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Influence of the regional climate variations on lake changes of Zabuye, Dangqiong Co and Bankog Co salt lakes in Tibet

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Abstract

The lake hydrological and meteorological data of the Tibetan Plateau are not rich. This research reports the observed climatic data and measured water levels of saline lakes from the local meteorological stations in the Zabuye salt lake, the Dangqiong Co salt lake and the Bankog Co salt lake in recent two decades. Combining with satellite remote sensing maps, we have analyzed the changes of the water level of these three lakes in recent years and discussed the origins of the changes induced by the meteorological factors. The results show that the annual mean temperature and the water level reflect a general ascending trend in these three lakes during the observation period. The rising rates of the annual mean temperature were 0.08°C/yr during 1991–2014 and 0.07°C/yr during 2004–2014, and of the water level, were 0.032 m/yr and 0.24 m/yr, respectively. Analysis of changes of the meteorological factors shows the main cause for the increase of lake water quantity are the reduced lake evaporation and the increased precipitation in the lake basins by the rise of average temperature. Seasonal variation of lake water level is powered largely by the supply of lake water types and the seasonal change of regional climate.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the constructive review from three anonymous reviewers. Since 1990, the following professional staff have attended the work of field observation. They are He Chaoxing, Zhang Fasheng, Gao Bingqi, Bianba, Huang Xinggen, Cheng Jiabai, Qing Guanghua, Baiduo, Gu fuqing, Wei Jianming, Fan Junfeng, Zhao Jianjun, Mima, Labaciren, Cidun, Queba, Danbazhaxi, Li Shenglu, Wang Guangcai, Ma Xiaoji, Ye Yugang, Ma Wanyun, Weigang Kong and so forth. Xiuyun Gu and the others provided logistics support. The meteorological and hydrological data of observation in this paper are the common fruit of everyone. Sincere thanks are given to all scholars who have devoted themselves to this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MLR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environments, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100037, China

    Yunsheng Wang, Mianping Zheng, Lingzhong Bu & Wen Qi

  2. R&D Center for Saline Lakes and Epithermal Deposits, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100037, China

    Yunsheng Wang, Mianping Zheng, Lingzhong Bu & Wen Qi

  3. Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100037, China

    Lijuan Yan

Authors
  1. Yunsheng Wang
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  2. Mianping Zheng
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  3. Lijuan Yan
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  4. Lingzhong Bu
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  5. Wen Qi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mianping Zheng.

Additional information

Foundation: The Key Scientific Research Project of National Science and Technology Commission, No. K89-01-32; National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.4907010123; Special Scientific Research Projects in Public Welfare Profession of Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China, No. 201011001; Basic Research Fund, No. K1418

Author: Wang Yunsheng, Associate Professor, specialized in saline lake environment and comprehensive utilization of brine resources

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Wang, Y., Zheng, M., Yan, L. et al. Influence of the regional climate variations on lake changes of Zabuye, Dangqiong Co and Bankog Co salt lakes in Tibet. J. Geogr. Sci. 29, 1895–1907 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-019-1995-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-019-1995-x

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