Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of bathymetry and water quality of Lake Nam Co, the largest lake on the central Tibetan Plateau, China

  • Asia/Oceania report
  • Published:
Limnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Comprehensive field investigations have been conducted four times on Nam Co, central Tibet, from September 2005 to September 2008. Here, we present the preliminary results focusing on the bathymetric survey and water quality measurements. The isobathic map shows that Nam Co is a high-altitude, deep lake where a flat and large basin lies in the central part with a water depth of more than 90 m. Water depth data from the northwestern bank areas of Nam Co provide unquestionable evidence of rising water levels in the last 3 decades because of the formation of two small islands that were still peninsulas in the 1970s. Water quality measurements taken at 19 stations during three summer field campaigns (2006, 2007 and 2008) covering almost all of the lake areas showed that the temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and electric conductivity of surface water are on average 11.43°C, 9.21, 8.90 mg l−1 and 1,851 μS cm−1, respectively. The surface water shows no obvious spatial variability among all the stations. Vertical fluctuations of profiles, however, display some differences in thermocline and related parameters, such as pH and dissolved oxygen. According to the vertical variations of water quality parameters, the water column in relatively deep lake areas of Nam Co could be divided into three layers with distinctly various features: the epilimnion is from the surface to about 18–20 m depth in which the parameters are homogeneous with higher temperature and abundant sunlight; the metalimnion ranged from 20–60 m where a thermocline develops; the deepest layer forms a cold and dark hypolimnion.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • An ZS, Wang P, Shen J, Zhang YX, Zhang PZ, Wang SM, Li XQ, Sun QL, Song YG, Ai L, Zhang YC, Jiang SR, Liu XQ, Wang Y (2006) Geophysical survey on the tectonic and sediment distribution of Qinghai Lake basin. Sci China Ser D Earth Sci 49(8):851–861

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bian D, Yang ZG, Li L, Chu D, Zhuo G, Bianba CR, Zhaxi Y, Dong Y (2006) The response of lake area change to climate variations in north Tibetan Plateau during last 30 years. Acta Geogr Sin 61(5):510–518 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen YF, Chen ZM, He DK, Cai B, Ba Z (2001) Hydrographic features of Serling Co, North Tibetan Plateau. J Lake Sci 13(1):21–28 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guan ZH, Chen CY, Ou YX, Fan YQ, Zhang YS, Chen ZM, Bao SH, Zu YT, He XW, Zhang MT (1984) Rivers and lakes in Tibet. Science Press, Beijing, pp 115–215 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guan ZH, Zhao XL, Yu Z, He RL, Cui HY (2003) The correction accuracy test of echo sounder with sound velocity profiler. Hydrogr Surv Chart 23(4):41–43 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammer UT (1986) Saline lake ecosystems of the world. Monographiae biologiae vol 59. Dr W Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, 616 p

  • Ju JT, Zhu LP, Wang Y, Xie MP, Peng P, Zhen XL, Wang JB (2008) Composition, spatial distribution and environmental significance of water ions in Lake Pumayum Co and its catchment, Southern Tibet. J Lake Sci 20(5):591–599 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kawashima M, Nishiyama T (1989) Salt concentration and chemical types of lake, river, snow, and hot spring waters from the Tibetan Plateau. Jpn J Limnol 50:93–104

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LBCAS (Lanzhou Branch, Chinese Academy of Sciences), RCWRECAS (Research Center for Western Resources, Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences) (1994) Evolution of recent environment in Qinghai Lake and its prediction. Science Press, Beijing, pp 1–270 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li SJ, Zheng BX, Jiao KQ (1993) Lakes in the western Kunlun Mountain areas. Oceanol Limnol Sin 24(1):37–44 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li SJ, Li WC, Xia WL, Wu JL, Yin Y, Yang XD, Loffler H, Guo XM (1998) The scientific expedition on the modern lake evolution in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: a preliminary report. J Lake Sci 10(4):95–96 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li WC, Li SJ, Pu PM (2001) Estimates of Plateau lake evaporation: a case study of Zige Tangco. J Lake Sci 13(3):227–232 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li MH, Kang SC, Zhu LP, Wang JB, Zhang QG, Xie MP, You QL (2008a) Late-Holocene lake environment reflected by the occurrence of monohydrocalcite in Nam Co, central Tibet. Quat Sci 28(4):601–609 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li MH, Kang SC, Zhu LP, You QL, Zhang QG, Wang JB (2008b) Mineralogy and geochemistry of the Holocene lacustrine sediments in Nam Co, Tibet. Quat Int 187:105–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li MH, Zhu LP, Kang SC, You QL, Wang JB, Zhang QG, Xie MP (2008c) The occurrence of genesis of monohydrocalcite in the Nam Co, Tibet. J Mineral Petrol 28(1):1–7 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • LIGCAS (Lanzhou Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Sciences), 3 other institutes (1979) Reports of comprehensive investigation on Qinghai Lake. Science Press, Beijing, pp 1–270 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo S, Gao JR (2000) Temperatures of the months of Fuxian Lake. Acoust Electroni Eng (1):35–39 (in Chinese)

  • Mitamura O, Seike Y, Kondo K, Goto N, Anbutsu K, Akatsuka T, Kihira M, Qung T, Nishimura M (2003) First investigation of ultraoligotrophic alpine Lake Puma Yumco in the pre-Himalaya, China. Limnology 4:167–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mügler I, Gleixner G, Schwalb A, Schütt B, Mäusbacher R, Daut G, Schwark L, Xu B, Yao T, Zhu L, Yi Ch (2008) A multi-proxy approach to reconstruct hydrological changes and Holocene climate development of Nam Co, Central Tibet. J Palaeolimnol (in revision)

  • Murakami T, Terai H, Yoshiyama Y, Tezuka T, Zhu L, Matsunaka T, Nishimura M (2007) The second investigation of Lake Puma Yum Co located in the Southern Tibetan Plateau, China. Limnology 8:331–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shao ZG, Zhu DG, Meng XG, Zheng DX, Qiao ZJ, Yang CB, Han JE, Yu J, Meng QW, Lu RP (2007) Characteristics of the change of major lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the last 25 years. Geol Bull China 26(12):1633–1645 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen YP, Xu DM (1994) Fluctuations of lakes and their environments since last glaciation in Amdo area, Tibet. J Glaciol Geocryol 16(2):173–180 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang SM, Dou HS (1998) Records of lakes in China. Science Press, Beijing, p 405 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang SM, Zhang ZK (1999) New progress of lake sediments and environmental changes research in China. Chin Sci Bull 44(19):1744–1754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JB, Zhu LP (2005) Environmental change reflected by lake sediments on Tibetan Plateau: progress and prospect. Prog Geogr 24(5):1–12 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang R, Yang XD, Zhu LP (2006) Environmental changes of Namu Co, Xizang during the past 200 years. Quat Sci 26(5):791–798 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu YH, Zhu LP (2008) The response of lake-glacier variations to climate change in Nam Co Catchment, central Tibetan Plateau, during 1970–2000. J Geogr Sci 18(2):177–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • You QL, Kang SC, Li CL, Li MS, Liu JS (2007) Variation features of meteorological elements at Nam Co station, Tibetan Plateau. Meteorol Mon 33(3):54–60 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu DG, Zhao XT, Meng XG, Wu ZH, Wu HZ, Feng XY, Shao ZG, Liu QS, Yang ML (2002) Quaternary lake deposits of Nam Co, Tibet, with a discussion of the connection of Nam Co with Ring Co-Jiuru Co. Acta Geol Sin 76(3):283–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu DG, Meng XG, Zhao XT, Shao ZG, Feng XY, Yang CB, Zheng DX, Ma ZB, Wu ZH, Wang J, Wang JP, Zang WS (2004) On the quaternary environmental evolution of the Nam Co area. Tibet. Geology Press, Beijing, pp 1–302 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu LP, Wu YH, Wang JB, Lin X, Ju JT, Xie MP, Li MH, Mäusbacher R, Schwalb A, Daut G (2008) Environmental changes since 8.4 ka reflected in the lacustrine core sediments from Nam Co, central Tibetan Plateau, China. Holocene 18(5):831–839

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to all the members who participated in the field investigations of Nam Co during 2005–2008. Special thanks are given to Dr. Ernst Krömer and Johannes Wallner, who completed part of the bathymetric survey, as well as Dr. Shikuo Lu, who greatly assisted with the processing of depth data. This work was jointly supported by the Chinese National Basic Research Program (grant no. 2005CB422002) and the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (grant no. 40701194, 40874033).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 18 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, 100085, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Junbo Wang, Liping Zhu, Xiao Lin, Yong Wang & Xiaolin Zhen

  2. Institut für Geographie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany

    Gerhard Daut

  3. Science in China Press, 100717, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Jianting Ju

Authors
  1. Junbo Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Liping Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gerhard Daut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jianting Ju
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiao Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xiaolin Zhen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Junbo Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, J., Zhu, L., Daut, G. et al. Investigation of bathymetry and water quality of Lake Nam Co, the largest lake on the central Tibetan Plateau, China. Limnology 10, 149–158 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-009-0266-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-009-0266-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation