zufließende

Zufließende is the attributive present participle form of the German verb zufließen, meaning “flowing in” or “inflowing.” It is used as an adjective to describe water bodies or streams that enter a larger body of water, such as a river or a lake. The concept is closely related to Zufluss, the noun for inflow or inflow rate, and to Abfluss, the corresponding outflow.

In hydrology and geography, zufließende elements refer to the sources that contribute water to a receiving body. This can include rivers, streams, or artificial conduits. The term emphasizes the direction of water movement into the target system, as opposed to water that leaves it. Assessments of inflow often consider both the quantity (volume per unit time) and the quality of the inflowing water, as these factors influence the hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and ecosystem status of the receiving body.

Grammatically, zufließende is used in attributive position before a noun and declines like a normal adjective. For example: der zufließende Fluss (the inflowing river), die zufließenden Nebenflüsse (the inflowing tributaries). The corresponding noun exists as Zufluss, with plural Zuflüsse.

See also: Zufluss, Abfluss, hydrology, fluvial systems.