Potential forcing mechanisms of Holocene lake-level changes at Nam Co, Tibetan Plateau: Inferred from the stable isotopic composition of shells of the gastropod Radix

The Holocene ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 594-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Chen ◽  
Jin-Liang Feng ◽  
Hai-Ping Hu ◽  
Ji-Feng Zhang ◽  
Shao-Peng Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Lake Level ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Causal Mechanism ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
The South ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Nam Co ◽  
Lake Level Changes ◽  
South Central

The timing of lake-level fluctuations on the Tibetan Plateau and their relationship with climatic changes is still under debate, and the main reason for this is the lack of suitable archives for reconstructing the paleohydrology and paleoclimatology of the lakes. Here, we present the results of analyses of the shell geochemistry of Radix sp. from an exposed terrace of Nam Co lake on the south-central Tibetan Plateau. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating reveals that deep-water lacustrine sediments formed between ca. 4.4 and 2.2 ka, suggesting a high and stable lake level significantly above the present. The results of Sr/Ca, δ13C and δ18O analyses of the fossil shells of Radix sp. indicate that during the mid- to late-Holocene, lake-level variations in Nam Co were mainly controlled by variations in the Indian Summer Monsoon. A trend of decreasing evaporation also played an important role. Comparison with other results suggests a consistent pattern of mid- to late-Holocene lake-level changes across a large area of the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent regions to the south, which had a similar causal mechanism. Finally, our results indicate that fossil shells of the gastropod Radix sp. of the lakes on the Tibetan Plateau are a valuable archive for reconstructing the regional paleohydrology and paleoclimatology.

scholarly journals What are the key drivers of regional differences in the water balance on the Tibetan Plateau?

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 4271-4314 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Biskop ◽  
F. Maussion ◽  
P. Krause ◽  
M. Fink
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Hydrological Modeling ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Nam Co ◽  
Water Balance Components ◽  
South Central ◽  
Lake Basins

Abstract. Lake-level fluctuations in closed basins on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) indicate climate-induced changes in the regional water balance. However, little is known about the region's key hydrological parameters, hampering the interpretation of these changes. The purpose of this study is to contribute to a more quantitative understanding of these controls. Four lakes in the south-central part of the TP were selected to analyze the spatiotemporal variations of water-balance components: Nam Co and Tangra Yumco (indicating increasing water levels), and Mapam Yumco and Paiku Co (indicating stable or slightly decreasing water levels). We present the results of an integrated approach combining hydrological modeling, atmospheric-model output and remote-sensing data. The hydrological model J2000g was adapted and extended according to the specific characteristics of closed lake basins on the TP and driven with "High Asia Refined analysis (HAR)" data at 10 km resolution for the period 2001–2010. Our results reveal that because of the small portion of glacier areas (1 to 7% of the total basin area) the contribution of glacier melt water accounts for only 14–30% of total runoff during the study period. Precipitation is found to be the principal factor controlling the water-balance in the four studied basins. The positive water balance in the Nam Co and Tangra Yumco basins was primarily related to larger precipitation amounts and thus higher runoff rates in comparison with the Paiku Co and Mapam Yumco basins. This study highlights the benefits of combining atmospheric and hydrological modeling. The presented approach can be readily transferred to other ungauged lake basins on the TP, opening new directions of research. Future work should go towards increasing the atmospheric model's spatial resolution and a better assessment of the model-chain uncertainties, especially in this region where observational data is missing.

Long-Term Changes of Lake Level and Water Budget in the Nam Co Lake Basin, Central Tibetan Plateau

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 1312-1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanhong Wu ◽  
Hongxing Zheng ◽  
Bing Zhang ◽  
Dongmei Chen ◽  
Liping Lei
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Water Budget ◽  
Lake Level ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Nam Co ◽  
Long Term Changes ◽  
Nam Co Lake

Abstract Long-term changes in the water budget of lakes in the Tibetan Plateau due to climate change are of great interest not only for the importance of water management, but also for the critical challenge due to the lack of observations. In this paper, the water budget of Nam Co Lake during 1980–2010 is simulated using a dynamical monthly water balance model. The simulated lake level is in good agreement with field investigations and the remotely sensed lake level. The long-term hydrological simulation shows that from 1980 to 2010, lake level rose from 4718.34 to 4724.93 m, accompanied by an increase of lake water storage volume from 77.33 × 109 to 83.66 × 109 m3. For the net lake level rise (5.93 m) during the period 1980–2010, the proportional contributions of rainfall–runoff, glacier melt, precipitation on the lake, lake percolation, and evaporation are 104.7%, 56.6%, 41.7%, −22.2%, and −80.9%, respectively. A positive but diminishing annual water surplus is found in Nam Co Lake, implying a continuous but slowing rise in lake level as a hydrological consequence of climate change.

Monitoring lake level changes on the Tibetan Plateau using ICESat altimetry data (2003–2009)

2011 ◽  
Vol 115 (7) ◽  
pp. 1733-1742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoqing Zhang ◽  
Hongjie Xie ◽  
Shichang Kang ◽  
Donghui Yi ◽  
Stephen F. Ackley
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Lake Level ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Altimetry Data ◽  
Lake Level Changes

scholarly journals Lake level changes in the Tibetan Plateau from Cryosat-2, SARAL, ICESat, and Jason-2 altimeters

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheinway Hwang ◽  
Yung-Sheng Cheng ◽  
Wan-Hsin Yang ◽  
Guoqing Zhang ◽  
Yong-Ruei Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Lake Level ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Lake Level Changes

scholarly journals Hydrological system analysis and modelling of the Nam Co basin in Tibet

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 29-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Krause ◽  
S. Biskop ◽  
J. Helmschrot ◽  
W.-A. Flügel ◽  
S. Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Lake Level ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Nam Co ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
Hydrological System ◽  
Nam Co Basin ◽  
Snow And Ice Melt

Abstract. The Tibetan Plateau and the adjacent high mountain regions of the Himalayas play an important role in the global climate dynamic through its impact on the Asian monsoon system, which in turn is impacting the water resources of this extremely vulnerable region. To provide further knowledge about the changing impact of rainfall patterns, spatial and temporal variability of snow cover contribution, amount of snow and ice melt runoff, evapotranspiration as well as dynamics of wetlands and permafrost water balance studies are required. This is of particular importance in terms of global climate change because of a severe gap in the knowledge of the short, mid and long term implications on the hydrological system. This study concentrates on the macroscale catchment of the lake Nam Co, located at 4718 m a.s.l. at the foot of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains in central Tibet (30° N, 90° E). The water balance of the Nam Co basin is dominated by semi-arid climate, snow and ice melt runoff and high evaporation rates due to the high radiation input and the low air humidity. The observed temperature rise, glacier retreat, permafrost decay and lake level increase indicate significant system changes and the high sensitivity of the Tibetan Plateau on global warming. The development of a suitable water balance model and its preliminary application was the main objective of this study. The development was done with the Jena Adaptable Modelling System JAMS along with existing scientific process components of the J2000 module library which were partly further developed to reflect the specific conditions of the high elevation Nam Co basin. The preliminary modelling exercise based on gridded data from a downscaled ECHAM5 data set provided reasonable estimates about the important hydrological water balance components of the Nam Co basin. With the modelling results the observed lake level rise could be reproduced and it could be shown that the runoff from the glaciered areas seems to be the most important component to explain the increasing amount of lake water.

scholarly journals Delineation of a Quaternary Aquifer Using Integrated Hydrogeological and Geophysical Estimation of Hydraulic Conductivity on the Tibetan Plateau, China

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1412
Author(s):  
Tuong Vi Tran ◽  
Johannes Buckel ◽  
Philipp Maurischat ◽  
Handuo Tang ◽  
Zhengliang Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Grain Size Analysis ◽  
Size Analysis ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Nam Co ◽  
Field Methods ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
South Central

Groundwater is the most unexplored element of the hydrologic cycle on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) due to harsh climate conditions. This study aims at delineating and characterizing the unexplored Zhanongtang–Ganmanong aquifer, situated in the Zhagu subcatchment of the Nam Co catchment, south-central TP. Multiple hydrogeophysical and lithological in situ field and laboratory methods are applied: depth-to-water-table measurements, grain size analysis, hydraulic empirical and field methods to estimate hydraulic conductivity (K), and analysis of electrical resistivity tomography profiles. Integration of these methods revealed the existence of a Quaternary hydrostratigraphic unit that was found to be unconsolidated, laterally heterogeneous and homogeneous over depth. The results revealed consistent K ranges of three K zones, which is in accordance with local lithology. The K ranges are applicable to other locations within the Nam Co catchment with similar lithology as in the study area without further field experiments. Permafrost was found to be absent in the study area ranging from 4730 m a.s.l. to 5200 m a.s.l. altitude. These results provide insight into the hydrogeological conditions of the TP and are useful for conceptual and numerical groundwater flow modeling to predict future changes of water fluxes and water budgets caused by climatic change, especially in remote areas.

Extreme Lake Level Changes on the Tibetan Plateau Associated With the 2015/2016 El Niño

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 5889-5898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanbin Lei ◽  
Yali Zhu ◽  
Bin Wang ◽  
Tandong Yao ◽  
Kun Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
El Niño ◽  
Lake Level ◽  
El Nino ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Lake Level Changes
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