Active water management brings possibility restoration to degraded lakes in dryland regions: a case study of Lop Nur, China
Abstract Protecting and restoring the degraded arid lakes are globally urgent issues. We document a potential recovery of the dried salt-lake, Lop Nur called "the Sea of Death" which is located at the terminus of the largest inland basin in China, the Tarim River Basin. The changes and rel...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23462-9 |
| _version_ | 1811223323601797120 |
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| author | Shanlong Lu Yong Wang Jinfeng Zhou Alice C. Hughes Mingyang Li Cong Du Xiaohong Yang Yutong Xiong Feng Zi Wenzhong Wang Zhaoxian Zheng Chun Fang Shunli Yu |
| author_facet | Shanlong Lu Yong Wang Jinfeng Zhou Alice C. Hughes Mingyang Li Cong Du Xiaohong Yang Yutong Xiong Feng Zi Wenzhong Wang Zhaoxian Zheng Chun Fang Shunli Yu |
| author_sort | Shanlong Lu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Protecting and restoring the degraded arid lakes are globally urgent issues. We document a potential recovery of the dried salt-lake, Lop Nur called "the Sea of Death" which is located at the terminus of the largest inland basin in China, the Tarim River Basin. The changes and relationship of surface water with climate parameters and groundwater in the basin over the last 30 years are analyzed, by using satellite remote sensing and land data assimilation products. We find that with increased surface water in the basin, the groundwater level in Lop Nur began to show an obvious positive response in 2015; and the rate of decline of the groundwater level is slowing down. We argue that after a balance is achieved between regional groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration, the Lop Nur ecosystem will gradually recover. This study shows an encouraging case for the protection and restoration of degraded lakes in dryland regions around the world. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:30:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7cfaab5dd95d4d258e00ae886467ec90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:30:53Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7cfaab5dd95d4d258e00ae886467ec902022-12-22T03:40:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-11-0112111010.1038/s41598-022-23462-9Active water management brings possibility restoration to degraded lakes in dryland regions: a case study of Lop Nur, ChinaShanlong Lu0Yong Wang1Jinfeng Zhou2Alice C. Hughes3Mingyang Li4Cong Du5Xiaohong Yang6Yutong Xiong7Feng Zi8Wenzhong Wang9Zhaoxian Zheng10Chun Fang11Shunli Yu12International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of SciencesInternational Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of SciencesChina Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development FoundationCentre for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesInternational Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of SciencesInternational Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of SciencesChina Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development FoundationChina Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development FoundationHunan University of Science and TechnologyInstitute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, CAGSInstitute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, CAGSInternational Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Protecting and restoring the degraded arid lakes are globally urgent issues. We document a potential recovery of the dried salt-lake, Lop Nur called "the Sea of Death" which is located at the terminus of the largest inland basin in China, the Tarim River Basin. The changes and relationship of surface water with climate parameters and groundwater in the basin over the last 30 years are analyzed, by using satellite remote sensing and land data assimilation products. We find that with increased surface water in the basin, the groundwater level in Lop Nur began to show an obvious positive response in 2015; and the rate of decline of the groundwater level is slowing down. We argue that after a balance is achieved between regional groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration, the Lop Nur ecosystem will gradually recover. This study shows an encouraging case for the protection and restoration of degraded lakes in dryland regions around the world.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23462-9 |
| spellingShingle | Shanlong Lu Yong Wang Jinfeng Zhou Alice C. Hughes Mingyang Li Cong Du Xiaohong Yang Yutong Xiong Feng Zi Wenzhong Wang Zhaoxian Zheng Chun Fang Shunli Yu Active water management brings possibility restoration to degraded lakes in dryland regions: a case study of Lop Nur, China Scientific Reports |
| title | Active water management brings possibility restoration to degraded lakes in dryland regions: a case study of Lop Nur, China |
| title_full | Active water management brings possibility restoration to degraded lakes in dryland regions: a case study of Lop Nur, China |
| title_fullStr | Active water management brings possibility restoration to degraded lakes in dryland regions: a case study of Lop Nur, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Active water management brings possibility restoration to degraded lakes in dryland regions: a case study of Lop Nur, China |
| title_short | Active water management brings possibility restoration to degraded lakes in dryland regions: a case study of Lop Nur, China |
| title_sort | active water management brings possibility restoration to degraded lakes in dryland regions a case study of lop nur china |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23462-9 |
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