Meteorology and atmospheric science terminology · MLC-0110

Meteorology and atmospheric science terms: W (356)

• WWest
• WAAWarm Air Advection - the advection (movement) of warm air into a region.
• WadiAn ephemeral riverbed or valley in an arid or semi-arid region that remains dry except during the rainy...
• WakeThe region of disturbed flow downstream of an object moving through a fluid, characterized by turbulence and...
• Wake lowA mesoscale low-pressure area that forms in the wake of a squall line or other convective system. It is...
• Wake turbulenceTurbulence generated by an aircraft as it moves through the air, primarily consisting of wingtip vortices and...
• Walker circulationA zonal atmospheric circulation cell that operates in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, characterized by rising...
• Wall cloudA localized, persistent, and often abrupt lowering of the cloud base from the rain-free base of a...
• Warm advectionTransport of warm air into an area by horizontal winds. Low-level warm advection sometimes is referred to...
• Warm cloudA cloud composed entirely of liquid water droplets, with temperatures consistently above 0 degrees Celsius...
• Warm conveyor beltA coherent stream of warm, moist air that flows poleward and upward within an extratropical cyclone...
• Warm core lowA low pressure area which is warmer at its center than at its periphery. Tropical cyclones exhibit this...
• Warm fogFog that forms at temperatures above 0 degrees Celsius, consisting entirely of liquid water droplets. This...
• Warm frontA boundary where a mass of warmer air advances and displaces a colder air mass. The warm air gently glides up...
• Warm highAn anticyclone characterized by warmer air throughout its vertical extent, particularly in the lower and...
• Warm lowA low-pressure system whose core is warmer than its surroundings, such as a tropical cyclone or a thermal low...
• Warm occluded frontA type of occluded front where the air behind the occluding cold front is warmer than the air ahead of the...
• Warm occlusionAn occluded front where the air mass behind the cold front is warmer than the air mass ahead of the warm...
• Warm poolA region of the ocean where sea surface temperatures remain consistently high, generally above 28 degrees...
• Warm rainPrecipitation that forms in clouds where temperatures are entirely above freezing, meaning no ice crystals...
• Warm rain processThe microphysical process by which precipitation forms in clouds that are entirely above 0 degrees Celsius...
• Warm ridgeAn elongated area of relatively high atmospheric pressure that is characterized by warmer air temperatures...
• Warm sectorThe region of warm air at the surface located between the cold front and the warm front in a developing...
• Warm tongueAn elongated area of relatively warm air extending into a region of colder air. This feature is often...
• Warm-core ringsMesoscale ocean eddies that detach from major ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream, and contain a core of...
• Warm-front waveA wave-like disturbance that develops along a warm front, often leading to the formation of a new...
• Warm-front-type occlusionA type of occluded front where the air behind the cold front is warmer than the air ahead of the warm front...
• Warm-type occlusionAn occluded front where the air mass behind the cold front is warmer than the air mass ahead of the warm...
• WarningAn urgent public announcement issued by a meteorological agency when a hazardous weather event is occurring...
• Warning stageThe level at which a river or body of water begins to pose a threat to life or property, prompting the...
• Wasatch windA strong easterly wind blowing out of the mouths of the canyons of the Wasatch Mountains onto the plains of...
• Wasatch winds, see Wasatch wind
• Washoe zephyrA gusty westerly wind that blows down the lee slopes of the Sierra Nevada into western Nevada, including the...
• WashoutThe removal of atmospheric aerosols, pollutants, and other particles by precipitation as it falls through the...
• Washout coefficientA parameter that quantifies the efficiency of precipitation in removing aerosols or gases from the...
• WastewaterWater whose quality has been degraded by human activities, such as domestic, industrial, or commercial...
• WatchAn announcement issued by a meteorological agency indicating that conditions are favorable for a particular...
• Watch box(or simply "Box") - slang for a Severe Thunderstorm Watch or Tornado Watch issued by the SPC.
• Watch cancellationThis product will be issued to let the public know when either a Tornado Watch or Severe Thunderstorm Watch...
• Watch redefining statementThis product tells the public which counties/parishes are included in the watch. This is done not only by...
• Watch status reportsThis product lets the NWFO know of the status of the current severe weather watch (Tornado or Severe...
• Water bleedingThe upward movement and emergence of free water from a saturated soil or sediment column, typically caused by...
• Water budgetAn accounting of the inputs, outputs, and storage changes of water within a defined system, such as a...
• Water cloudA cloud composed of liquid droplets rather than ice crystals. The droplets condense on cloud condensation...
• Water contentThe total mass of water in a given volume or mass of a substance, such as air, soil, or a snowpack. In cloud...
• Water deficitA condition where the available water in an environment, such as soil or a plant, is insufficient to meet the...
• Water equivalentThe depth of water that would result from the complete melting of a given mass of snow or ice. It is a...
• Water equivalent of snowThe depth of liquid water that would be produced if a specific amount of snow were completely melted. This...
• Water equivalent of snow coverThe total amount of liquid water contained within an entire snowpack, expressed as a depth of water. This...
• Water levelThe height of the free surface of a body of water relative to a specific datum, such as mean sea level or a...
• Water massA large body of ocean water characterized by a relatively uniform range of temperature and salinity...
• Water mass formationThe process by which a large body of seawater acquires its characteristic temperature and salinity at the...
• Water mass transformationThe alteration of the temperature and salinity properties of an ocean water mass due to air-sea interaction...
• Water moleculeA chemical compound consisting of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one oxygen atom, represented by the...
• Water needThe quantity of water required to sustain a particular biological or agricultural system, or to meet human...
• Water pollutionThe alteration of the constituents of a body of water by man to such a degree that the water loses its value...
• Water requirementThe total quantity of water needed for a plant's optimal growth and development over a specific period...
• Water resourcesThe supply of freshwater in a given region, available in surface forms like rivers and lakes and as...
• Water skyA dark appearance of the sky over open water, observed from a snow-covered or ice-covered surface. This...
• Water spray seedingA cloud seeding technique for precipitation enhancement that involves dispersing fine droplets of water into...
• Water spreadingA land management and water conservation practice involving the diversion of intermittent streamflow or...
• Water stress effectThe suite of physiological and developmental responses in a plant when its water demand exceeds the available...
• Water supply outlookA seasonal volume forecast, generally for a period centered around the time of spring snowmelt (e.g...
• Water surplusThe condition where the amount of precipitation received in a given area exceeds the combined losses from...
• Water tableThe upper surface of the zone of saturation, where all pore spaces in the ground are completely filled with...
• Water typeA body of water with a specific, narrowly defined temperature and salinity, formed at the sea surface in a...
• Water vaporThe gaseous phase of water, invisible to the human eye and present in the atmosphere. It is produced by...
• Water vapor feedbackA climate feedback mechanism where an initial warming of the atmosphere leads to an increase in atmospheric...
• Water vapor imagerySatellite images that depict the distribution and movement of water vapor in the middle and upper...
• Water vapor plumeThis appears in the water vapor satellite imagery. It is a plume-like object that extends from the...
• Water vapor windsAtmospheric motion vectors derived by tracking features of clear-sky moisture, or high clouds, through...
• Water yearA 12-month period used for hydrological accounting, typically beginning in the autumn to encompass the...
• WatercourseAny surface flow such as a river, stream, tributary.
• Water-flow pyrheliometerAn instrument used to measure the intensity of direct solar radiation by absorbing the radiation in a...
• Water-level recorderAn instrument that continuously measures and records the height of a water surface, such as in a well, lake...
• WaterloggedDescribing soil or ground that is saturated with water to the extent that air is excluded from the pore...
• WatershedAn area of land where all precipitation that falls within its boundaries drains to a common outlet, such as a...
• WaterspoutA rotating column of air and spray forming over a body of water, typically extending from the base of a...
• Water-stage recorderAn instrument that continuously measures and records the height of a water surface in a river, lake, or well...
• Water-supply forecastA prediction of the amount of water expected to be available from a specific source, such as snowmelt or...
• Water-supply sensitivityThe degree to which a region's water resources are susceptible to changes in climatic conditions, such as...
• Water-vapor bandsSpecific regions of the electromagnetic spectrum where water vapor molecules absorb and emit radiation...
• WattThe standard unit of power in the International System of Units (SI), representing the rate at which energy...
• WaveA disturbance that propagates through a medium or space, transferring energy without a net displacement of...
• Wave ageA dimensionless parameter that characterizes the stage of development of ocean surface waves, relating the...
• Wave averageAn average of a quantity taken over one complete wave cycle, in time at a fixed point or in distance over one...
• Wave blockingA phenomenon where atmospheric waves, such as Rossby waves, are prevented from propagating further by a...
• Wave breakingThe phenomenon where a wave's amplitude becomes too large for its shape to be stable, causing it to collapse...
• Wave celerityThe speed at which a wave crest or phase propagates through a medium. It is distinct from the group velocity...
• Wave climateThe long-term statistical distribution of wave characteristics, such as height, period, and direction, at a...
• Wave cloudA type of cloud that forms in the crests of atmospheric waves, often appearing as lenticular or altocumulus...
• Wave crestThe highest point of a wave, representing the maximum upward displacement from the equilibrium water level or...
• Wave cycloneA type of extratropical cyclone that forms along a frontal boundary, typically a stationary front, and...
• Wave diffractionThe phenomenon where waves bend or spread out as they pass around an obstacle or through an opening. This...
• Wave dispersionThe phenomenon where the phase velocity of a wave depends on its frequency or wavelength, causing different...
• Wave dissipationThe process by which wave energy is lost from a propagating wave, typically through friction, breaking, or...
• Wave disturbanceA propagating oscillation in atmospheric properties, such as pressure, temperature, or wind velocity, that...
• Wave dragA form of atmospheric drag experienced by airflow over mountainous terrain, resulting from the generation of...
• Wave equationA linear second-order partial differential equation that describes the propagation of a variety of waves...
• Wave forecastingThe process of predicting future ocean wave conditions, including significant wave height, period, and...
• Wave frequencyThe number of wave cycles or oscillations that pass a fixed point per unit of time. It is the reciprocal of...
• Wave generationThe process by which energy is transferred from wind to the ocean surface, creating waves. This transfer...
• Wave groupA collection of individual waves with slightly different wavelengths and frequencies that travel together as...
• Wave heightThe vertical distance between the crest and the adjacent trough of a wave. For ocean surface waves, it is a...
• Wave modelingThe use of mathematical and computational techniques to simulate the behavior and evolution of waves in a...
• Wave motionThe oscillatory movement of a medium, such as water or air, characterized by the propagation of energy...
• Wave of oscillationA type of wave where the individual particles of the medium move in a circular or elliptical path, returning...
• Wave of translationA wave in which there is a net forward movement of the fluid particles as the wave propagates. This occurs...
• Wave packetA localized disturbance formed by the superposition of multiple waves with slightly different wavelengths and...
• Wave periodThe time it takes for two successive crests or troughs of a wave to pass a fixed point. It is the inverse of...
• Wave poleA simple, graduated staff or pole fixed vertically in the water to allow for direct visual measurement of...
• Wave recorderAn instrument designed to measure and record characteristics of ocean waves, such as height, period, and...
• Wave spectrumA representation of the distribution of wave energy across different frequencies or wavelengths in a wave...
• Wave steepnessThe ratio of wave height to wavelength and is an indicator of wave stability. When wave steepness exceeds a...
• Wave systemAn organized pattern of atmospheric waves, such as Rossby waves or Kelvin waves, that collectively influence...
• Wave theory of cyclonesAn early meteorological theory proposing that extratropical cyclones develop as waves on the polar front, a...
• Wave trainA series of successive atmospheric waves, such as Rossby waves or gravity waves, that propagate together as a...
• Wave troughAn elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure or geopotential height, representing the lowest...
• Wave turbulenceA state of a fluid where wave interactions dominate the energy transfer processes, rather than direct eddy...
• Wave vectorA vector that specifies the direction of propagation of a wave and its wavenumber, which is inversely...
• Wave-current interactionThe two-way coupling process where ocean currents modify the properties of surface gravity waves, and waves...
• WaveformThe graphical representation of a wave's amplitude as a function of time or space. It illustrates the...
• Wave-front methodA graphical method of drawing a wave refraction diagram, in which successive positions of a wave front are...
• WaveguideA physical structure that guides waves, such as electromagnetic or acoustic waves, along a specific path. In...
• WavelengthThe distance between identical points on successive cycles of a wave, such as from one crest to the next or...
• WaveletA short-duration wave-like oscillation with an amplitude that starts at zero, increases, and then returns to...
• WavenumberA measure of the spatial frequency of a wave, defined as the number of waves per unit distance or 2π divided...
• Waves in the easterliesSynoptic-scale atmospheric disturbances that propagate westward within the tropical easterly trade wind flow...
• WAVEWATCH IIIOne of the operational forecast models run at NCEP. The WWIII is run four times daily, with forecast output...
• WBANAn acronym for Weather Bureau Army Navy, referring to a standardized system for identifying weather...
• WBNDWestbound
• WBZWet Bulb Zero - the height where the wet-bulb temperature goes below 0°C. It is important because WBZ heights...
• WC/ATWCWest Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center. The National Weather Service's West Coast and Alaska Tsunami...
• WCMWarning Coordination Meteorologist
• WDIROn a buoy report, wind direction (the direction the wind is coming from in degrees clockwise from true N)...
• WDLYWidely
• WDSPRDWidespread
• Weak echo regionAn area of low radar reflectivity on the inflow side of a severe thunderstorm, situated below a strong...
• WeatherThe state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, encompassing elements such as temperature...
• Weather advisoryA public statement issued by a meteorological service to inform the public about current or impending weather...
• Weather bureauA governmental or institutional organization responsible for observing, forecasting, and disseminating...
• Weather derivativesFinancial instruments whose value is derived from the occurrence or non-occurrence of a specific weather...
• Weather facsimileA method of transmitting meteorological charts, maps, and other graphical weather information over radio or...
• Weather forecastA prediction of future atmospheric conditions for a specific location and time, based on scientific...
• Weather Forecast Office(Abbrev. WFO) - this type of National Weather Service office is responsible for issuing advisories, warnings...
• Weather forecasterA professional who analyzes atmospheric data and uses scientific principles to predict future weather...
• Weather glassAn old name for a barometer, especially the simple kind made of a sealed glass vessel of water with a narrow...
• Weather mapA graphical representation of meteorological conditions over a geographical area at a specific point in time...
• Weather minimaThe lowest meteorological conditions, such as visibility and cloud ceiling, under which an aircraft operation...
• Weather modificationIntentional efforts to change atmospheric conditions to achieve a desired effect, such as increasing...
• Weather observationThe process of measuring and recording atmospheric conditions at a specific location and time. This includes...
• Weather proverbA traditional saying that attempts to forecast future weather conditions based on observed natural phenomena...
• Weather radarA type of radar system specifically designed to detect precipitation, calculate its movement, and estimate...
• Weather reportA statement detailing current or forecasted atmospheric conditions for a specific location or region. It...
• Weather serviceAn organization responsible for observing, forecasting, and disseminating meteorological information to the...
• Weather stationA facility equipped with instruments to measure and record atmospheric conditions at a specific geographical...
• Weather systemA set of atmospheric phenomena that are dynamically linked and evolve together, influencing weather...
• Weather typeA classification system that categorizes atmospheric conditions into distinct patterns based on synoptic...
• Weather warningAn urgent advisory issued by a meteorological service when hazardous weather conditions are imminent or...
• Weather warning bulletinAn official communication issued by a meteorological agency to alert the public and specific sectors about...
• Weather watchAn alert issued by a meteorological agency indicating that atmospheric conditions are favorable for the...
• Weather, Water, and Climate EnterpriseThe collective network of public, private, and academic organizations involved in observing, understanding...
• Weather windowA period of favorable weather conditions that allows for the safe and efficient execution of outdoor...
• Weathered iceIce that has undergone changes in its physical properties and appearance due to exposure to atmospheric...
• WeatheringThe breakdown and alteration of rocks, soils, and minerals at or near the Earth's surface through contact...
• Weber numberA dimensionless quantity in fluid dynamics that represents the ratio of inertial forces to surface tension...
• Weber-Fechner lawA psychological principle stating that the perceived intensity of a stimulus is proportional to the logarithm...
• Weddell Deep WaterA relatively warm, salty water mass that fills the middle depths of the Weddell Sea, derived from Circumpolar...
• Wedge tornadoSlang for a large tornado with a condensation funnel that is at least as wide (horizontally) at the ground as...
• WEFAXSystem for transmitting weather charts and imagery via satellite. Occasionally used as an abbreviation for...
• Weibull distributionA continuous probability distribution used in meteorology and other fields to model phenomena with varying...
• Weibull plotting positionThe formula that assigns the m-th smallest of n ordered observations a cumulative probability of m divided by...
• Weighing rain gaugeAn instrument that measures precipitation by continuously recording the weight of accumulated rainfall or...
• Weighing-type precipitation gageA rain gage that weighs the rain or snow which falls into a bucket set on a platform of a spring or lever...
• Weight barographA recording barograph built on the weight barometer principle, in which the changing weight of the mercury...
• Weight barometerA mercury barometer in which pressure is found by weighing the mercury column, the tube being hung from a...
• Weighted averageA type of average where some data points contribute more to the final mean than others, based on assigned...
• WeightingThe application of numerical coefficients to a set of data points to assign them different degrees of...
• WeirA barrier constructed across a river or stream to alter its flow characteristics, such as raising the water...
• WERWeak Echo Region - Radar term for a region of relatively weak reflectivity at low levels on the inflow side...
• West African disturbance lineA line of convection about 300 miles long, similar to a squall line. It forms over west Africa north of the...
• West Antarctic Ice SheetA large body of glacial ice covering West Antarctica, resting on bedrock that is largely below sea level...
• West Australian CurrentA cool ocean current flowing northward along the western coast of Australia, originating from the Southern...
• West Greenland CurrentA northward current along the west coast of Greenland, an extension of the cold East Greenland Current...
• West Spitzbergen CurrentA warm, northward-flowing ocean current that transports Atlantic water into the Arctic Ocean, passing west of...
• West wallThe coast side boundary of the Gulf Stream, typically south of Cape Hatteras. See also North Wall
• West Wind DriftThe eastward-flowing ocean current that circles Antarctica, also known as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current...
• West-east transportThe movement of air masses, moisture, or pollutants across longitudes, primarily driven by the prevailing...
• WesterliesPrevailing winds that blow from the west in the middle latitudes, between approximately 30 and 60 degrees...
• Westerly troughAn elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure that extends equatorward from a larger low-pressure...
• Westerly waveA wave-like disturbance in the mid-latitude westerly wind flow, characterized by alternating troughs and...
• Westerly wind burstA short-lived period of unusually strong westerly winds that occurs in the tropical Pacific Ocean...
• Wet airAtmospheric air that contains water vapor, distinguishing it from perfectly dry air which is a theoretical...
• Wet bulb zero(Abbrev. WBZ) - the height where the wet-bulb temperature goes below 0°C. It is important because WBZ heights...
• Wet climateA climate characterized by abundant precipitation throughout the year or during a distinct wet season...
• Wet dayA calendar day during which a measurable amount of precipitation is recorded at a specific location. The...
• Wet depositionThe process by which atmospheric pollutants are removed from the atmosphere and deposited onto the Earth's...
• Wet floodproofingIn hydrologic terms, an approach to floodproofing which usually is a last resort. Flood waters are...
• Wet fogA type of fog characterized by the deposition of liquid water droplets onto surfaces, making them visibly...
• Wet growthThe process by which ice particles, such as hail or graupel, grow by collecting supercooled liquid water...
• Wet microburstA microburst accompanied by heavy precipitation at the surface. A rain foot may be a visible sign of a wet...
• Wet snowSnow that contains liquid water, making it heavy and cohesive. It forms when air temperatures are at or...
• Wet spellA continuous period of several days or longer characterized by unusually high precipitation or frequent...
• Wet yearA year in which the total accumulated precipitation significantly exceeds the long-term average for a...
• Wet-bulb depressionThe difference between the dry-bulb temperature and the wet-bulb temperature at a given time and place. This...
• Wet-bulb globe temperatureA composite temperature index used to estimate the heat stress on humans in direct sunlight, incorporating...
• Wet-bulb potential temperatureThe temperature a parcel of air would have if it were cooled adiabatically to saturation and then brought...
• Wet-bulb temperatureThe lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into it at constant pressure...
• Wet-bulb thermometerA thermometer whose bulb is covered with a wet cloth, typically muslin, and exposed to airflow to measure the...
• WetlandIn hydrologic terms, an area that is regularly wet or flooded and has a water table that stands at or above...
• Wetlands, see Wetland
• Wetted areaThe portion of a surface, such as soil, vegetation, or a meteorological instrument, that is covered by liquid...
• Wetted perimeterThe length of the boundary of a cross-section of a stream or channel that is in contact with water. This...
• Wetting frontThe leading edge of water infiltrating into a dry or unsaturated soil profile, marking the boundary between...
• WFOWeather Forecast Office - this type of National Weather Service office is responsible for issuing advisories...
• WFPWarm Front Passage
• Whaleback cloudA type of smooth, elongated lenticular cloud that forms on the lee side of a mountain or mountain range. It...
• WhirliesSmall, localized columns of rotating air that lift dust, sand, or light debris from the ground. These...
• WhirlwindA small, rotating column of air that forms when localized heating creates an updraft, causing air to spin as...
• WhistlerA very low frequency (VLF) radio wave that propagates through the Earth's magnetosphere along geomagnetic...
• Whistling meteorThe audible sound produced by the ionization trail of a meteor as it passes through the upper atmosphere...
• White bandA bright, horizontal band observed in radar reflectivity data, typically located at the melting layer where...
• White cellAn optical device used in atmospheric spectroscopy for measuring the concentration of trace gases by passing...
• White dewFrozen dew: drops of dew that formed on surfaces while the temperature was above freezing and then froze when...
• White frostA deposit of small white ice crystals that forms on surfaces cooled below 0 degrees Celsius when water vapor...
• White iceA type of ice that forms on the surface of water bodies, characterized by its opaque, whitish appearance due...
• White LightSunlight integrated over the visible portion of the spectrum (4000 - 7000 angstroms) so that all colors are...
• White light flareIn solar-terrestrial terms, a major flare in which small parts become visible in white light. Such flares are...
• White noiseA random signal having a constant power spectral density across all frequencies within a given band. In...
• White squallA sudden, severe gust of wind that arises without the typical dark clouds or other visual warnings associated...
• WhitecapA crest of a wave that breaks and forms foam or spray, appearing white due to the entrained air. Whitecaps...
• WhiteoutA meteorological condition in which visibility is severely reduced due to diffuse light, making it impossible...
• Whole-gale warningA marine weather advisory issued when sustained winds are forecast to be between 48 and 63 knots (55 to 73...
• Wideband radarA type of radar system that transmits and receives signals across a broad range of frequencies, allowing for...
• WidespreadAreal coverage of non-measurable, non-convective weather and/or restrictions to visibility affecting more...
• Wien's distribution lawA physical law that describes the spectral radiance of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a black body as a...
• Wien's lawA fundamental law of physics that states the wavelength at which a black body emits the maximum amount of...
• Wild fenceA wind shield for a precipitation gauge, built as a ring of tall wooden laths hung loosely so that they sway...
• WildfireAny free burning uncontainable wildland fire not prescribed for the area which consumes the natural fuels and...
• WildlandsAny nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation, e.g., forests, grasslands, rangelands.
• WilliwawA sudden, violent squall of cold, dense air that descends from high coastal terrain to the sea. These...
• Willy-willyA small, rotating column of air made visible by dust, sand, or other light debris, primarily occurring over...
• Wilson cloud chamberA device used to detect and visualize the paths of ionizing radiation, such as alpha particles, beta...
• Wilting pointThe minimum amount of soil moisture required for a plant to avoid permanent wilting. At this point, the soil...
• WindThe movement of air relative to the Earth's surface, driven by differences in atmospheric pressure. Air flows...
• Wind advisoryThis product is issued for strong winds that are not expected to reach warning criteria. Generally for...
• Wind arrowA graphical symbol used on weather maps and charts to indicate both the direction and speed of the wind. The...
• Wind chillThe perceived decrease in air temperature felt by the human body due to the flow of air. It quantifies the...
• Wind coneA conical textile sleeve, open at both ends, hung from a pivoting arm on a mast so that its wide mouth faces...
• Wind coupletAn area on the radar display where two maximum wind speeds are blowing in opposite directions.
• Wind crustA hard, dense layer on the surface of a snowpack, formed by the mechanical action of wind. The wind breaks...
• Wind currentA current in the sea driven by the wind, the same as a drift current or wind drift. The wind stress sets a...
• Wind daily runThe total distance that air travels past a specific point over a 24-hour period, measured by an anemometer...
• Wind directionThe direction from which the wind is blowing, typically expressed in degrees from true north or as one of the...
• Wind divideA geographical feature, such as a mountain ridge or a prominent landform, that separates two distinct wind...
• Wind driftA current at the sea surface driven by the stress of the wind, also called a drift current or wind-driven...
• Wind factorA numerical value or consideration that accounts for the influence of wind on a particular process or...
• Wind fieldThe three-dimensional spatial pattern of winds.
• Wind flurryA sudden, brief, and localized gust of wind that is not associated with a larger-scale storm system like a...
• Wind forceThe pressure or push exerted by the wind on an object, proportional to the square of the wind speed. This...
• Wind gustRapid fluctuations in the wind speed with a variation of 10 knots or more between peaks and lulls. The speed...
• Wind loadThe force exerted by wind on a structure or object, resulting from the pressure differences created by air...
• Wind lullA temporary decrease in wind speed, resulting in a period of calmer conditions within an otherwise windy...
• Wind mixingThe process by which wind-induced turbulence causes the vertical exchange of momentum, heat, and constituents...
• Wind pressureThe force per unit area exerted by moving air perpendicular to a surface. This pressure is positive on the...
• Wind profileThe variation of wind speed and direction with height above the Earth's surface. This vertical distribution...
• Wind profilerA ground-based remote sensing instrument that uses Doppler radar to measure the vertical profile of wind...
• Wind radiiTerm used in National Weather Tropical Cyclone Forecast Advisory products (TCM). Wind radii are the largest...
• Wind reversalA change in the prevailing wind direction, often associated with the passage of a weather front, a shift in...
• Wind ridgeAn elongated accumulation of snow or sand formed by wind deposition on the lee side of an obstacle or in...
• Wind rippleA small, wave-like feature formed on a surface, such as sand or snow, by the action of wind. These features...
• Wind roseA circular graphic that illustrates the frequency and strength of wind blowing from different directions at a...
• Wind scoopA hollowed-out depression or concavity formed in snow or ice on the windward side of an obstruction, such as...
• Wind seaOcean waves generated directly by the local wind blowing over the sea surface. These waves are characterized...
• Wind setupThe temporary rise in water level along a coastline or in a confined body of water, such as a lake, caused by...
• Wind shearA sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance, either horizontally or vertically. Vertical...
• Wind shear profileThe change in wind speed and/or direction usually in the vertical. The characteristics of the wind shear...
• Wind shieldA device or structure designed to protect an instrument or area from the direct force of wind, thereby...
• Wind shiftA change in wind direction of 45 degrees or more in less than 15 minutes with sustained wind speeds of 10...
• Wind slabA cohesive layer of stiff, dense snow formed by the deposition of wind-transported snow on leeward slopes or...
• Wind sockA conical textile tube, open at both ends, mounted on a mast to indicate wind direction and approximate wind...
• Wind speedThe rate at which air is moving horizontally through the atmosphere, typically measured in units such as...
• Wind stressThe tangential force exerted by the wind on a surface, such as the ocean or land, due to friction between the...
• Wind stress curlA measure of the spatial variation in wind stress across a surface, particularly the ocean. A non-zero curl...
• Wind turbineA mechanical apparatus designed to capture the kinetic energy present in moving air and convert it into a...
• Wind vaneAn instrument that indicates wind direction, consisting of a fin or other shape mounted on a vertical axis so...
• Wind vectorA mathematical quantity that describes both the speed and direction of wind at a specific point in the...
• Wind velocity profileThe variation of wind speed and direction with height above the Earth's surface. This profile is...
• Wind waveA surface wave on a body of water, such as an ocean or lake, generated by the transfer of energy from wind...
• Wind waves, see Wind wave
• WindbreakA barrier, such as a row of trees, a fence, or a wall, designed to reduce wind speed and turbulence in its...
• WindburnAn irritation or inflammation of the skin caused by prolonged exposure to cold, dry wind, often exacerbated...
• Wind-chill indexA measure that describes the perceived decrease in air temperature felt by the human body due to the combined...
• Wind-direction shaftThe vertical rod or axle upon which the rotating element of a wind vane is mounted. This shaft allows the...
• Wind-driven currentAn ocean current generated by the transfer of momentum from the wind to the sea surface. The frictional drag...
• Wind-driven oceanic circulationThe large-scale movement of ocean waters primarily forced by the stress of wind on the sea surface. This...
• Wind-induced surface heat exchangeThe transfer of heat between the ocean surface and the atmosphere that is directly influenced by wind speed...
• WindowA spectral band in the electromagnetic spectrum where the atmosphere is largely transparent to radiation...
• Windrow cloudAn elongated, tube-like line of cumulus clouds arranged parallel to the direction of the wind in the lower...
• Winds aloftAtmospheric air currents occurring at elevations above the Earth's surface, distinct from surface winds which...
• Winds-aloft observationA measurement of wind speed and direction at different atmospheric levels above the ground. These...
• Winds-aloft plotting boardA graphical board on which successive positions of a pilot balloon, worked out from its measured elevation...
• Wind-shift lineA narrow zone across which there is an abrupt change in wind direction, often accompanied by changes in wind...
• WindstormA meteorological event characterized by strong, damaging winds, often associated with severe weather systems...
• WindwardThe direction from which the wind is blowing, or the side of an object or landform that faces into the wind...
• Windward sideThe portion of a geographical feature, such as a mountain range or island, that directly faces the prevailing...
• Windy20 to 30 mph winds.
• WINTwinter
• WINTEMA forecast of winds and temperatures aloft, presented in a coded format for aviation purposes. The Wind and...
• WinterThe coldest season of the year, occurring between autumn and spring, characterized by shorter daylight hours...
• Winter iceIce that forms during the cold season, specifically referring to the annual ice cover that develops in bodies...
• Winter monsoonA seasonal wind system characterized by dry, cool air flowing from land to sea, typically occurring during...
• Winter poolThe pool, or height of the water surface, of a reservoir during the winter. This pool is usually a specific...
• Winter solsticeThe astronomical moment when the Earth's axis in one hemisphere is tilted farthest away from the Sun...
• Winter storm severity index productAn experimental product from the National Weather Service that provides a geographically specific, 7-day...
• Winter storm warningThis product is issued by the National Weather Service when a winter storm is producing or is forecast to...
• Winter storm watchThis product is issued by the National Weather Service when there is a potential for heavy snow or...
• Winter weather advisoryThis product is issued by the National Weather Service when a low pressure system produces a combination of...
• WinterizationThe process of preparing equipment, infrastructure, or facilities to withstand cold weather conditions and...
• Wire weight gageIn hydrologic terms, a river gage comprised of a weight which is lowered to the water level. The weight is...
• WiresondeAn atmospheric instrument package that is raised and lowered through the lower atmosphere on a tethered...
• Wire-weight gaugeA river stage gauge in which a weight on a cable is lowered from a fixed point, such as a bridge rail, until...
• WithershinsRotation in a direction contrary to the sun's apparent motion, which is counter-clockwise in the Northern...
• WKWeak
• WKNWeaken
• WLWill
• WLYWesterly
• WMCWorld Meteorological Center(s)
• WMOWorld Meteorological Organization (UN)
• WMO codesStandardized alphanumeric codes developed by the World Meteorological Organization for the efficient and...
• WNDWind
• Wolf numberA historic term for Sunspot Number. In 1849, R. Wolf of Zurich originated the general procedure for computing...
• Wollaston prismAn optical component that splits a single beam of unpolarized light into two separate, orthogonally polarized...
• WorkThe transfer of energy that occurs when a force acts on an object, causing it to move a certain distance in...
• Workman-Reynolds effectA mechanism for charge separation in clouds that contributes to atmospheric electrification. During the...
• Wrapping gust frontA gust front which wraps around a mesocyclone, cutting off the inflow of warm moist air to the mesocyclone...
• WRCCWestern Regional Climate Center
• WRMWarm
• WRMFNTWarm Front
• WRNWestern
• WRNGWarning
• WSFOWeather Service Forecast Office
• WSHFTWind Shift
• WSPDOn a buoy report, the wind speed (m/s) averaged over an eight-minute period for buoys and a two-minute period...
• WSR-57A NWS Weather Surveillance Radar designed in 1957. It used to be part of weather radar network. It was...
• WSR-74A NWS Weather Surveillance Radar designed in 1974. It used to be part of weather radar network. It was...
• WSR-88DA network of Doppler weather radars operated by the National Weather Service, the Federal Aviation...
• WSR-88D systemThe summation of all hardware, software, facilities, communications, logistics, staffing, training...
• WSWWinter Storm Message
• WTMPOn a buoy report, the sea surface temperature (Celsius).
• WTRWater Equivalent
• WV1. Water Vapor (satellite imagery)
• WVHTOn a buoy report, significant wave height (meters) is calculated as the average of the highest one-third of...
• WWSevere Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch
• WWHOn a buoy report, Wind Wave Height is the vertical distance (meters) between any wind wave crest and the...
• WWPOn a buoy report, Wind Wave Period is the time (in seconds) that it takes successive wind wave crests or...
• WWVNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) radio stations which broadcast a time and frequency...
• WWVHNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) radio stations which broadcast a time and frequency...
• WXWeather

356 of 10,756 terms in Meteorology and atmospheric science terminology (MLC-0110). Request the full dataset.