Original title: Climate warming makes the lakes of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau "expand" rapidly

記者3月24日從中國科學院青藏高原研究所獲悉，通過系統量化1986—2022年青藏高原湖泊變化的物理、化學及生態回應，科研人員發現，青藏高原湖泊對氣候變暖響應顯著，主要表現在湖泊面積變大，水量增多，水溫持續升高，湖水越來越清澈、鹽度逐漸降低。相關研究成果發表於《自然·地球與環境評論》雜誌。

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is known as the "Water Tower of Asia" and is the birthplace of many major rivers in Asia. The lakes of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are one of the core water sources of the "Asian Water Tower", which is not only related to the water cycle of the plateau and its surrounding areas, but also maintains rich biodiversity, which is crucial to the ecological balance. These lakes are highly susceptible to climate and recharge changes, and when water quality changes, they can pose significant threats to water security, agricultural production and infrastructure.

In this study, through a large number of field surveys and remote sensing inversion analysis, researchers found that the scale, physical and biogeochemical characteristics of lakes on the Tibetan Plateau have changed significantly under the background of climate warming.

"Since 33, the area and volume of lakes on the Tibetan Plateau have continued to increase, and the northern lakes have expanded the fastest." Zhu Liping, the first author and corresponding author of the paper and a researcher at the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that in 0-0 years, affected by climate warming and increased precipitation, the total area of lakes above 0 square kilometers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau increased from 0 square kilometers to 0 square kilometers, and the water storage increased by about 0 million tons; The temperature of large and medium-sized lakes increased by 0.0°C, and the lakes in the southern part of the plateau warmed twice as fast as the lakes in the northern part of the plateau.

In order to cope with the challenges brought about by the changes in the lakes of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Zhu Liping suggested that the water volume changes of each lake should be accurately measured to find out the linkage between lakes and rivers. Establish a scientific water volume calculation model to predict the evolution trend of lakes after climate warming; Through field investigation, we can find the spectral characteristics that can quickly reflect the changes in water quality, and develop more accurate remote sensing monitoring technology to track water quality dynamics in real time. (Lu Chengkuan)