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La Nina = A large scale cooling of the tropical Pacific Ocean occurring at irregular intervals of <br />between about two and seven years and lasting for one to three years. In the American West, La Nina <br />generally brings increased precipitation to the Northwest and reduced precipitation to the Southwest. <br />Least Regrets Approach = A way of designing future coping strategies such that, even if a <br />projected change does not occur, the adopted strategies will still be beneficial. <br />Model Skill = A measure of how accurate a model, tool or technique makes predictions. <br />National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) = Housed within the U.S. <br />Department of Commerce, NOAA conducts research and gathers data about the global oceans, <br />atmosphere, space, and sun, and applies this knowledge to science and service. <br />NGO's = Non - governmental organizations (such as interest groups). <br />NOAA = See: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. <br />Orographic Effects = Climatic phenomena associated with mountains and mountain ranges. <br />Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) = A long -term ocean temperature fluctuation of the Pacific <br />Ocean. The PDO waxes and wanes approximately every 20 to 30 years. <br />Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) = A numerical scale for describing abnormal wetness or <br />dryness in a particular region, based on rainfall and temperature. Positive numbers indicate unusual <br />wetness, negative numbers indicate drought; zero indicates normal conditions. <br />PDO = See: Pacific Decadal Oscillation. <br />PDSI = See: Palmer Drought Severity Index. <br />Prior Appropriation Doctrine = The primary mechanism for allocating surface waters and some <br />groundwater reserves within the western states, based on a "first -come, first- served" concept known <br />as seniority. <br />Priority = See: Seniority. <br />Recharge = The movement of water from the Earth's surface into aquifers, either through natural <br />processes or active management. <br />Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) = A NOAA program featuring regionally - <br />focused assessments of climate change /variability and the application of this knowledge to decision - <br />making activities. <br />Return Flows = The amount of a water diversion that is not consumed as part of a given water use <br />(i.e., diversions minus consumption), and is thus available for other uses. <br />RISA = See: Regionally Integrated Sciences and Assessments. <br />Rule Curves = A set of policies guiding reservoir operation and management, often presented in <br />diagrams and/or mathematical equations, defined in terms of actual and desired storage levels, <br />expected inflows and outflows, and operational objectives and priorities. <br />19 <br />