b'El Nino Effect: A climate cycle in the Pacific OceanGreen Infrastructure: A strategically planned network with a global impact on weather patterns. of natural and semi-natural areas with otherenvironmental features designed and managed toEMRA: Eastern & Midlands Regional Assembly deliver a wide range of ecosystem services such as - comprising 38 elected members nominated by the water purification, air quality, space for recreation12 constituent local authorities within the region. and climate mitigation and adaptation.Their main roles include (but not limited to)implementing appropriate Regional Planning Green Schools: An international environmentalGuidelines; preparing adopting and implementing theeducation programme, environmental management Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies; Identifying,system and award scheme that promotes whole school participating in and coordinating certain EU projects. action towards a sustainable environment through the implementation of a seven step methodology.EU Habitats Directive: Protects a wide range of rare, threatened or endemic species occurring in the Greenhouse gases (GHG): A gas that contributes to the European Union. greenhouse effect by absorbing infra-red radiation. Examples include: carbon dioxide, methane andEutrophication: Excessive richness of nutrients in achlorofluorocarbons.lake or other body of water, frequently due to run-off from the land, causing a dense growth of plant life. Greenway: A dedicated cycling and walking route that can take a variety of forms either off road or on road Fire break: An obstacle to the spread of fire, such within part of the verge or footway segregated from as a strip of open space in a forest. motorized traffic. Benefits include facilitating modal shift, improving air quality and sustainablyFreeze-thaw action: Where surfaces such as stoneconnecting people to places.get weathered by freezing and thawing of ice. During times of very cold weather, water in a crack in a rockGrey Flood Management: Man-made infrastructure to will freeze. When water turns to ice it expands bymanage flooding such as building embankments and about 10%. This usually happens at night. During thecleaning / upgrading river channels.day when the ice thaws outs, more water flows into the gap in the stone and then freezes again at night caus- Heat Stress: When your body can no longer regulate ing the gap to expand even more. your temperature and you become too hot. This can occur in hot temperatures, high sun exposure or high GIS: Geographical Information Systeminvolves humidity. Heat stress can lead to heat exhaustion and processing information to help make an informed heat stroke.decision. When used in conjunction with location(using maps) a link is created between diverse Heritage assets: An item that has value because of its datasets that can concern people, places or things. contribution to a nations society, knowledge and / or Visual information in a GIS system can help it to culture. These are usually physical assets.be more easily understood and explained.Human systems: Systems created by humansGreen Flood Management: (Also known as Naturalincluding human settlements, transportation routes, Flood Management) is an approach to managing flood- communication systems, economics, infrastructure ing which works with natural hydrological processesand energy.throughout the catchment to store flood water tempo-rarily during flood events. ICARUS: The Irish Climate Analysis and Research UnitS is part of the Department of Geography at Maynooth University and a national leader in thearea of climate change.96'