This project comprises a series of studies that delve into the hydrodynamics of internal waves and their impact on biogeochemical fluxes, sediment resuspension, and greenhouse gas emissions in stratified environments.

In the case of lakes, frequently the wind that blows at the lake surface transfers energy to the system. Part of the wind energy that passes through the surface boundary layer is responsible to excite large-period internal seiches. Internal seiches are standing waves that are excited within a stratified media. Studies show that these waves are responsible for large-scale motion, in which up to 40 % of hypolimnetic volume may be exchanged after its passage. The dynamic of basin-scale internal waves affects strongly the water quality of these ecosystems, influencing nutrients, microorganisms, and chemical compounds fluxes. In large lakes, these waves may also influence the local microclimate of the region.

New technologies have provided a better understanding of internal waves patterns in basins, revealing their strong influence on the system dynamic. The spectral analysis and the improvement in water temperature measurement have proved to be useful to improve the detection of internal waves in lakes. A phenomenon that initially appeared to be excited just in some rare cases, in fact, it is often generated in lakes and reservoirs of different sizes and shapes.