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Mapping global lake dynamics reveals the emerging roles of small lakes

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Listed:
  • Xuehui Pi

    (Southern University of Science and Technology
    The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong)

  • Qiuqi Luo

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Lian Feng

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Yang Xu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology
    University of Copenhagen)

  • Jing Tang

    (University of Copenhagen
    Lund University)

  • Xiuyu Liang

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Enze Ma

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Ran Cheng

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Rasmus Fensholt

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Martin Brandt

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Xiaobin Cai

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Luke Gibson

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Junguo Liu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology
    North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power)

  • Chunmiao Zheng

    (Southern University of Science and Technology
    EIT Institute for Advanced Study)

  • Weifeng Li

    (The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong)

  • Brett A. Bryan

    (Deakin University)

Abstract

Lakes are important natural resources and carbon gas emitters and are undergoing rapid changes worldwide in response to climate change and human activities. A detailed global characterization of lakes and their long-term dynamics does not exist, which is however crucial for evaluating the associated impacts on water availability and carbon emissions. Here, we map 3.4 million lakes on a global scale, including their explicit maximum extents and probability-weighted area changes over the past four decades. From the beginning period (1984–1999) to the end (2010–2019), the lake area increased across all six continents analyzed, with a net change of +46,278 km2, and 56% of the expansion was attributed to reservoirs. Interestingly, although small lakes (

Suggested Citation

  • Xuehui Pi & Qiuqi Luo & Lian Feng & Yang Xu & Jing Tang & Xiuyu Liang & Enze Ma & Ran Cheng & Rasmus Fensholt & Martin Brandt & Xiaobin Cai & Luke Gibson & Junguo Liu & Chunmiao Zheng & Weifeng Li & B, 2022. "Mapping global lake dynamics reveals the emerging roles of small lakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-33239-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33239-3
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    2. Wangzheng Shen & Liang Zhang & Emily A. Ury & Sisi Li & Biqing Xia & Nandita B. Basu, 2025. "Restoring small water bodies to improve lake and river water quality in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Xia, Zilong & Li, Yingjie & Guo, Shanchuan & Chen, Ruishan & Zhang, Wei & Zhang, Peng & Du, Peijun, 2023. "Mapping global water-surface photovoltaics with satellite images," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    4. R. Iestyn Woolway & Yan Tong & Lian Feng & Gang Zhao & Dieu Anh Dinh & Haoran Shi & Yunlin Zhang & Kun Shi, 2024. "Multivariate extremes in lakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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