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Wadi
A riverbed that remains dry except during the rainy seasons.
Glossary
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Warsaw Pact
A military alliance, now dissolved, consisting of the Soviet Union and the European countries of Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.
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Water contact diseases
Water contact diseases acquired through swimming or wading in freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers.
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Waterhead
In attempting to control water for the generation of electricity or a gravity flow irrigation project, it is essential to pond up water in relative quantity so that there is an adequate force – Waterhead – to achieve the desired goal.
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Weather
The condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time.
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Weathering
Physical and chemical processes that change rock characteristics on or near the earth’s surface, occurring slowly over many years.
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Welfare system
Welfare system: the way a government organizes assistance to its people, particularly the young, the elderly, the sick, and the unemployed.
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West
The West refers to nations influenced by Western civilization, particularly those linked to the United States and Western Europe, emphasizing democracy, market economies, and cultural innovation. For a detailed description, click on the article title.
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West Bank
In Israel, a strip of land on the west side of the Jordan river, originally controlled by Jordan, is part of the land set aside for Arab Palestinians.
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Westerly Winds
Westerly winds, or westerlies, are middle-latitude airstreams that blow from west to east, shaping global weather, ocean currents, and climate patterns. For a detailed description, click on the article title.
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Western Civilization
Western Civilization is the sum of values and achievements rooted in ancient Mesopotamia, Palestine, Greece, and Rome, which later flourished in Europe and shaped the modern world. For a detailed description, click on the article title.
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Western Wall
For jews, the holiest site in Jerusalem. The only remaining portion of the second temple, built in 538 B.C. And destroyed in a.d. 70 By the Romans.
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Westernization
Westernization is the process by which non-Western societies adopt elements of Western culture, from governance to technology, often with varying impacts on local traditions and identities. For a detailed description, click on the article title.
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Wik Case
In Australia, the court ruled in this case that aboriginal people could claim land held under a pastoral lease.
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Winter monsoon
The season when dry winds blow from the northeast across the Himalaya mountains toward the sea from October through February, sometimes causing drought.
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Winter Solstice
The winter solstice, occurring on December 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 22 in the Southern Hemisphere, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, with profound cultural and scientific significance. For a detailed description, click on the article title.
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Workforce
Workforce: all the people available to work in a country; all the workers employed by a particular factory or place of work.