Evolution of the lake area and its drivers during 1990–2021 in Inner Mongolia

Lakes are important water resources and a part of the hydrological ecosystem. They are sensitive to climate change and human activities, especially in arid and semiarid areas. In this study, Landsat satellite images were used to study lake area changes, and groundwater in Inner Mongolia from 1990 to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental earth sciences 2024-07, Vol.83 (13), p.414, Article 414
Main Authors: Feng, Shuzhen, Zheng, Shiyu, Guan, Weijin, Han, Liwen, Wang, Shuang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aridity
Biogeosciences
Climate and human activity
Climate change
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Environmental management
Environmental protection
Environmental Science and Engineering
Geochemistry
Geology
Groundwater
Groundwater recharge
Hydrology/Water Resources
Lake water
Lakes
Landsat
Landsat satellites
Original Article
Precipitation
Recharge
Remote sensing
Resource management
River water
Rivers
Satellite imagery
Semi arid areas
Terrestrial Pollution
Water balance
Water resources
Water resources management
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Summary:Lakes are important water resources and a part of the hydrological ecosystem. They are sensitive to climate change and human activities, especially in arid and semiarid areas. In this study, Landsat satellite images were used to study lake area changes, and groundwater in Inner Mongolia from 1990 to 2021 was analysed. The causes of lake area changes were also quantified in terms of climate change, human activities, and groundwater variations. The results showed that although there were differences in the trends of different lakes, the overall lake area exhibited a decreasing trend, and groundwater change was the main factor. The water balance calculations revealed that groundwater served as the main recharge source for lakes. The recharge of lake water by groundwater should not be ignored, as well as the recharge of lake water by precipitation and river water, as determined on the basis of the hydrogen and oxygen isotopic signatures of lake water, precipitation, and groundwater. Therefore, the lake area is closely related to groundwater in Inner Mongolia. In the process of lake ecological management, the rational development and exploitation of groundwater in the region should also be considered. This study has great significance for improving decision support for ecological environmental protection and water resource management in arid and semiarid areas.
ISSN:1866-6280
1866-6299
DOI:10.1007/s12665-024-11709-9