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Updated: Oct 15, 2025

Investigating the Relationship between Sea Surface Chlorophyll and Major Features of the South China Sea with Satellite Information
Published on: June 13, 2020
Changes in China's lakes: climate and human impacts.
Shengli Tao1, Jingyun Fang1,2, Suhui Ma1
1Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
China
Area of Science:
- Hydrology
- Environmental Science
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- Lakes are vital for China's water resources and ecosystem services.
- Rapid climate change and economic development are altering China's lakes.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for water resource management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in China's lake area over 30 years (mid-1980s to 2015).
- To identify the driving forces behind observed lake dynamics.
- To assess the implications for regional water resource balance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Landsat satellite imagery across China.
- Statistical analysis to correlate lake changes with climatic and human factors.
- Regional comparison of lake area trends.
Main Results:
- Significant lake area increase in the Tibetan Plateau (21.3%).
- Substantial lake area decrease in northern and eastern regions (8.2%), notably in Mongolia-Xinjiang Plateau and Eastern Plain.
- Climate primarily drives changes in Tibetan Plateau, Yun-Gui Plateau, and Northeast Plain.
- Human activities significantly impact lakes in Eastern Plain and Mongolia-Xinjiang Plateau.
Conclusions:
- Lake dynamics in China show divergent regional trends.
- Climate change and human activities are key drivers, with varying regional importance.
- Future lake changes may worsen water resource imbalances and crisis risks.
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