Chinese and Mongolian saline lakes: a limnological overview

Williams, W. D.

doi:10.1007/bf00014322

Cited by 103 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(69 reference statements)

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“…Emergent Carex spp., typical in lakes with low salinities, are also found at Nam Co. Bacillariophyta are common in the Nam Co phytoplankton (Williams 1991).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 88%

A multi-proxy approach to reconstruct hydrological changes and Holocene climate development of Nam Co, Central Tibet

et al. 2009

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Holocene lake level fluctuations were reconstructed from a 2.7-m sediment core from Nam Co, Central Tibet, China dating to [7.2 cal ka BP. Results were compared to existing lake records from the Tibetan Plateau to infer variations in the strength of the Asian Monsoon. Geomorphological features in the Nam Co catchment, such as beach ridges and lake terraces, indicate high lake stands during the late Glacial. A major low stand is suggested for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Sands and sandy silts at the base of the core are transgressive facies, with material transported by melt water and deposited under rising lake level conditions that followed the LGM low stand. Variations in grain size, major elements, biomarker stable isotopes and minerals in the core suggest a climate evolution reflected in at least five depositional units and subunits. Sediments in Unit I (*7.2 to *5.4 cal ka BP) were deposited at highest lake levels. Large amounts of allogenic minerals and allochthonous organic matter suggest high precipitation and melt water input, implying positive water balance. Increasing aquatic productivity points to favourable environmental conditions. Unit II (*5.4 to *4.0 cal ka BP) marks a transition between favourable, stable hydrological conditions and lake level decrease. Lower lake levels were a consequence of drier climate with less monsoonal precipitation, higher evaporation rates, and increased moisture recycling in the catchment. Unit III (*4.0 to *1.4 cal ka BP) reflects the driest periods recorded, at *3.7 cal ka BP and 1.6 cal ka BP. Lake shrinkage and salinization was interrupted as suggested by the deposition of Unit IV (*1.4 to *0.8 cal ka BP), when increased precipitation and runoff that might be related to the Medieval Warm Period, led to a stable, but still low lake level. Unit V (800 cal years BPpresent) is characterized by progressive lake shrinkage due to intense evaporation. Paleolimnol (2010) 43:625-648 DOI 10.1007 data indicate the lake level is rising. Comparison of the Nam Co record with other lake records from the Tibetan Plateau suggests general agreement with the broader picture of Holocene environmental evolution. The timing of dry and wet climate conditions at lake sites across Tibet indicates a gradually decreasing influence of the southern monsoon during the Holocene, from NW to SE. Nevertheless, further research is needed to improve our understanding of Holocene spatio-temporal hydrological variations across the Asian continent.

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“…Emergent Carex spp., typical in lakes with low salinities, are also found at Nam Co. Bacillariophyta are common in the Nam Co phytoplankton (Williams 1991).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 88%

A multi-proxy approach to reconstruct hydrological changes and Holocene climate development of Nam Co, Central Tibet

et al. 2009

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“…Although physical and chemical properties of some larger saline lakes have been measured (i.e., Lakes Tonkhil, Khulma, Duruu, Ikhes and Taigam [3,5], morphometric characteristics and environmental parameters of smaller lakes remain unknown [1,2]. All 14 studied lakes were extremely shallow (water depth the valley of Great Lakes to the north, and the Gobi Desertto the south.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In general, lakes in arid regions of the Gobi Desert had higher salinity than lakes in steppe and mountain areas (Figure 1). High-salinity lakes in Gobi regions result primarily from high evaporation rate (~1000 mm annually) and uptake of salts from high soil salinization [1,2].…”

Section: Analysis Of Physical and Chemical Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although water salinity may affect pH, salt composition is also critical. The pH is regularly high in Mongolian lakes because the main salts are sulphate and chloride type, which have alkaline properties [1]. In all lakes, oxidation reduction potential (O.R.P) varied among salinity levels ( [17][18][19].…”

Section: Analysis Of Physical and Chemical Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mongolia is abundant in hypersaline or extremely oligotrophic environments [1] Western Mongolia is mainly composed of Gobi Desert, steppe, and high mountains. Based on the official record, there are > 3500 salt lakes and an enormous area of salt lands located in the Altai Mountain and Gobi regions in western Mongolia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physico-Chemical Composition of Saline Lakes of the Gobi Desert Region, Western Mongolia

Bayanmunkh¹,

Sen-lin²,

Narangarvuu³

et al. 2017

J Earth Sci Clim Change

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Mongolian saline lakes have been rarely studied. In particular, physicochemical composition of small shallow lakes of the Gobi Desertregion in western Mongolia is simply unknown. Objectives were to characterize chemical composition and describe biogeochemical characteristics of saline lakes in the Gobi Desertregions and steppe mountains, with an emphasis on environmental parameters associated with heavy metal ions. Major physicochemical parameters were determined in 14 lakes (with varying degrees of salinity) located in western Mongolia and associations with geographic variation and distance were determined. Vertical profiles for temperature, specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen were characterized. Salinity and pH were measured with multiparameter submersible profilers. Heavy metal ions (i.e., As, Pb, and Cd) and microelements (i.e., K, Na, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, and Co) were analyzed with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. Hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate were also determined by commercial kits for elemental analysis. Overall, 43 environmental parameters were determined from 31 water samples from various locations, representing distinct geographic features, including Gobi Desert, mountain range and steppe area. Several of these lakes had harmful concentrations of arsenate (< 0.34 mg/L). Heavy metal concentrations were correlated with selected physico-chemical variables of lake salinity and geographic specificity. We inferred that various environmental features, in addition to environmental pollution and mining activity, may be responsible for increased heavy metal concentrations in the Gobi Desert of the western Mongolia. The outcome of this study not only provided insights into lake chemistry, but should also be valuable for water resource management to mitigate potential poisoning and improve public health.

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Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Plankton Assemblage Structure in a High Altitude Saline Lake, Namuka Co in Northern Tibet, China

Zhao

Wang

et al. 2010

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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Spatial and Temporal Patterns of PlanktonAssemblage Structure in a High Altitude Saline Lake, Namuka Co in Northern Tibet, ChinaThe seasonal variations in biomass, abundance, and species composition of plankton in relation to hydrography were studied in saline lake Namuka Co, northern Tibet, China. The sampling was carried out at approximately monthly intervals from June 2001 to July 2002. The salinity ranged from 5.5 to 26 g/L. The mean annual air and water temperature showed a clear seasonal pattern, which was approximately 4.4 and 7.48C, respectively, with the lowest water temperature in winter (from December to March, À18C) and the highest in June and July (188C). The results showed that 36 taxa of phytoplankton and 16 taxa of zooplankton were identified. Both the biomass and abundance of total phytoplankton were lower in the winter and peaked once or twice during the summer and spring in the early August (8.23 mg/L and 158.2 Â 10 6 ind./L).The seasonal variation in total zooplankton biomass and abundance was characterized by lower values in both winter and early spring, and one maximum (90.5 mg/L and 935 ind. L À1 ) occurred in the late summer. Major phytoplankton species were Gloeothece linearis, Oscillatoria tenuis, Gloeocapsa punctata, Ctenocladus circinnatus, Ulothrix sp., and Spirogyra sp. And major zooplankton species included Vorticella campanula, Brachionus plicatilis, Daphniopsis tibetana, Cletocamptus dertersi, Arctodiaptomus stewartianus. The production of D. tibetana was 420.3 g m 3 a À1 . The total number of plankton species has a significant negative correlation with the salinity.

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Chinese and Mongolian saline lakes: a limnological overview

Cited by 103 publications

References 35 publications

A multi-proxy approach to reconstruct hydrological changes and Holocene climate development of Nam Co, Central Tibet

A multi-proxy approach to reconstruct hydrological changes and Holocene climate development of Nam Co, Central Tibet

Physico-Chemical Composition of Saline Lakes of the Gobi Desert Region, Western Mongolia

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Plankton Assemblage Structure in a High Altitude Saline Lake, Namuka Co in Northern Tibet, China

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