TERMIUM Plus®

From: Translation Bureau

On social media

Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.

HEIGHT FINDING [7 records]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2010-10-01

English

Subject field(s)
  • Scientific Measurements and Analyses
  • Mathematical Geography
  • Cartography
  • Meteorology
DEF

The measurement of heights in the atmosphere (altitude), generally by means of an altimeter.

CONT

Altimetry is a term which describes a method of measuring the altitudes of things with remote spacecraft. It is usually performed with a laser. Laser altimeters bounce beams of light from the surface and back to the spacecraft to measure the heights of mountains and depths of valleys on remote planets. This is even done for our own planet.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Mesures et analyse (Sciences)
  • Géographie mathématique
  • Cartographie
  • Météorologie
DEF

Partie de la géométrie pratique qui a pour objet la mesure des hauteurs, [des altitudes,] qu'elles soient accessibles ou non.

CONT

L'altimétrie par satellite utilise le temps mis par un faisceau radar pour faire l'aller-retour satellite-surface, associé à une localisation précise du satellite, pour effectuer ses mesures.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Medición y análisis (Ciencias)
  • Geografía matemática
  • Cartografía
  • Meteorología
DEF

Parte de la topografía que se ocupa de medir las altitudes.

Save record 1

Record 2 2006-06-14

English

Subject field(s)
  • Radar, Radio Guidance and Goniometry
  • Remote Sensing
DEF

A radar designed for accurate determination of target altitude.

OBS

height-finding radar : term officially approved by the RADARSAT-2 Terminology Approval Group(RTAG).

French

Domaine(s)
  • Radar, radioguidage et radiogoniométrie
  • Télédétection
DEF

Radar qui sert à donner des informations spécifiques sur l'altitude d'une cible.

OBS

radar d'altimétrie : terme uniformisé par le Groupe de travail de la terminologie de RADARSAT-2 (GTTR).

Spanish

Save record 2

Record 3 2005-02-03

English

Subject field(s)
  • Space Exploration Equipment and Tools
CONT

The American Space Agency Nasa... is putting several million dollars into the project under its advanced concepts programme. At the heart of a space elevator would be a cable reaching up as far as 100, 000km from the surface of the Earth. The earthbound end would be tethered to a base station, probably somewhere in the middle of the Pacific ocean. The other end would be attached to an orbiting object in space acting as a counterweight, the momentum of which would keep the cable taut and allow vehicles to climb up and down it. A space elevator would make rockets redundant by granting cheaper access to space. At about a third of the way along the cable-36, 000 km from Earth-objects take a day to complete a full orbit. If the cable's centre of gravity remained at this height, the cable would remain vertical, as satellites placed at this height are geostationary, effectively hovering over the same spot on the ground. To build a space elevator such a geostationary satellite would be placed into orbit carrying the coiled-up cable. One weighted end of the cable would then be dropped back towards Earth, while the other would be unreeled off into space. Mechanical lifters could then climb up the cable from the ground, ferrying up satellites, space probes and eventually tourists. The biggest technical obstacle is finding a material strong but light enough to make the cable; this is where the carbon nanotubes come in. These are microscopically thin tubes of carbon that are as strong as diamonds but flexible enough to turn into fibre. In theory, a nanotube ribbon about one metre wide and as thin as paper could support a space elevator.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Équipement et outillage d'exploration spatiale
CONT

La NIAC (Institut des Concepts Avancées de la NASA) a publié une étude fin 2002 sur tous les aspects d'un système d'ascenseur spatial, de la construction aux opérations. Premièrement, l'ascenseur serait constitué d'un câble d'une longueur de 91 000 km et d'un diamètre variant de 1 micron à 11.5 cm. Ce filin serait mis en orbite à l'aide d'une navette spatiale aidée de quelques propulseurs supplémentaires, qui, une fois en orbite géostationnaire, serviraient de contrepoids. Les forces centripètes repousseraient alors la partie haute du filin vers l'espace tandis que la partie basse serait attirée par la Terre, mettant le tout en tension. Ce premier lien serait capable d'envoyer plus d'une tonne en orbite. Il suffira ensuite d'utiliser ce premier câble pour en mettre en orbite de nouveaux. Ces filins seront constitués de nanotubes de carbone. Le plus gros défi technologique serait de construire 91 000 km de nanotubes car aujourd'hui la technologie ne permet d'en construire que quelques centimètres. Le ratio actuel nanotube/résine epoxy est de 60/40. Il faudra réussir à descendre à 98/2. Les principaux risques liés au transport par ascenseur seront dus aux météorites, aux ouragans ou aux attaques terroristes. Le filin pourra être réparé in-situ. Ce système ne nécessiterait pas de maîtriser la fusion nucléaire. De simples batteries et panneaux solaires suffiront à alimenter l'ascenseur. La plupart des technologies nécessaires existent déjà ou existeront dans le court terme. Les prévisions actuelles prévoient un budget de 7 à 10 milliards sur 15 ans.

Spanish

Save record 3

Record 4 2005-01-05

English

Subject field(s)
  • Mathematical Geography
  • Surveying

French

Domaine(s)
  • Géographie mathématique
  • Arpentage

Spanish

Save record 4

Record 5 2003-02-20

English

Subject field(s)
  • Radio Waves
  • Radar, Radio Guidance and Goniometry
DEF

A fan-shaped radar beam, wide in the horizontal plane and narrow in the vertical plane. The beaver tail is swept up and down for height finding.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Ondes radioélectriques
  • Radar, radioguidage et radiogoniométrie
OBS

Il importe de noter que l'AFNOR a normalisé les termes connexes : «antenne à faisceau plat horizontal» et «antenne à faisceau en queue de castor».

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Ondas radioeléctricas
  • Guía radárica, radioguía y radiogoniometría
DEF

Haz cuyo ancho en el plano horizontal es significativamente más grande que en el plano vertical.

Save record 5

Record 6 1989-06-14

English

Subject field(s)
  • Radar, Radio Guidance and Goniometry

French

Domaine(s)
  • Radar, radioguidage et radiogoniométrie

Spanish

Save record 6

Record 7 1986-01-21

English

Subject field(s)
  • Air Transport

French

Domaine(s)
  • Transport aérien

Spanish

Save record 7

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Display options

Change the order of display of the official languages of Canada
Option to display the non-official languages (Spanish or Portuguese)
Display definitions, contexts, etc., on records

Features

GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)

Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.

Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.

Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.

Date Modified: