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

doi:10.1007/s11442-016-1277-0

Abstract

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.

Key words: inland lake, area variation, glacial retreat, climate change, Tibetan Plateau

Yue FANG, Weiming Cheng, Yichi Zhang, Nan WANG, Shangmin ZHAO, Chenghu ZHOU, Xi CHEN, Anming BAO. Changes in inland lakes on the Tibetan Plateau over the past 40 years[J].Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2016, 26(4): 415-438.

Figures/Tables 16

Figure 1

Table 1

Summary of the 35 alpine lakes on the Tibetan Plateau included in the present study"

Lake Name	Elevation(m)	Supplement	Geomorphological regions	Sources
Qinghai Lake	3200	Runoff, spring, precipitation	Qaidam Basin	Shao et al. (2007); Liu et al. (2008) ; Song et al. (2013); Zhang et al. (2014a); Yan et al. (2015)
Har Lake	4078	Glacier melting, precipitation	Qilian Mountains	Guo et al. (2003); Shao et al. (2007); Song et al. (2013);Yan et al. (2014)
Ulan Ul Lake	4917	Runoff, glacier melting	Changtang Plateau	Shao et al. (2007); Song et al. (2013); Jiang et al. (2014); Yan et al. (2014)
Xijin Ulan Lake	4769	Runoff, glacier melting	Changtang Plateau	Wang et al. (2013); Yao et al. (2013); Yan et al. (2014)
Dogai Coring Lake	4782	Glacier melting	Changtang Plateau	Wang et al. (2013); Yao et al. (2013); Yan et al. (2014)
Hoh Xil Lake	4878	Glacier melting	Changtang Plateau	Wang et al. (2013); Yao et al. (2013); Yan et al. (2014)
Chibuzhang Co	4931	Glacier melting, runoff	Changtang Plateau	Shao et al. (2007); Wan et al. (2014); Yan et al. (2014)
Ayakekum Lake	3876	Glacier melting	Altun Mountains	Shao et al. (2007); Song et al. (2013); Li et al. (2014)
Aksai Chin Lake	4990	Runoff	Changtang Plateau	Li et al. (2014)
Siling Co	4530	Glacier melting, precipitation	Gangdise Mountains	Shao et al. (2007); Bian et al. (2010); Zhang et al. (2011c); Liao et al. (2013); Song et al. (2013)
Nam Co	4718	Precipitation, glacier melting	Gangdise Mountains	Wu et al. (2007); Niu et al. (2008); Chen et al. (2009); Zhu et al. (2010); La et al. (2011); Ma et al. (2012); Liao et al. (2013); Song et al. (2013); Song et al. (2014)
Yamzhog Yumco Lake	4440	Precipitation, glacier melting	Himalaya Mountains	Liu (1995); Shao et al. (2007); Bian et al. (2009); Chu et al. (2012); Liao et al. (2013); Song et al. (2013); Zhao et al. (2014)
Zige Tang Co	4560	Runoff, precipitation	Tanggula Mountains	Lei et al. (2009); Song et al. (2013)
Zhari Nam Co	4613	Glacier melting, precipitation	Changtang Plateau	Shao et al. (2007); Zhang et al. (2011b); Liao et al. (2013); Song et al. (2013); Deji et al. (2014); Zhang et al. (2014b)
Tangra Yum Co	4528	Precipitation, runoff	Changtang Plateau	Shao et al. (2007); Huang et al. (2012); La et al. (2012); Liao et al. (2013); Song et al. (2013)
Cuona Lake	4800	Runoff, precipitation	Changtang Plateau	Huang et al. (2012)
Mapam Yum Co	6638	Glacier melting, precipitation	Himalayan Mountains	Guo et al. (2007); Niu et al. (2008); Ye et al. (2008); La et al. (2011); Song et al. (2013); Li et al. (2014); Zhang et al. (2014b)
Lhanag-tso Lake	4573	Runoff	Himalayan Mountains	La et al. (2011); Liao et al. (2013)
Co’e Lake	4562	Runoff, precipitation	Gangdise Mountains	Bian et al. (2010); Huang et al. (2012)
Yagen Co	4866	Runoff, precipitation	Tanggula Mountains	Bian et al. (2010)
Dorsoidong Co	4749	Glacier melting, runoff	Tanggula Mountains	Song et al. (2013)
Bange Co	4527	Runoff, precipitation	Changtang Plateau	Huang et al. (2012)
Dagze Co	4461	Glacier melting, precipitation	Changtang Plateau	Qiao et al. (2010); Song et al. (2013)
Geren Co	4650	Runoff, precipitation	Gangdise Mountains	Huang et al. (2012)
Angzi Co	4683	Runoff, precipitation	Changtang Plateau	Huang et al. (2012); Song et al. (2013)
Bamu Co	4555	Runoff, precipitation	Tanggula Mountains	Huang et al. (2012)
Peng Co	4522	Runoff, precipitation	Tanggula Mountains	Huang et al. (2012)
Margai CaKa Lake	4785	Precipitation, glacier melting	Changtang Plateau	Li and Sheng (2013)
Meima Co	4920	Glacier melting	Changtang Plateau	Li and Sheng (2013)
Ngangla Ringco Lake	4715	Glacier melting, precipitation	Gangdise Mountains	Shao et al. (2007); Zhang et al. (2014b); Song et al. (2013)
Puma Yum Co	5030	Runoff, glacier melting	Himalayan Mountains	Niu et al. (2008); Liao et al. (2013); Song et al. (2013); Zhang et al. (2014b)
Bangong Co	4242	Runoff, glacier melting	Kunlun Mountains	Shao et al. (2007); Song et al. (2013)
Peiku Co	4590	Runoff, precipitation	Himalayan Mountains	Liao et al. (2013); Zhang et al. (2014b)
Gozha Co	5080	Glacier melting	Changtang Plateau	Liao et al. (2013)
Tarong Co	4566	Precipitation, glacier melting	Himalayan Mountains	Zhang et al. (2014b)

Table 1

Table 2

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Table 3

Variations in water levels of alpine lakes on the Tibetan Plateau (m)"

Sources	Wang et al., 2013			Zhang et al., 2011b			Song et al., 2013
Name	2003	2009	Change	2003	2009	Change	2003	2009	Change
Yagen Co	4871.01	4871.66	0.65
Ayakekum Lake	3833.458	3834.797	1.339	3878.89	3880.49	1.6	3878.89	3880.49	1.6
Siling Co	4539.37	4543.76	4.39	4539.41	4543.74	4.33	4539.37	4543.76	4.39
Zige Tang Co	4567.83	4569.74	1.91	4567.87	4569.64	1.77	4533.811	4535.675	1.864
Nam Co	4690.71	4691.816	1.106	4723.38	4725.43	2.05	4722.74	4725.5	2.76
Aksai Chin Lake	4824.511	4826.738	2.227
Dorsoidong Co	4932.96	4934.99	2.03	4932.96	4934.99	2.03
Meima Co	4894.563	4897.509	2.946
Chibuzhang Co	4897.243	4898.635	1.392
Angzi Co	4656.866	4658.989	2.123	4686.8	4688.78	1.98	4686.37	4689.24	2.87
Puma Yum Co	4983.02	4982.482	-0.538	5011.28	5010.77	-0.51	5010.3	5011.25	0.95
Har Lake	4031.418	4032.069	0.651	4076.97	4077.68	0.71	4076.75	4077.68	0.93
Xijin Ulan Lake	4732.163	4733.921	1.758	4771.89	4773.69	1.8	4771.71	4773.69	1.98
Ulan Ul Lake	4817.656	4819.054	1.398				4855.92	4858.21	2.29
Dogai Coring Lake	4781.508	4782.68	1.172	4819.1	4819.95	0.85	4818.64	4820.18	1.54
Hoh Xil Lake	4846.519	4847.82	1.301	4887.13	4888.36	1.23	4886.93	4889	2.07
Tangra Yum Co	4506.757	4508.091	1.334	4536.68	4537.46	0.78	4566.78	4568.82	2.04
Zhari Nam Co	4582.81	4583.666	0.856	4612.38	4614.57	2.19	4612.72	4614.51	1.79
Tarong Co	4538.862	4540.081	1.219	4567.37	4568.58	1.21	4566.78	4568.82	2.04
Mapam Yum Co	4563.032	4562.781	-0.251	4586.35	4586.76	0.41	4585.95	4587.1	1.15
Bangong Co	4219.819	4220.274	0.455
Qinghai Lake	3149.412	3149.951	0.539	3193.35	3194.02	0.67	3193.06	3194.1	1.04
Ngangla Ringco Lake	4688.559	4688.9	0.341	4716.39	4716.69	0.3	4715.48	4716.79	1.31
Geren Co	4664.91	4665.18	0.27
Peiku Co	4553.01	4552.049	-0.961	4578.61	4578.61
Yamzhog Yumco Lake	4411.003	4408.481	-2.522	4441.53	4438.85	-2.68	4438.94	4442.37	3.43

Table 3

Figure 11

Figure 12

Table 4

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82	Zhang H, Lu A, Wang Let al., 2011c. Glacier change in the Shulenan Mountain monitored by remote sensing.Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 33(1): 8-12.
83	Zhang X, Ren Y, Yin Zet al., 2009. Spatial and temporal variation patterns of reference evapotranspiration across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during 1971-2004.Journal of Geophysical Research, 114: D15105.
84	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) doi: 10.11821/dlxb201407011
85	Zhang Y, Liu C, Tang Yet al., 2007. Trends in pan evaporation and reference and actual evapotranspiration across the Tibetan Plateau.Journal of Geophysical Research, 112, D12110. doi: 10.1029/2006JD008161
86	Zhao Y.2014. Dynamic variations of glaciers-lake in YamzhoYumco Basin of Tibet.Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 28(8): 88-93. (in Chinese)
87	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)

Regions	Lakes
Himalayan Mountain region	Ngangla Ringco Lake, Lhanag-tso Lake, Mapam Yum Co
Himalayan Mountain region	Yamzhog Yumco Lake, Puma Yum Co, Cuona Lake, Peiku Co, Tarong Co
Karakoram Mountain region	Bangong Co
Changtang Plateau	Nam Co, Siling Co, Tangra Yum Co, Zhari Nam Co, Angzi Co, Geren Co, Yagen Co, Co’e Lake, Dagze Co, Bamu Co, Peng Co, Zige Tang Co, Bange Co, Dorsoidong Co, Chibuzhang Co, Ulan Ul Lake, Xijin Ulan Lake, Dogai Coring Lake, Margai CaKa Lake, Meima Co, Gozha Co, Aksai Chin Lake
Kunlun Mountain region	Ayakekum Lake
Qaidam Basin	Qinghai Lake
Qilian Mountain region	Har Lake

Mts (Plateau)	The First Chinese Glacier Inventory			The Second Chinese Glacier Inventory
Mts (Plateau)	Number	Area	Storage	Number	Area	Storage
Karakoram Mountains	3454	6231	868	5316	5988.67	592.86
Kunlun Mountains	7694	12266	1283	8922	11524.13	1106.34
Altun Mountains	235	275	16	466	295.11	15.36
Qilian Mountains	2815	1931	93	2683	1597.81	84.48
Changtang Plateau	958	1802	162	1162	1917.74	157.29
Tanggula Mountains	1530	2213	184	1595	1843.91	140.34
Gangdise Mountains	3538	1766	81	3703	1296.33	56.62
Nyainqêntanglha Mountains	7080	10701	1001	6860	9559.2	835.3
Himalayan Mountains	6475	8412	709	6027	6820.98	522.16
Sources	Liu et al., 2000			Liu et al., 2015

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