APPROACH

First step: Testing of FEMSEICHE
Second step: Selection of study area, Lake Mendota
Third step: Application of FEMSEICHE to Lake Mendota

First step: Testing of FEMSEICHE

A sample rectangular basin with vertical walls and dimension of 8192m x 512m x 12m was used, to verify the accuracy of FEMSEICHE. A total of 34 data points were used. The results was summarized in the following table.

8192m

512m

If we compare the FEMSEICHE results with the values obtained from Merian’s formula, the values from the fundamental mode up to the 6^th mode are satisfactorily (within 5% error).

Second step: Selection of study area, Lake Mendota

Map of Lake Mendota
obtained from:(http://limnology.wisc.edu/lake_information/mendota/mendota.html)

Lake Mendota was chosen for this study for two reasons:

(1) convenience in obtaining field data for comparison
(2) size of the lake is relatively small and coriolis effects should be small enough to be neglected

To verify the later reason, the Rossby radius of deformation was computed using the equation presented in previous section:

= 365580 m

where	c	=	36.335 m/s
	g	=	9.81 m/s^2
	H	=	41 m
	f	=	9.939*10^-5
		=	7.272*10^-5 s^-1
		=	43.11

If we compare the Rossby radius of deformation (365580m) with the width of Lake Mendota (about 9249m), we can see that the Rossby radius of deformation is much larger, i.e. rotational effects on Lake Mendota is rather small.

Thus FEMSEICHE should be applicable to computing seiches of Lake Mendota.

Third step: Application of FEMSEICHE to Lake Mendota

The topographic map of Lake Mendota was obtained from the website of Department of Natural Resources. (http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/fhp/lakes/lakemap/0805400z.htm). A total number of 266 nodes were identified. The water level, geometric data of each node and the triangular mesh were then entered into the program.