Meaning of estavelle | Babel Free

Definitions

A hole that may function as an ephemeral spring or a sinkhole, depending on hydrological conditions.

Equivalents

Examples

“The water pressure within the earth can force a swallow hole to become a spring and vice versa. These reversible sinks, which geologists call by the French geologic term estavelle, change their direction of flow (swallow or discharge) based on fluctuations in the water table.”

“Depending upon the position of the groundwater level and hydrological conditions on the surface, an estavelle can function at one time as an intermittent spring and at another as a ponor (swallowhole).”

“Furthermore, the filling and emptying should occur via an estavelle, or ephemeral spring, and there should be no surface water inlet or outlet.”

CEFR level