diffluence

English

Alternative forms
  • diffluency

Noun

diffluence (countable and uncountable, plural diffluences)

  1. A flowing off on all sides; fluidity.
    • 1992, H. W. Hjalmarson, ‎S. P. Kemna, Flood Hazards of Distributary-flow Areas in Southwestern Arizona:
      The characteristics of the soils, vegetation, desert varnish, slope of the stream channel, and drainage texture are used to confirm the location of the primary diffluence.
    • 1994, H. W. Hjalmarson, Potential Flood Hazards and Hydraulic Characteristics of Distributary-Flow Areas in Maricopa County, Arizona, page 2:
      Some of the sediment transported during runoff is deposited locally, and a lobe of deposited sediment is formed downstream from the diffluence.
    • 2004, Roger Barry, ‎Richard Chorley, ‎Roger G. Barry, Atmosphere, Weather and Climate, page 118:
      Usually, however, confluence is associated with an increase in air velocity and diffluence with a decrease. In the intermediate case, confluence is balanced by an increase in wind velocity and diffluence by a decrease in velocity.
    • 2006, John M. Wallace, ‎Peter V. Hobbs, Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey, page 273:
      This flow exhibits diffluence and stretching and hence divergence, but no curvature or shear and hence no vorticity.
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