2025/08/12 by Weiqiang Ma, Weiyao Ma, Zhipeng Xie +15
Environmental Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies #Marine and coastal ecosystems #Flood Risk Assessment and Management
paper · doi:10.1175/bams-d-24-0294.1
Abstract Lakes on the Tibetan Plateau play a crucial role in regional hydrology and climate, yet they are highly sensitive to climate change. Despite their importance, our understanding of lake–atmosphere interactions in this region remains limited, primarily due to a lack of multiscale observations constrained by harsh environmental conditions. To address this data gap, we established a comprehensive hydrometeorological observation network across three lakes representing different climatic zones on the Tibetan Plateau. Since 2019, this network has continuously collected key datasets, including meteorological conditions, turbulent fluxes, water levels, temperature profiles, and salinity measurements. Our study suggests that these lakes significantly influence local climate by alleviating temperature fluctuations, altering wind patterns, and reducing atmospheric stability. The observational network marks a substantial step forward in capturing the lake-region climate system, improving our understanding of lake–atmosphere interactions and their impact on regional climate dynamics. Additionally, it supports the validation of models and refinement of remote sensing products. In the future, we aim to expand the integration of in situ, satellite, and model-based data to better support environmental conservation and water resource management on the Tibetan Plateau. Significance Statement We developed comprehensive hydrometeorological observation systems for three representative mesoscale lakes on the Tibetan Plateau, addressing a critical observational gap for mesoscale lakes. Although large-scale lakes in this region have been well monitored, smaller lakes (lake area < 500 km 2 ) remained largely overlooked due to harsh environmental conditions. Our systems provide detailed, continuous measurements that demonstrate how these lakes influence their surrounding environment and respond to global warming. The data significantly enhance our understanding of lake–atmosphere interactions, which are crucial for predicting weather patterns and climate dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau. The insights are essential for developing effective water resource management strategies and climate adaptation measures, delivering benefits to both scientific research and societal resilience.