The Temporal and Spatial Variations in Lake Surface Areas in Xinjiang, China

Abstract

In arid areas, lakes play important roles in sustaining the local ecology, mitigating flood hazard, and restricting economic activity of society. In this study, we used multi-temporal satellite data to study annual variations in 16 natural lakes with individual surface areas over 10 km 2 , categorized into six regions based on their geographical and climatic information and on their relations with climate variables. Results indicated that annual variations in lake surface areas are different across these six regions. The surface area of Kanas Lake has not obviously changed due to its typical U-shape cross section; the areas of Ulungur Lake and Jili Lake increased sharply in the 1980s and then slightly decreased; the areas of Sayram Lake, Ebinur Lake, and Bosten Lake increased and then decreased, with peaks detected in the early 2000s; the areas of Barkol Lake and Toale Culler decreased, while those of the lakes located in the Kunlun Mountains steadily increased. Lake areas also show various relationships with climate variables. There is no obvious relationship between area and climate variables in Kanas Lake due to the specific lake morphology; the areas of most lakes showed positive correlations with annual precipitation (except Sayram Lake). A negative correlation between area and temperature were detected in Ulungur Lake, Jili Lake, Barkol Lake, and Toale Culler, while positive correlations were suggested in Bosten Lake and the lakes in the Kunlun Mountains (e.g., Saligil Kollakan Lake, Aksai Chin Lake, and Urukkule Lake).

Moisture Changes in the Northern Xinjiang Basin Over the Past 2400 years as Documented in Pollen Records of Jili Lake

“…Jili Lake receives water mainly from the Ulungur River from the Altai Mountains to the north, and it outflows to Ulungur Lake (Figures 1B,C). In 2015, the lake covered a surface area of c. 170 km 2 , and had an average depth of c. 10 m (Wang and Dou, 1998;Liu et al, 2018).…”

Recent Lake Area Changes in Central Asia

“…Precipitation and temperature in Ayakkum Lake, Aqikkol Lake, Arkatag Lake and Sai-limu Lake basins also showed an upward trend 33 . According to the findings of a recent study, Alakol and Issyk-kul lakes were either stable or expanding in area due to rising temperatures in the nearby mountain region 34 .…”

Ecology of Saline Watersheds: An Investigation of the Functional Communities and Drivers of Benthic Fauna in Typical Water Bodies of the Irtysh River Basin

“…The Altai region features a diverse geographic environment, including mountains, gorges, plateaus, grasslands, and deserts [22]. Despite its rich water resources, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands, the Altai region has been increasingly affected by climate change and human activities, leading to the salinization of soils and water [23,24]. Due to their complex geographic environment and precipitation patterns, lakes in these regions exhibit significant variations in salinity [25,26].…”