Lake’s Response to an Extreme Synoptic Storm: Internal Waves and Air-Lake Coupling

In May 2022, a unique dry easterly windstorm generated extreme surface waves on Lake Kinneret, leading to the destruction of the eastern coastal promenade. Wind speeds exceeded 90 km/h in the northern part of the lake and 60 km/h in its eastern part, resulting in significant mixing captured by an in-situ sensor network. Since the lake was already thermally stratified, the atmospheric storm generated a steep-fronted internal surge that propagated along the thermocline. This surge caused intensified mixing, deepened the thermocline, and triggered sediment resuspension as it shoaled over the lake’s slope.  

To assess the storm's impact on lake mixing and the role of air-sea interactions, we applied a 3D coupled lake-atmosphere model. The study examines the storm-driven internal surge within the context of a pre-existing internal wave field generated by the daily Mediterranean breeze. Our findings suggest that this internal wave field plays a role in modulating the excitation of the internal surge. Furthermore, we analyze the spatiotemporal variability of lake mixing regimes and the interactions between the lake and atmosphere during the May 2022 storm. The results are supported by observations from multiple locations within the lake and simulations conducted with both coupled and uncoupled 3D simulations.