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Lake-Level Change and Water Balance Analysis at Lake Qinghai, West China during Recent Decades

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Listed:
  • Xiao-Yan Li
  • He-Ye Xu
  • Yong-Liang Sun
  • Deng-Shan Zhang
  • Zhi-Peng Yang

Abstract

Lake Qinghai, the largest saline lake with an area of 4,260 km 2 (2000) and average depth of 21 m (1985) in West China, has experienced severe decline in water level in recent decades. This study aimed to investigate water balance of the lake and identify the causes for the decline in lake level. There was a 3.35-m decline in water level with an average decreasing rate of 8.0 cm year −1 between 1959 and 2000. The lake water balance showed that mean annual precipitation between 1959 and 2000 over the lake was 357 ± 10 mm, evaporation was 924 ± 10 mm, surface runoff water inflow was 348 ± 21 mm, groundwater inflow was 138 mm ± 9 and the change in lake level was −80 ± 31 mm. The variation of lake level was highly positively correlated to surface runoff and precipitation and negatively to evaporation, the correlation coefficients were 0.89, 0.81 and −0.66, respectively. Water consumption by human activities accounts for 1% of the evaporation loss of the lake, implying that water consumption by human activities has little effect on lake level decline. Most dramatic decline in lake level occurred in the warm and dry years, and moderate decline in the cold and dry years, and relatively slight decline in the warm and wet years, therefore, the trend of cold/warm and dry climate in recent decades may be the main reasons for the decline in lake level. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2007

Suggested Citation

  • Xiao-Yan Li & He-Ye Xu & Yong-Liang Sun & Deng-Shan Zhang & Zhi-Peng Yang, 2007. "Lake-Level Change and Water Balance Analysis at Lake Qinghai, West China during Recent Decades," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 21(9), pages 1505-1516, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:21:y:2007:i:9:p:1505-1516
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-006-9096-1
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Joseph Awange & Mohammad Sharifi & Godfrey Ogonda & Jens Wickert & Erik Grafarend & Monica Omulo, 2008. "The Falling Lake Victoria Water Level: GRACE, TRIMM and CHAMP Satellite Analysis of the Lake Basin," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 22(7), pages 775-796, July.
    2. Teerajet Chaiyason & Juckamas Laohavanich & Suphan Yangyuen & Cherdpong Chiawchanwattana & Nisanath Kaewwinud & Nirattisak Khongthon & Siwa Kaewplang & Jurawan Nontapon & Anongrit Kangrang, 2023. "Accepted Guidelines on the Potential of Water Budgets for Solving Droughts: A Case Study of Chum Saeng Sub-District, Satuek District, Buri Ram Province, Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Luminda Gunawardhana & So Kazama & Saeki Kawagoe, 2011. "Impact of Urbanization and Climate Change on Aquifer Thermal Regimes," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 25(13), pages 3247-3276, October.

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