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Response of Two Major Lakes in the Changtang National Nature Reserve, Tibetan Plateau to Climate and Anthropogenic Changes over the Past 50 Years

Author

Listed:
  • Zhilong Zhao

    (College of Economics and Management, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
    Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Zengzeng Hu

    (Beijing Academy of Sciences and Technology, Beijing 100089, China)

  • Jun Zhou

    (College of Economics and Management, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

  • Ruliang Kan

    (College of Economics and Management, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

  • Wangjun Li

    (School of Geography Science and Geomatics Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China)

Abstract

Areal changes in alpine lakes on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are reliable indicators of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. This study used long-term Landsat images and meteorological records to monitor the temporal evolution patterns of lakes within the Changtang National Nature Reserve between 1972 and 2021 and examine the climatic and anthropogenic impacts on lake area changes. The results revealed that the area of Lake LongmuCo and Lake Jiezechaqia significantly expanded by 12.81% and 12.88% from 1972 to 2021, respectively. After 1999, Lake LongmuCo and Lake Jiezechaqia entered into a period of rapid expansion. During 1972–2021, the annual mean temperature significantly increased at a rate of 0.05 °C/a, while the change in annual precipitation was not significant. The temperature change was a major contributor to the observed changes of Lake LongmuCo and Lake Jiezechaqia between 1972 and 2021, while human intervention also played a vital role during 2013–2021. The glaciers around these two lakes decreased by 21.81%, and the increase in water supply from warming-triggered glacier melting was a reason of expansion of Lake LongmuCo and Lake Jiezechaqia. The areas of the two artificial salt lakes affiliated with Lake LongmuCo and Lake Jiezechaqia were 0.24 km 2 and 2.67 km 2 in 2013 and rose to 0.51 km 2 and 9.80 km 2 in 2021, respectively. In particular, the continuous exploitations of salt lakes to extract lithium resources have retarded the rate of expansion of Lake LongmuCo and Lake Jiezechaqia. The dams constructed by industrial enterprises have blocked the expansion of Lake LongmuCo to the south. This paper sheds new light on the influences of recent human intervention and climatic variation on alpine lakes within the TP. Due to the importance of alpine lakes in the TP, we need more comprehensive and in-depth efforts to protect the lake ecosystems within the national nature reserves.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhilong Zhao & Zengzeng Hu & Jun Zhou & Ruliang Kan & Wangjun Li, 2023. "Response of Two Major Lakes in the Changtang National Nature Reserve, Tibetan Plateau to Climate and Anthropogenic Changes over the Past 50 Years," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:267-:d:1038833
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    References listed on IDEAS

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