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V
| Velocity |
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The rate of change of movement measured
in metres/second (m/s) in metric. Ground vibrations are
usually measured in terms of the velocity of a
particular point on the ground. This velocity reflects
change in displacement of the ground, although after the
shaking, the point on the ground will almost always
return to where it started. The movement is said to be
elastic and does not result in any permanent movement |
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| VOD |
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Velocity of Detonation: The velocity of
detonation of an explosion is the rate at which the
detonation/combustion wave travels through the explosive
product |
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| VSI |
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Vertical Shaft Impact crusher. An
impact crusher with a vertical shaft, typically used for
finer (secondary and tertiary) crushing |
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| Vulnerability |
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The extent to which groundwater
resources are susceptible to pollution from various
activities, including both point sources and diffuse
pollution. Groundwater vulnerability is influenced by
the physical, chemical and biological properties of the
soil and rocks, which together control the ease with
which an unprotected hazard can affect groundwater. The
Environment Agency’s current approach considers both
intrinsic vulnerability (relating to geological and
hydrogeological characteristics) and specific
vulnerability (which takes account of additional factors
relating to land uses and activities and to the
characteristics of the contaminants involved), both at
specific points and across a given area |
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W
| Washland
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An area of the floodplain that is
allowed to flood or is deliberately flooded, as part of
a flood risk management strategy |
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| Water balance |
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Quantification of all the inputs to,
outputs from, and storage changes within, a given water
system |
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| Water Body |
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A discrete accumulation of water on the
surface of the Earth (e.g. surface water features such
as lakes, rivers or oceans) or within underground strata
(e.g. individual aquifers) |
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| Water environment |
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Defined for the purposes of this report
as comprising: “groundwater and surface water bodies
and the water resources within them, together with the
ecosystems, habitats, species, water users, existing
land use and development, and archaeological features
that are either dependent on those resources or
sensitive to changes in their conditions” |
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| Water Quality |
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The biological, chemical and physical
(hydro-morphological) characteristics of a water body
measured in relation to a set of standards (e.g. for the
purposes of drinking water, safety of human contact and
the health of ecosystems) |
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| Water table |
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The upper surface of the saturated zone
within an unconfined aquifer, where the upward
hydrostatic pressure is equal to the downward
atmospheric pressure |
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| Water table
rebound |
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The rise of groundwater levels
following the cessation of dewatering in a particular
area |
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| Waterborne Freight
Grant |
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A DfT grant scheme providing revenue
support based on each movement that is made by waterways |
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| Watercourse |
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General term for any stream, river,
ditch, canal or channel along which surface water flows |
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| Wellpoint
Dewatering |
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A method of dewatering involving
simultaneous abstraction from an array of boreholes or
wells located around the perimeter of a site, rather
than from one or more open sumps within the site |
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| Wet Working |
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The extraction of mineral from a
water-filled excavation, either by means of a dragline,
or by dredging from floating pontoons using a grab
bucket or section dredger |
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| Wetland |
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Any habitat that is characterised by
the presence of flowing or standing water at some stage
in the year. Wetlands can range from open water bodies
such as lakes and ponds, to seasonally wet habitats such
as carr woodland or lowland wet grassland. The term is
often used to describe mosaics of such habitats |
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| WRAP |
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The Waste and Resources Action
Programme |
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