Environmental Atlas of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin

	Physical Environments: Climate | Hurricane History | Circulation | Wave Climate | Relative Sea Level | Relative Sea Level Rise

Physical Environments - Circulation

• Introduction
• Processes of Lake Pontchartrain Circulation
• Wind-induced Lake Circulation Patterns (N, S, E, W)
• Wind-induced Lake Circulation Patterns (NW, NE, SW, SE)

Three-dimensional circulation modeling shows that the wind blowing over the surface of the lakes forces a two-gyre circulation pattern within the Lake. The pattern results in relatively strong downwind currents near the shorelines and return flow against the wind in the middle of the Lake.

Figure 41: Velocity magnitudes and induced lake circulation patterns resulting from sustained winds from the North.

Figure 42: Velocity magnitudes and induced lake circulation patterns resulting from sustained winds from the East.

Figure 43: Velocity magnitudes and induced lake circulation patterns resulting from sustained winds from the West.

Figure 44: Velocity magnitudes and induced lake circulation patterns resulting from sustained winds from the South.