Spatial and Temporal Changes of Wetlands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from the 1970s to 2010s |
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| Authors: | Zhenshan Xue Xianguo Lyu Zhike Chen Zhongsheng Zhang Ming Jiang Kun Zhang Yonglei Lyu |
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| Institution: | 1.Research Center of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Changchun,China;2.Heilongjiang Agricultural Reclamation Survey Design and Research Institute,Harbin,China;3.Jilin Provincial Joint Key Laboratory of Changbai Mountain Wetland and Ecology,Changchun,China;4.Department of Environmental Science and Engineering,Southwest Forestry College,Kunming,China;5.Institute of Tibetan Forestry Survey and Planning,Forestry Department of Tibet,Lhasa,China |
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| Abstract: | Wetlands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) perform a dazzling array of vital ecological functions and are one of the most fragile ecosystems in the world. Timely and accurate information describing wetland resources and their changes over time is becoming more important in their protection and conservation. By using remote sensing data, this study intended to investigate spatial distribution and temporal variations of wetlands on the QTP at different watershed scales from 1970s to 2010s. Results show that wetlands on the QTP have undergone widespread degradation from 1970s to 2010s, with nearly 6.4% of their area being lost. Areas of freshwater marsh, salt marsh and wet meadow declined by 46.6%, 53.9% and 15.6%, respectively, while lake area increased by 14.6%. The most extensive losses of natural wetlands have occurred in endorheic basins, such as in the Kunlun-Altun-Qilian Drainage Basin and Qiangtang Basin, which shrank by 44.5% and 33.1%, respectively. A pronounced increase in temperature tends to facilitate the evaporation process and reduce water availability for wetlands. One-third of the wetlands on the QTP are under threat of being submerged due to lakes rising in recent years. More research is needed to gain insight into the interaction mechanisms behind observed variations and potential impacts from further warming in the future. |
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