Chlorophyll-a concentrations in 82 large alpine lakes on the Tibetan Plateau during 2003–2017: temporal–spatial variations and influencing factors
- 13 January 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in International Journal of Digital Earth
- Vol. 14 (6), 714-735
- https://doi.org/10.1080/17538947.2021.1872722
Abstract
As essential parts of the unique ecosystem of Tibetan Plateau (TP), the sizes and associated physical properties of alpine lakes have long been investigated. However, little is known about one of the most critical biogeochemical properties, i.e. the Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations. Here, for the first time, we presented a comprehensive investigation of the temporal–spatial variations in Chl-a in 82 lakes (>50 km2) across the entire TP region, based on MODIS observations in the period of 2003–2017. The results showed that the 82 lakes exhibited an average long-term mean Chl-a of 3.3 ± 4.3 mg m−3, with high Chl-a lakes concentrated in the eastern and southern inner TP basin and northeastern parts of the TP. An interannual trend analysis revealed that lakes exhibiting (significantly) decreasing Chl-a trends and (significantly) increasing Chl-a trends were comparable in numbers but differed in distribution patterns. A correlation analysis indicated that at least 70% of the interannual variability in Chl-a values of lakes was significantly correlated with one of the four environmental factors (wind speed, ice cover duration, lake water surface temperature and surface runoff) and lake size. In addition, glacier meltwater tended to reduce lake Chl-a while salinity levels showed minor influences.Keywords
Funding Information
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA20060402)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
This publication has 91 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effects of Seawater Salinity and Temperature on Growth and Pigment Contents inHypnea cervicornisJ. Agardh (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta)BioMed Research International, 2013
- Temporal and spatial variability of phytoplankton in Lake Poyang: The largest freshwater lake in ChinaJournal of Great Lakes Research, 2013
- Eco-physiological adaptations that favour freshwater cyanobacteria in a changing climateWater Research, 2012
- On downward shortwave and longwave radiations over high altitude regions: Observation and modeling in the Tibetan PlateauAgricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2010
- China: The third poleNature, 2008
- Particle Transport, Nutrient Cycling, and Algal Community Structure Associated with a Major Winter-Spring Sediment Resuspension Event in Southern Lake MichiganJournal of Great Lakes Research, 2002
- Properties of the water column and bottom derived from Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) dataJournal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 2001
- Application of Distributed Hydrological Model in the Asian Monsoon Tropic Region with a Perspective of Coupling with Atmospheric Models.Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan. Ser. II, 2001
- Ocean color chlorophyll algorithms for SeaWiFSJournal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 1998
- The use of the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) in the delineation of open water featuresInternational Journal of Remote Sensing, 1996