wind chill equivalent temperatureThe apparent temperature felt on the exposed human body owing to the combination of temperature and wind speed.
Wind Chill FactorIncreased wind speeds accelerate heat loss from exposed skin. No specific rules exist for determining when wind chill becomes dangerous.
Wind Chill WarningThe National Weather Service issues this product when the wind chill is life threatening. The criteria for this warning varies from state to state.
Wind CoupletAn area on the radar display where two maximum wind speeds are blowing in opposite directions.
Wind DirectionThe true direction from which the wind is blowing at a given location (i.e., wind blowing from the north to the south is a north wind).
Wind EnergyEnergy available from the movement of the wind across a landscape caused by the heating of the atmosphere, earth, and oceans by the sun.
Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) or DeviceAn apparatus for converting the energy available in the wind to mechanical energy that can be used to power machinery (grain mills, water pumps) and to…
Wind FarmA collection of wind turbines in the same location (on or off-shore) utilized to generate wind powered electricity.
Wind FieldThe three-dimensional spatial pattern of winds.
Wind GustRapid fluctuations in the wind speed with a variation of 10 knots or more between peaks and lulls.
Wind PowerHarnessing the wind to generate electricity. Wind turbines produce electricity when wind turns blades that are connected to a shaft that drives a…
Wind Power PlantA group of wind turbines interconnected to a common power provider system through a system of transformers, distribution lines, and (usually) one…
Wind RadiiTerm used in National Weather Tropical Cyclone Forecast Advisory products (TCM).
Wind Resource AssessmentThe process of characterizing the wind resource, and its energy potential, for a specific site or geographical area.
Wind RoseA diagram that indicates the average percentage of time that the wind blows from different directions, on a monthly or annual basis.
Wind setupThe vertical rise in the still water level at the face of a structure or embankment caused by wind stresses on the surface of the water.
Wind ShearThe rate at which wind velocity changes from point to point in a given direction (as, vertically).
Wind Shear ProfileThe change in wind speed and/or direction usually in the vertical. The characteristics of the wind shear profile are of critical importance in determining…
Wind ShiftA change in wind direction of 45 degrees or more in less than 15 minutes with sustained wind speeds of 10 knots or more throughout the wind shift.
Wind Shift LineA long, but narrow axis across which the winds change direction (usually veer).
Wind SockA tapered fabric shaped like a cone that indicates wind direction by pointing away from the wind. It is also called a "wind cone."
Wind SpeedThe rate of flow of the wind undisturbed by obstacles.
Wind Speed Duration CurveA graph that indicates the distribution of wind speeds as a function of the cumulative number of hours that the wind speed exceeds a given wind speed in a…
Wind Speed Frequency CurveA curve that indicates the number of hours per year that specific wind speeds occur.
Wind Speed ProfileA profile of how the wind speed changes with height above the surface of the ground or water.
Wind TurbineA term used for a wind energy conversion device that produces electricity; typically having one, two, or three blades.
Wind Turbine Rated CapacityThe amount of power a wind turbine can produce at its rated wind speed, e.g., 100 kW at 20 mph.
wind vaneAn instrument used to determine wind direction.
Wind VelocityThe wind speed and direction in an undisturbed flow.
Wind WavesLocal, short period waves generated from the action of wind on the water surface (as opposed to swell). Commonly referred to as waves.
WindmillA WECS that is used to grind grain, and that typically has a high-solidity rotor; commonly used to refer to all types of WECS.
WindowA generic term for a glazed opening that allows daylight to enter into a building and can be opened for ventilation.
Windpower CurveA graph representing the relationship between the power available from the wind and the wind speed.
Windpower ProfileThe change in the power available in the wind due to changes in the wind speed or velocity profile; the windpower profile is proportional to the cube of…
Wing wallA wall that guides a water into a conveyance structure.
WingwallA building structural element that is built onto a building's exterior along the inner edges of all the windows, and extending from the ground to the…
WinnowingSelective sorting or removal of fine particles by wind or water.
WinterTypically the coldest season of the year during which the sun is farthest from overhead.
Winter heating seasonThe November 1 through March 31 period, during which most natural gas use for space heating takes place.
Winter PoolThe pool, or height of the water surface, of a reservoir during the winter. This pool is usually a specific height and is maintained for the control of…
Winter SolsticeThe time at which the sun is farthest south in the Southern Hemisphere, on or around December 21.
Winter Storm WarningThis product is issued by the National Weather Service when a winter storm is producing or is forecast to produce heavy snow or significant ice…
Winter Storm WatchThis product is issued by the National Weather Service when there is a potential for heavy snow or significant ice accumulations, usually at least 24 to…
Winter Weather AdvisoryThis product is issued by the National Weather Service when a low pressure system produces a combination of winter weather (snow, freezing rain, sleet…
Winters DoctrineProvides that the establishment of a Indian Reservation impliedly reserves the amount of water necessary for the purposes of the reservation.
Wire Weight GageA river gage comprised of a weight which is lowered to the water level. The weight is attached to a cable; and as the weight is lowered, a counter…
wobble hypothesisAn explanation of how one tRNA may recognize more than one codon. The first two bases of the mRNA codon and anticodon pair properly, but the third base in…
Wolf NumberA historic term for Sunspot Number. In 1849, R. Wolf of Zurich originated the general procedure for computing the sunspot number
Wolfram syndromeA rare autosomal recessive disorder that leads to many different abnormalities, including diabetes mellitus, deafness, and blindness.
woodA solid lignocellulosic material naturally produced in trees and some shrubs, made of up to 40%-50% cellulose, 20%-30% hemicellulose, and 20% -30% lignin.
Wood energyWood and wood products used as fuel, including roundwood (i.e., cordwood), limbwood, wood chips, bark, sawdust, forest residues, and charcoal.
Wood StoveA wood-burning appliance for space and/or water heating and/or cooking.
Work planPlans that are prepared which detail the scope, direction, and purpose of a proposed Resource Management Plan.
Working FluidA fluid used to absorb and transfer heat energy.
World Meteorological OrganizationWorld Meteorological Organization (WMO) Created by the World Meteorological Convention and recognized as a special agency of the United Nations in 1951…
World Weather WatchWorld Weather Watch (WWW) The world-wide, coordinated, developing system of meteorological facilities and services provided by WMO Members for the purpose…
wortThe liquid remaining from a brewing mash preparation following the filtration of fermentable beer.
Wound Rotor MotorsA type of motor that has a rotor with electrical windings connected through slip rings to the external power circuit.
Wrapping Gust FrontA gust front which wraps around a mesocyclone, cutting off the inflow of warm moist air to the mesocyclone circulation and resulting in an occluded…
WV1. Water Vapor (satellite imagery) 2. Wave 3. West Virginia
WVHTOn a buoy report, significant wave height (meters) is calculated as the average of the highest one-third of all of the wave heights during the 20-minute…
WWHOn a buoy report, Wind Wave Height is the vertical distance (meters) between any wind wave crest and the succeeding wind wave trough (independent of swell…
WWPOn a buoy report, Wind Wave Period is the time (in seconds) that it takes successive wind wave crests or troughs to pass a fixed point.
WWVNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) radio stations which broadcast a time and frequency service commonly known to mariners as the "Time…
WWVHNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) radio stations which broadcast a time and frequency service commonly known to mariners as the "Time…