The surface seiches of Lake of Lugano

A computational analysis of the periods and structure of surface seiches of the southern basin of Lake of Lugano and its experimental verification from three simultaneous water gauge recordings, mounted along the shores in Agno, Morcote and Riva S. Vitale, is given. The first five theoretical modes are calculated with a finite element code of the tidal equations; it yields the eigenperiods and co-range and co-tidal lines, which are graphically displayed and discussed in detail. Experimental verification is from recordings taken during February/March 1982. Inspection by eye allows identification of the five lowest order modes, partly including interstation phase shift. Power spectral analysis of three-time series and interstation phase difference and coherence spectra allow identification of higher order modes, probably up to order 13. Agreement between the theoretically predicted and the experimentally determined periods is excellent for all calculated modes. Computational results for the four lowest modes and their structure of the northern basin of Lake of Lugano are also presented and experimentally verified with records taken from an event in August 1979. Agreement is again excellent.