From wind to seismic signature captured by seismometers in lake Lucerne

Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS) are primarily designed to record seismic signals in marine environments. However, the fundamental principles of their operation as broadband instruments enable a wider range of applications. Here, we demonstrate that OBS systems can also effectively monitor the impact of sudden strong wind events on lakes. We conducted an experiment in Lake Lucerne (Switzerland), at the Muota Delta, using five OBS equipped with hydrophones. In addition, an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) was moored to record current speed and direction. Comprehensive data analysis of weather measurements reveals a link between a strong wind and seismic signature. A foehn event that occurred on October 10th, 2023 in Switzerland caused a wind-lake interaction that triggered an internal current in the lake, with intensified deep near-bed velocity flowing in the upwind direction. Seismic signals induced by foehn winds correlate strongly with recorded increased sediment load, likely from resuspension or erosion, demonstrating how ocean-bottom seismometer networks can enhance environmental monitoring.