Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in inland lakes on the Tibetan Plateau over the past 40 years

  • Published:
Journal of Geographical Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Inland lakes and alpine glaciers are important water resources on the Tibetan Plateau. Understanding their variation is crucial for accurate evaluation and prediction of changes in water supply and for retrieval and analysis of climatic information. Data from previous research on 35 alpine lakes on the Tibetan Plateau were used to investigate changes in lake water level and area. In terms of temporal changes, the area of the 35 alpine lakes could be divided into five groups: rising, falling-rising, rising-falling, fluctuating, and falling. In terms of spatial changes, the area of alpine lakes in the Himalayan Mountains, the Karakoram Mountains, and the Qaidam Basin tended to decrease; the area of lakes in the Naqu region and the Kunlun Mountains increased; and the area of lakes in the Hoh Xil region and Qilian Mountains fluctuated. Changes in lake water level and area were correlated with regional changes in climate. Reasons for changes in these lakes on the Tibetan Plateau were analyzed, including precipitation and evaporation from meteorological data, glacier meltwater from the Chinese glacier inventories. Several key problems, e.g. challenges of monitoring water balance, limitations to glacial area detection, uncertainties in detecting lake water-level variations and variable region boundaries of lake change types on the Tibetan Plateau were discussed. This research has most indicative significance to regional climate change.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aizen V, Aizen E, Melack J, 1996. Precipitation, melt and runoff in the northern Tien Shan. Journal of Hydrology, 186: 229–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aizen V, Kuzmichenok V, Surazakov A et al., 2007. Glacier changes in the Tien Shan as determined from topographic and remotely sensed data. Global and Planetary Change, 56: 328–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angel J, Kunkel K, 2010. The response of Great Lakes water levels to future climate scenarios with an emphasis on Lake Michigan-Huron. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 36: 51–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai J, Chen X, Li J et al., 2011. Changes of inland lake area in arid Central Asia during 1975–2007: A remote-sensing analysis. Journal of Lake Sciences, 23(1): 80–88. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bian D, Bian B, La B et al., 2010. The Response of water level of Selin Co to climate change during 1975–2008. Acta Geographica Sinica, 65(3): 313–319. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bian D, Du J, Hu J et al., 2009. Response of the water level of the Yamzho Yumco to climate change during 1975–2006. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 31(3): 404–409. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolch T, 2007. Climate change and glacier retreat in northern Tien Shan (Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan) using remote sensing data. Global and Planetary Change, 56: 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolch T, Menounos B, Wheate R, 2010. Landsat-based inventory of glaciers in western Canada, 1985–2005. Remote Sensing of Environment, 114: 127–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen F, Kang S, Zhang Y et al., 2009. Glaciers and lake change in response to climate change in the Nam Co basin, Tibet. Journal of Mountain Science, 27(6): 641–647. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chipman J, Lillesand T, 2007. Satellite based assessment of the dynamics of new lakes in Southern Egypt. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 28: 4365–4379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu D, Pu Q, Wang D et al., 2012. Water level variations of Yamzho Yumco Lake in Tibet and the main driving forces. Journal of Mountain Science, 30(2): 239–247. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Deji Y, La B, Laba Z et al., 2014. Lake area variation of Thari Namtso and its meteorological causes based on multi-sensor satellite data. Journal of Lake Sciences, 26(6): 963–970. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding Y, Liu S, Ye B et al., 2006. Climatic implications on variations of lakes in the cold and arid regions of China during the recent 50 years. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 28(5): 623–632. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Donald O, Thomas C, 1997. Dynamics of water-table fluctuations in an upland between two prairie-pothole wetlands in North Dakota. Journal of Hydrology, 191: 266–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du J. 2001. Change of temperature in Tibetan Plateau from 1961–2000. Acta Geographica Sinica 56(6): 690–698. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan Z, Li J, 1984. Recent changes in the lakes of Xinjiang. Geographical Research, 3(1): 77–86. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao H, Jia Y, 2005. The evolution characteristics of typical inland lakes in Northwest China during the past 40 years and their mechanism. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 19(5): 93–96. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo L, Ye Q, Yao T et al., 2007. The glacial landforms and the changes of glacier and lake area in the Mapam Yumco Basin in Tibetan Plateau based on GIS. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 29(4): 517–524. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo N, Zhang J, Liang Y, 2003. Climate change indicated by the recent change of inland lakes in northwest China. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 25(2): 211–214. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu R, Jiang F, Wang Y et al., 2007. On the importance of research on the lakes in arid land of China. Arid Zone Research, 24(2): 137–140. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu R, Ma H, Fan Z et al., 2002. The climate trend demonstrated by changes of the lakes in Xinjiang since recent years. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 16(1): 20–27. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang W, Liao J, Shen G et al., 2012. Lake change in past 40 years in the Southern Nagqu District of Tibet and analysis of its driving forces. Remote Sensing for Land and Resources, 94: 122–128. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia W, He Y, Wang X et al., 2009. Temporal and spatial change of the potential evaporation over Qilian Mountains and Hexi corridor from 1960 to 2006. Advances in Water Science, 20(2): 159–167. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang L, Yao Z, Liu Z et al., 2014. Variations of lake area and boundary of Ulan Ul Lake in Hoh Xil region during 1976–2012 and their reasons. Wetland Science, 12(2): 155–162. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones R, Mc Mahon T, Bowler J, 2001. Modelling historical lake levels and recent climate change at three closed lakes, Western Victoria, Australia (c.1840–1990). Journal of Hydrology, 246: 159–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kong Y, Pang Z, 2012. Evaluating the sensitivity of glacier rivers to climate change based on hydrograph separation of discharge. Journal of Hydrology, 434/435: 121–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krause P, Biskop S, Helmschrot J et al., 2010. Hydrological system analysis and modelling of the Nam Co Basin in Tibet. Advances in Geosciences, 27: 29–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kropácek J, Brauna A, Kang S et al., 2012. Analysis of lake level changes in Nam Co in central Tibet utilizing synergistic satellite altimetry and optical imagery. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 17: 3–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kutuzov S, Shahgedanova M, 2009. Glacier retreat and climatic variability in the eastern Terskey-Alatoo, inner Tien Shan between the middle of the 19th century and beginning of the 21st century. Global and Planetary Change, 69: 59–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La B, Bian D, Chen T et al., 2012. Possible causes of area change of lake Tangra Yumco, Tibet based on TM images. Meteorological Science and Technology, 40(4): 685–688.

    Google Scholar 

  • La B, La B, Chen T, 2011. Change research and cause analysis of inland lakes in Tibet based on MODIS image. Meteorological and Environmental Sciences, 34(3): 37–40. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lei Y, Zhang H, Wang S et al., 2009. Change in Lake Area of Zige Tangco on central Tibetan Plateau since the 1970s and its mechanisms. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 31(1): 48–54. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li B, Pan B, Cheng W et al., 2013. Research on geomorphological regionalization of China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 68(3): 291–306. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Fang H, Bao A et al., 2011. Spatio-temporal analysis of recent changes of lake area and lake water level at high mountains in Central Asia. Resources Science, 33(10): 1839–1846. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Sheng Y, 2013. Spatiotemporal pattern and process of inland lake change in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during the period of 1976–2009. Arid Zone Research, 30(4): 571–581. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Li J, Yao X et al., 2014. Changes of the three holy lakes in recent years and quantitative analysis of the influencing factors. Quaternary International, 349: 339–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, 2014. Glacier and lake changes across the Tibetan Plateau during the past 50 years of climate change. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 5(2): 123–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao J, Shen G, Li Y, 2013. Lake variations in response to climate change in the Tibetan Plateau in the past 40 years. International Journal of Digital Earth, 6(6): 534–549.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Shi Y, Wang Z et al., 2000. Glacier resources and their distributive characteristics in China. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 22(2): 106–112. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Wang S, Yu S et al., 2009. Climate warming and growth of high-elevation inland lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. Global and Planetary Change, 67: 209–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu R, Liu Y, 2008. Area changes of Qinghai Lake in the latest 20 years based on remote sensing study. Journal of Lake Sciences, 20(1): 135–138. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Ding Y, Li J et al., 2006. Glaciers in response to recent climate warming in western China. Quaternary Sciences, 26(5): 762–771.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Lu A, Ding Y et al., 2002. Glacier fluctuations and the inferred climate changes in the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains in the source area of the Yellow River. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 24(6): 701–707. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Yao X, Guo W et al., 2015. The contemporary glaciers in China based on the Second Chinese Glacier Inventory. Acta Geographica Sinica, 70(1): 3–16. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu T. 1995. Changes of Yamzho Lake water stage in Xizang. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 15(1): 55–62. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma D, Zhang L, Wang Q et al., 2003. Influence of the warm-wet climate on Sayram Lake. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 25(2): 219–223. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma R, Yang G, Duan H et al., 2010. China’s lakes at present: Number, area and spatial distribution. Science China Earth Sciences, 54(2): 283–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma Y, Yi C, Wu J et al., 2012. Lake surface expansion of Nam Co during 1970–2009: Evidence of satellite remote sensing and cause analysis. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 34(1): 81–88. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meng K, Shi X, Wang E et al., 2012. High-altitude salt lake elevation changes and glacial ablation in Central Tibet, 2000–2010. Chinese Science Bulletin, 57(5): 525–534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mercier F, Cazenave A, Maheu C, 2002. Interannual lake level fluctuations (1993–1999) in Africa from Topex/Poseidon: Connections with ocean-atmosphere interactions over the Indian Ocean. Global and Planetary Change, 32: 141–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mima C, Tian L, Wen R et al., 2013. Recent water level change of Yamzhog Yumco Lake, Tibet. Journal of China Hydrology, 33(2): 64–69. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Niu T, Chen L, Zhou Z, 2004. The characteristics of climate change over the Tibetan Plateau in the last 40 years and the detection of climatic jumps. Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, 21(2): 193–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niu Y, Li C, Xi X et al., 2008. Plateau lake variation monitored by satellite remote sensing and the relation to climate change. Arid Land Geography, 31(2): 284–290. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Phan V H, Lindenbergh R, Menenti M, 2012. ICESat derived elevation changes of Tibetan lakes between 2003 and 2009. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 17: 12–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ponchaut F, Cazenave A, 1998. Continental lake level variations from Topex/Poseidon (1993–1996). Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences-Series IIA-Earth and Planetary Science, 326: 13–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pu J, Yao T, Wang N et al., 2004. Fluctuations of the glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during the past century. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 26(5): 517–522. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Qi W, Zheng M, 2006. Initial research on water level fluctuation discipline of Zabuye Salt Lake in Tibet. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 26(6): 693–701. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiao C, Luo J, Sheng Y et al., 2010. Analysis on lake changes since ancient and modern ages using remote sensing in Dagze Co, Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Lake Sciences, 22(1): 98–102. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin B, 1999. A preliminary investigation of lake evolution in 20-century in inland mainland Asia with relation to the global warming. Journal of Lake Sciences, 11(1): 11–19. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shangguan D, Liu S, Ding Y et al., 2004. Glacier changes at the head of Yurungkax River in the west Kunlun Mountains in the past 32 years. Acta Geographica Sinica, 59(6): 855–862.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao Z, Zhu D, Meng X et al., 2007. Characteristics of the change of major lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the last 25 years. Geological Bulletin of China, 26(12): 1633–1645. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi Y, Shen Y, Kang E et al., 2007. Recent and future climate change in Northwest China. Climatic Change, 80(3): 379–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Y, Zhang X, 1995. The effect of climate change on surface water resources and future trend in the northwest arid region, China. Science in China (Series B), 25(9): 968–977. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Song C, Huang B, Ke L, 2013. Modeling and analysis of lake water storage changes on the Tibetan Plateau using multi-mission satellite data. Remote Sensing of Environment, 135: 25–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song C, Ye Q, Cheng X, 2015. Shifts in water-level variation of Namco in the central Tibetan Plateau from ICESat and CryoSat-2 altimetry and station observations. Science Bulletin, 60(14): 1287–1297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sorg A, Bolch T, Stoff M et al., 2012. Climate change impacts on glaciers and runoff in Tien Shan (Central Asia). Nature Climate Change, 29: 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang W, Yang K, Qin J et al., 2011. Solar radiation trend across China in recent decades: A revisit with quality-controlled data. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 11: 393–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urban T, Schutz B, Neuenschwander A, 2008. A survey of ICESat coastal altimetry applications: Continental coast, open ocean island, and inland river. Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 19(1): 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan W, Xiao P, Feng X et al., 2014. Monitoring lake changes of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau over the past 30 years using satellite remote sensing data. Chinese Science Bulletin, 59(8): 701–714. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Bao Q, Hoskins B et al., 2008. Tibetan Plateau warming and precipitation changes in East Asia. Geophysical Research Letters, 35(14): L14702, 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Xie Z, Liu S et al., 2011. Glacierized area variation and its response to climate change in Qangtang Plateau during 1970–2000. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 33(5): 979–990. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Gong P, Zhao Y et al., 2013. Water-level changes in China’s large lakes determined from ICESat/GLAS data. Remote Sensing of Environment, 132: 131–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Zhu L, Ye Q et al., 2007. The response of lake-glacier area change to climate variations in Nam Co Basin, central Tibetan Plateau, during the last three decades. Acta Geographica Sinica, 62(3): 301–311. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan L, Zheng M, 2015. The response of lake variations to climate change in the past forty years: A case study of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas, China. Quaternary International, 371: 31–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Q, Liao J, Shen G, 2014. Remote sensing analysis and simulation of change of Ulan Ul Lake in the past 40 years. Remote Sensing for Land and Resources, 26(1): 152–157. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao X, Liu S, Li L et al., 2013. Spatial-temporal variations of lake area in Hoh Xil region in the past 40 years. Acta Geographica Sinica, 68(7): 886–896. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ye Q, Yao T, Zheng H et al., 2008. Glacier and lake co-variations and their responses to climate changes in the Mapam Yumco Basin on Tibet. Geographical Research, 27(5): 1178–1190. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • You Q, Kang S, Pepin N et al., 2010. Climate warming and associated changes in atmospheric circulation in the eastern and central Tibetan Plateau from a homogenized dataset. Global and Planetary Change, 72(1/2): 11–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang G, Xie H, Duan S et al., 2011a. Water level variation of Lake Qinghai from satellite and in situ measurements under climate change. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, 5: 053532-1–053532-15.

  • Zhang G, Xie H, Kang S et al., 2011b. Monitoring lake level changes on the Tibetan Plateau using ICESat altimetry data (2003–2009). Remote Sensing of Environment, 115: 1733–1742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang G, Xie H, Yao T et al., 2014a. Quantitative water resources assessment of Qinghai Lake Basin using snowmelt runoff model (SRM). Journal of Hydrology, 519: 976–987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Lu A, Wang L et al., 2011c. Glacier change in the Shulenan Mountain monitored by remote sensing. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 33(1): 8–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Ren Y, Yin Z et al., 2009. Spatial and temporal variation patterns of reference evapotranspiration across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during 1971–2004. Journal of Geophysical Research, 114: D15105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Wu Y, Zhang X, 2014b. Water level variation of inland lakes on the south-central Tibetan Plateau in 1972–2012. Acta Geographica Sinica, 69(7): 993–1001. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Liu C, Tang Y et al., 2007. Trends in pan evaporation and reference and actual evapotranspiration across the Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Geophysical Research, 112, D12110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y. 2014. Dynamic variations of glaciers-lake in YamzhoYumco Basin of Tibet. Journal of Arid Land R esources and Environment, 28(8): 88–93. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu L, Xie M, Wu Y, 2010. Quantitative analysis of lake area variations and the influence factors from 1971 to 2004 in the Nam Co Basin of the Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Science Bulletin, 55(18): 1294–1303. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, CAS, Urumqi, 830011, China

    Yue Fang, Chenghu Zhou, Xi Chen & Anming Bao

  2. State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing, 100101, China

    Yue Fang, Weiming Cheng, Nan Wang & Chenghu Zhou

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Yue Fang & Nan Wang

  4. Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Weiming Cheng

  5. Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing, 100101, China

    Yichi Zhang

  6. Department of Surveying and Mapping, College of Mining Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Shangmin Zhao

Authors
  1. Yue Fang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Weiming Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yichi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shangmin Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Chenghu Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xi Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Anming Bao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Weiming Cheng or Yichi Zhang.

Additional information

Foundation: The Major State Basic Research Development of China, No.2015CB954101; National Mountain Flood Disaster Investigation Project, No.SHZH-IWHR-57; The National Science and Technology Basic Special Project, No.2011FY11040-2; National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41171332; The Surveying and Mapping Geoinformation Nonprofit Specific Project, No.201512033

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fang, Y., Cheng, W., Zhang, Y. et al. Changes in inland lakes on the Tibetan Plateau over the past 40 years. J. Geogr. Sci. 26, 415–438 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-016-1277-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-016-1277-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation