A standing wave in a closed body of water such as a lake or bay. It can be characterized as the sloshing of water in the enclosing basin. Seiches can be produced by seismic waves from earthquakes. The permanent tilting of lake basins caused by nearby fault motions has produced very energetic seiches.
This is a natural process generated when wind blows in a constant direction and piles water up on a downwind shore. When the wind drops, the water is released and flows back to the opposite shore. For example, when a seiche moves towards the western shore of Lake Michigan or Green Bay, it acts as a dam, slowing the discharge of rivers and creeks into the lake or even forcing water to reverse course and move upstream (adopted from Manitowoc report, 1998). Seiches can be especially dramatic in funnel-shaped bays where great volumes of water are pushed into increasingly smaller areas. This phenomenon is particularly important at sites such as Green Bay, Chequamegon Bay, and in the estuaries associated with the St. Louis and Mink rivers.
A stationary vertical wave oscillation with a period varying from a few minutes to an hour or more. It is usually attributed to external forces such as strong winds or changes in atmospheric pressure disturbing the equilibrium of the water surface. Seiche is found both in enclosed bodies of water and superimposed upon the tides of the open ocean.
an oscillation of a body of water in an enclosed or semi-enclosed basin, caused by local changes in atmospheric pressure, wind, tidal currents, and earthquakes.
The free oscillation of the bulk of water in a lake and the motion caused by it on the surface of the lake.
a wave on the surface of a lake or landlocked bay; caused by atmospheric or seismic disturbances
a dramatic fluctuation in the lake's water level produced by a sudden change in the air pressure, which is often caused by a chain of thunderstorms in the area
a great underwater wave that sloshes back and forth, even though the lake's surface appears smooth
a periodic oscillation of a body of water such as a reservoir, river, lake, harbor or bay resulting from seismic shaking or other causes such as landslides into a body of water
a periodic oscillation of water level caused by an atmospheric disturbance passing over large, confined bodies of water
a similar sort of giant wave which takes place in a lake or inland body of water
a standing oscillation of a lake, usually in the direction of the longest diameter, but occasionally transverse
a standing wave in an enclosed or partly enclosed body of water and is analogous to the sloshing of water that occurs when an adult suddenly sits down in a bathtub
a standing wave that occurs in an enclosed or semi-enclosed water body and is usually caused by strong winds and/or changes in atmospheric pressure
a standing wave that oscillates back and forth within a water body
a stationary wave that oscillates (changes aspect) without progressing
a storm surge or series of waves caused by high winds, or fast-moving squall lines with intense atmospheric pressure, that cause a lake to slosh back and forth
a surface wave created when a body of water is shaken
A standing wave oscillating in a partially or fully enclosed body of water. May be initiated by long period seismic waves, wind and water waves, or a tsunami.
A resonant standing wave in an enclosed or semi-enclosed water body that continues to oscillate after the cessation of the originating force (that may have been seismic, atmospheric, tidal or wave-induced). This will appear to only move up and down.
Oscillation of the surface of an enclosed body of water owing to earthquake shaking.
A seiche is a short-period oscillation occurring in a harbour, bay, or gulf, analogous to the oscillations of water sloshing in a bath. They are a phenomenon of local resonance and are unrelated to tides.
The sloshing of a closed body of water as a result of an earthquake.
A periodic oscillation, or standing wave, in an enclosed water body the physical dimensions of which determine how frequently the water level changes.
A standing wave oscillation in any enclosed lake which continues after the forcing mechanism has ceased. In the Great Lakes, this forcing mechanism may be either strong winds blowing along the axis of a lake or a pressure jump, or down draft winds associated with fast moving squall lines over a lake. In either case, water is piled up at one end. The water then sloshes from one end of the lake to the other causing fluctuations of perhaps several feet before damping out.
Rhythmic movement in a body of water caused by ground motion.
Seiches are lakewide displacements of water that are wind-induced. Water pushed by the wind can pile up on shore causing noticeable increases in water depth. When the wind is reduced the water mass continues to slosh back and forth like water in a bathtub.
(pronounced "sayshe") Phenomenon that occurs following a storm surge, when the wind abruptly subsides or barometric pressure changes rapidly on a lake causing the water to oscillate until it stabilizes again
A seiche is a series of standing waves in an enclosed (or partially enclosed) body of water, like a lake, bay, or river. The seiche waves are caused by an earthquake or landlide and cause water to slosh along the shore.
The sloshing of a closed body of water from earthquake shaking. Swimming pools often have seiches during earthquakes.
A stationary wave usually caused by strong winds and/or changes in barometric pressure. It is found in lakes, semi-enclosed bodies of water, and in areas of the open ocean. The period of a seiche in an enclosed rectangular body of water is usually represented by the formula: Period (T)=2L/ gd in which L is the length, d the average depth of the body of water, and g the acceleration of gravity. See standing wave.
A standing wave oscillation of an enclosed waterbody that continues, pendulum fashion, after the cessation of the originating force, which may have been either seismic or atmospheric.
The oscillation of a body of water at its natural period. Coastal observations of sea-level often show seiches with amplitudes of a few centimeters and periods of a few minutes due to oscillations of the local harbour, estuary or bay, superimposed on the normal tidal changes. Seiches can also occur in lakes.
A wave or series of waves formed on a lake by strong winds, an earthquake or eruption.
A free or standing wave oscillation of the surface of water in an enclosed basin that is initiated by local atmospheric changes, tidal currents, or earthquakes. Similar to water sloshing in a bathtub.
1. The oscillation of a body of water at its natural period. Coastal measurements of sea level often show seiches with amplitudes of a few centimeters and periods of a few minutes due to oscillations of the local harbor, estuary, or bay, superimposed on the normal tidal changes. 2. In the Great Lakes area of the United States, any sudden rise in the water of a harbor or a lake, whether or not it is oscillatory. Although inaccurate in a strict sense, this usage is well established in the Great Lakes area.
A seiche (pronounced say'sh) is a standing wave in an enclosed or partially enclosed body of water. Seiches and seiche-related phenomena have been observed on lakes, reservoirs, bays and seas. The key requirement for formation of a seiche is that the body of water be at least partially bounded, allowing natural phenomena to form a standing wave.
