French Glossary

English to French glossary.
English French Explanation Alluvial deposits Dépôts alluviaux Sediments deposited by modern rivers and streams Alluvial river Rivière alluviale River with a bed consisting of sediments deposited by this river and still actively remolded by erosion and sedimentation Alluvium Alluvion Sediment deposits Anabranched river Rivière à anabranches River consisting of a network of channels separated by large islands that are usually vegetated Anadromous Anadrome Adjective indicating fish that spawn in fresh water after spending most of their lives and becoming mature in the sea. See also <catadromous> Aquifer Aquifère Water-bearing layer of porous subsurface material that can yield usable quantities of water Backswamps Baissières Wetlands in the lowest areas of the valley floor away from the main channel, storing fine-grained suspended-load sediments Backwater effect Effet de remous Influence from downstream conditions on water levels and flow velocities Bank Berge Lateral channel boundary Bankfull discharge Débit de plein bord Discharge at which water levels reach the top of the river banks Bar Banc, Barre Submerged or emerged bedform of sand, gravel, or other unconsolidated material, built in shallow water and much longer than the water depth Base flow Ecoulement de base Sustained low flow in a stream, mostly fed by groundwater discharge Bathymetry Bathymétrie Spatial distribution of water depths below an agreed plane of reference water levels. As this plane has a slope in rivers, bathymetry should not be confused with <bed topography> Bed level Niveau du lit Elevation of bottom of river or stream above a horizontal datum Bedload Charriage Sediment transported by rolling, sliding or jumping over the bed Bed-material load Charge de fond Transport of sediment that is also found in the river bed. It can be transported as both <bedload> and <suspended load> Bedrock Substratum rocheux Consolidated subsurface material that underlies soils or other unconsolidated material Bed shear stress Contrainte de cisaillement Tangential forces per unit bed area exerted by the flow on the river bed, as a measure of flow strength. See also <flow velocity> and <stream power> Bed topography Topographie du lit Spatial distribution of bed elevations with respect to a horizontal datum, not to be confused with <bathymetry> Bench Replat, Terrasse en gradins Sediment deposition unit along a bank face. Also <berm> Benthic Benthique Living at or in the bottom of a fresh or salty body of water. Opposed to <pelagic> Benthos Benthos Plants and animals that live in, on or attached to the bottom of water bodies Berm Banquette, Berme, Talus Sediment deposition unit along a bank face. Also <bench> Biogeographical region Région bio-géographique Relatively large area that contains characteristic assemblages of natural communities and species that are the product of broad environmental influences and common evolutionary and immigration history. See <region> Bivalve Bivalve A mollusk with two shells, for instance a clam or a mussel Boulders Blocs Rock fragments larger than 200 mm in diameter Braided river Rivière en tresses River consisting of a network of smaller channels separated by small and often temporary non-vegetated islands called braid bars Buffer strip Bande tampon Vegetation along a stream left intact after logging or land clearing, preventing fine sediment from entering into the stream Cascade Cascade Stream bed covered with disorganized boulders in steep confined channels Catadromous Catadrome Adjective indicating fish that spawn in the open sea after spending their lives and becoming mature in fresh water. See also <anadromous> Catchment Bassin hydrographique Area of land drained by a river and its tributaries. Also <drainage basin> or <watershed>. Catchment is a spatial unit within the multi-scale <REFORM framework> of hydromorphological processes and forms Chute channel Chenal de chute Channel across a bar or floodplain, shortcutting the flow in the main channel Clay Argile Mineral soil particle smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter Cobbles Galets Rock fragments between 63 mm and 200 mm in diameter Crenal Crénal Zone of stream source in longitudinal habitat zonation, also <krenal>. See also <rhithral> and <potamal> Crevasse Fissure Breach in natural levee Crevasse splay Dépôt alluvial en arrière d’une fissure Local accumulation of sand or gravel, deposited by water escaping from the channel through a <crevasse> Crossing Gué, Traversée Relatively shallow zone between two consecutive bends in navigable rivers. Also <cross-over> Cross-over Gué, Traversée Relatively shallow zone between two consecutive bends in navigable rivers. Also <crossing> Crustacean Crustacé Invertebrate animal (without backbone) with a hard exoskeleton (external support or protection of the body) and at least five pairs of jointed legs on the thorax Current Courant Movement of water in a water body Datum Ligne de repère, Plan de référence Reference elevation level, for instance mean sea level Degradation Dégradation, Incision In hydromorphology: Lowering of bed elevation by erosion or removal of sediment. In ecology: Damaged condition of habitat Discharge Débit Volume of water that flows through a section per unit of time Drainage basin Bassin versant Area of land drained by a river and its tributaries. Also <catchment> or <watershed>. <Catchment> is a spatial unit within the multi-scale <REFORM framework> of hydromorphological processes and forms Dune Dune Bedform with a height in the order of tens of percent of the water depth. Two-dimensional dunes have long crests perpendicular to the flow. Three-dimensional dunes have short crests. Ecoregion Ecorégion See <region> and <biogeographical region>. Emergent plant Plante émergente Plant rooted in shallow water with much of the stem and most of the leaves above the water Eurytopic Eurytope Adjective for aquatic species that tolerate both stagnant and flowing water conditions. See also <limnophilic> and <rheophilic> Floodplain Plaine d’inondation Land bordering a river or a stream, built up of sediments from overbank flows and subject to inundation at floods Flow resistance Résistance à l’écoulement Forces opposing the discharge of water. A low flow resistance implies high flow velocities and small water depths. A high flow resistance implies low flow velocities and high water depths. Flow velocity Vitesse de l’écoulement Distance travelled by flowing water per unit time, as a measure of flow strength. See also <stream power> and <bed shear stress> Geomorphic unit Unité géomorphologique Area containing a landform created by erosion or deposition inside or outside the river channel. Also <morphological unit>, <mesohabitat> or <subreach>. Geomorphic unit is a spatial unit within the multi-scale <REFORM framework> of hydromorphological processes and forms Glide Plat lentique Zone of relatively shallow flow as an intermediate feature between shallower riffles and deeper pools, similar to the somewhat steeper <run> Gravel Gravier Rock fragments between 2 and 63 mm in diameter Habitat Habitat Place where a particular species or life stage lives and grows. Essentially, it is the (mostly physical) environment that surrounds a species population or age group Hydraulic roughness Rugosité hydraulique Parameter governing <flow resistance> Hydraulic unit Unité hydraulique Spatially distinct patch of relatively homogeneous surface-flow and substrate character. Hydraulic unit is a spatial unit within the multi-scale <REFORM framework> of hydromorphological processes and forms Impoundment Retenue, Réservoir Structure built to maintain a desired water level Infauna Endofaune, Pelon Benthic animals that burrow into the substrate Invertebrates Invertébrés Animals without a backbone Island Île Landform surrounded by areas of the channel bed and emerged at bankfull stage Krenal Crénal Zone of stream source in longitudinal habitat zonation, also <crenal>. See also <rhithral> and <potamal> Landscape unit Unité de paysage Portion of a catchment with similar landscape morphological characteristics. Also physiographic unit. Landscape unit is a spatial unit within the multi-scale <REFORM framework> of hydromorphological processes and forms Levee Levée, Digue See <natural levee>. Levee can also refer to a man-made dike along the Loire river in France or along North-American rivers that belonged to French Louisiana between 1682 and 1803, such as the Mississippi river Limnetic Limnétique Related to the environment of lakes and ponds. Adjective for aquatic macroinvertebrates that prefer standing water Limnophilic Limnophile Adjective for aquatic species that prefer stagnant water. See also <eurytopic> and <rheophilic> Lotic Lotique Related to fast-moving water, such as in most streams and rivers Macroinvertebrates Macroinvertébrés Animals without backbones (“invertebrates”) that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye (“macro”, larger than 0.5 mm) Macrophyte Macrophyte All aquatic higher plants, mosses and characean algae, but excluding single-celled phytoplankton and diatoms Macrozoobenthos Macrozoobenthos Aquatic macroinvertebrates living at or in the bottom Meandering river Rivière à méandres River with a single channel and a <sinuosity> larger than 1.5 Measure Mesure See <mitigation measure> and <restoration measure> Mesohabitat Mésohabitat Spatially distinct patch of relatively homogeneous <microhabitat> patches serving species or life stages as <habitat>. See <geomorphic unit> Microhabitat Microhabitat Spatially distinct patch of uniform substrate, plant cover or physical structure which is relevant for species, e.g. as spawning or feeding substrate Mitigation measure Mesure d’atténuation, mesure de correction Activity to reduce the impact of a pressure Mollusks Mollusques Unsegmented invertebrate animals (without a backbone) that possess an external or vestigial calcium carbonate shell Morphological unit Unité morphologique See <geomorphic unit> Mud Vase, Boue Loose slushy fine sediment consisting of clay, silt, fine sand, and organic material. Often water-formed and deposited on the bottom of lakes, rivers and estuaries Natural levee Levée de rive, Bourelet de berge Elevated feature along river channel, composed of sediments deposited by overbank flows leaving the main channel Oxbow lake Bras mort Lake formed when a river meander is cut off from the main channel Pebble Caillou, Galet Gravel particle Pelagic Pélagique Living and feeding in the water column. Opposed to <benthic> Physiographic unit Unité physiographique See <landscape unit> Phytoplankton Phytoplancton Microscopic plants that float or drift almost passively in water Point bar Banc de convexité Bar along the inner bank of a river bend Pool Mouille, Fosse Relatively deep, still section in a river or stream. Pools alternate with <steps> or <riffles> in gravel-bed rivers and with <crossings> or <cross-overs> in navigable rivers Potamal Potamal Zone of lowland rivers in longitudinal habitat zonation. See also <crenal> or <krenal> and <rhithral> Pothole Puit naturel, Marmite de géant Deep circular hole scoured in bedrock as a result of abrasion by transported particles trapped in the hole Pressure Pression In hydromorphology: Force per unit area exerted on a surface by the weight of the water above that surface. In the Water Framework Directive: Direct environmental effect of a driver such as agriculture, industry, hydropower generation or navigation Rapids Rapides Stream bed with boulders organized in irregular transverse lines (ribs), in steep confined channels Reach Bief, Tronçon Section of river along which boundary conditions are sufficiently uniform for the river to maintain a near-constant internal set of process-form interactions. Reach is a spatial unit within the multi-scale <REFORM framework> of hydromorphological processes and forms Region Région Relatively large area underleying similar broad influences of climate, relief, tectonic processes, etc. Also <ecoregion> or <biogeographical region>. Region is a spatial unit within the multi-scale <REFORM framework> of hydromorphological processes and forms. It typically contains characteristic assemblages of natural communities and species. Restoration measure Mesure de restauration Activity to improve the status of degraded waters, be it by improving water quality or by changing hydromorphological conditions Rheophilic Rhéophile Adjective for aquatic species that prefer flowing waters. See also <eurytopic> and <limnophilic> Rhithral Rhithral Zone of streams in longitudinal habitat zonation, identical to the zone of trout and grayling. See also <crenal> or <krenal> and <potamal> Ridge Crête Old <scroll bar> incorporated in the floodplain as the channel migrated away Riffle Seuil, Radier Zone of relatively shallow and rapid flow in gravel-bed rivers Riparian Riparien Related to zone adjacent to a stream or river with a high density, diversity, and productivity of plant and animal species compared to nearby uplands Ripple Ride Small bedform of a few centimetres high, with a long crest perpendicular to the flow River element Élement de rivière Part of river environment including individuals and patches of sediment, plants, wood, etc. Also <microhabitat>. River element is a spatial unit within the multi-scale <REFORM framework> of hydromorphological processes and forms. River sector Secteur de rivière See <river segment> River segment Segment de rivière Section of river subject to similar valley-scale influences and energy conditions. Also river sector. River segment is a spatial unit within the multi-scale <REFORM framework> of hydromorphological processes and forms Run Plat courant Zone of relatively shallow flow as an intermediate feature between shallower riffles and deeper pools, similar to the somewhat flatter <glide> Sand Sable Mineral soil particle between 0.063 mm and 2.0 mm in diameter Scour Affouillement Local removal of sediment from the stream bed by flowing water Scroll bar Bourrelets de banc Elongated raised feature on top of a <point bar> Sediment Sédiments Solid matter eroded, transported or deposited in rivers Sediment yield Apport solide Amount of sediment eroded per unit land area in a river catchment Silt Limon, Silt Mineral soil particle between 0.002 mm and 0.063 mm in diameter Sinuosity Sinuosité Ratio between the distance measured along the channel and the distance measured in the direction of the overall planimetric course or meander belt axis Specific stream power Puissance spécifique d’un cours d’eau <Stream power> per unit channel width, as a measure of flow strength Step Marche d’escalier Steep accumulation of boulders and cobbles across a channel, generally with a pool downstream that is scoured by flow plunging over the step Stream power Puissance d’un cours d’eau Rate of energy dissipation per unit downstream length, as a measure of flow strength. See also <flow velocity> and <bed shear stress> Stressor Agent stressant Pressure in the sense of a direct environmental effect of a driver Subreach Sous-bief See <geomorphic unit> Suspended load Charge en suspension, Matériaux transportés en suspension Sediment transported in the water column, kept from settling by upward turbulent motions of the water. It can consist of both <bed-material load> and <washload> Swale Dépression Depression between adjacent <ridges> that are old <scroll bars> Terrace Terrace Abandoned inactive floodplain perched above contemporary channel and floodplain Thalweg Talweg, Thalweg Line connecting the deepest points of consecutive cross-sections Thread Lit Channel in river typologies. A single-thread river has only one channel in each cross-section. A multiple-thread has more than one channel in each cross-section Wandering river Rivière divagante River with a single channel that locally splits into two channels, as a transitional form between meandering rivers and braided rivers Washload Charge de ruissellement, Charge de lessivage Sediments much finer than those in the river bed, transported without dependence on flow strength Water body Masse d’eau, Plan d’eau Distinct and significant volume of water Water depth Profondeur d’eau Height of water column. Elevation difference between water level and bed level Water level Niveau d’eau, Niveau du plan d’eau Elevation of water surface above a horizontal datum Watershed Ligne de partage des eaux, Bassin versant Area of land drained by a river and its tributaries. Also <catchment> or <drainage basin>. <Catchment> is a spatial unit within the multi-scale <REFORM framework> of hydromorphological processes and forms