates of the state of ecological resources and is conceptually tied to
a value.
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.
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.”
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.
Crosscutting 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,
220
S. O. Darkwah et al.