Research work · 1986
Currents in Lake Geneva1
Limnology and Oceanography
Abstract
The first synoptic measurements of currents and temperatures in Lake Geneva and the wind field on its shoreline have been analyzed to derive mean characteristics of the internal motions. The observations cover the periods from October to March of 1981/1982, 1982/1983, and 1983/ 1984.The lake responds to a very inhomogeneous diurnal and gradient wind field with high‐energy, statistically nonstationary fluctuating currents superimposed on a weak mean state. Current fluctuations of periods between 24 and 12 h appear to propagate cyclonically. Clockwise‐turning current vectors, mainly at near‐inertial frequencies, and a tendency to high energy at low frequencies at nearshore locations are found. Only a portion of the observed details can be explained by features of gravity waves modified by rotation.