W
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warm front
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A front in which a warm air mass replaces a cold air mass.
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water column
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A vertical column of ocean water, divided into different zones according to their depth.
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water purification
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Any process used to produce safe drinking water by removing contaminants.
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water table
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The upper surface of ground water.
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water vapor
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Water in the form of a gas. Water vapor is invisible to humans; when we see clouds, we actually are seeing liquid water in the clouds.
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wave
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A change in the shape of water caused by energy from wind.
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wave-cut cliff
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A sea cliff cut by strong wave energy.
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wave-cut platform
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Level area formed by wave erosion as waves undercut cliffs.
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wavelength
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Horizontal distance from wave crest to wave crest, or wave trough to wave trough.
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weather
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The temporary state of the atmosphere in a region.
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weather map
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A map showing weather conditions over a wide area at a given time.
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weathering
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The chemical or physical breakdown of rocks, soils or minerals at Earth’s surface.
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well
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A circular hole that goes into an aquifer to allow people to access groundwater.
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wetland
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Lands that are wet a large amount of the time.
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white dwarf
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A small to mid-sized star that has collapsed.