Climate change leads to a doubling of turbidity in a rapidly expanding Tibetan lake

Mi, Huan; Fagherazzi, Sergio; Qiao, Gang; Hong, Yang; Fichot, Cédric G.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.339

Cited by 27 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…During these days, lake turbidity exhibited a strong positive correlation with the combined influence of wind-generated non-dimensional wave energy and width of flooded area, with a significant coefficient of determination ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 and median value of 0.64 (Table II). This result corroborates the result of Mi et al (2019), who suggested that the Siling Lake turbidity in winter is controlled by wind-driven resuspension of sediments along the lake's flooded area.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Alpine lakes worldwide are experiencing major variations in their physical properties and hydrology in response to climate change, including increasing water temperature, rapid water-level rise and shoreline retreat, or water-level decrease and area reduction (Lehner and Döll, 2004;Parker et al, 2008;Wang et al, 2013;Pékel et al, 2016;Mi et al, 2019). Such climate-driven changes are particularly pronounced on the Tibetan Plateau, the world's largest and highest plateau.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The total water stored in 52 endorheic lakes in Tibet increased by 100.1 ± 5.7km 3 between 2000 and 2017 (Li et al, 2019). Along with these major hydrological modifications, satellite-based observations indicate that water turbidity, a well-established optical indicator of water quality (Doxaran et al, 2014;Shi et al, 2015), has also significantly changed (Mi et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specifically, a doubling of lake-average turbidity between 2000 and 2017 was observed in Siling Lake, one of the largest and most rapidly expanding lakes on the Tibetan Plateau (Mi et al, 2019). Based on observational evidence, this significant decadal increase in turbidity has been partly attributed to wind-driven resuspension of loose sediments from recently submerged shorelines (i.e., palaeo-shorelines) associated with rapid lake expansion (Mi et al, 2019). As lake shorelines are inundated, terrestrial sediments at the shore become subject to shoreface processes, and wind waves in particular.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, we combined a wind-wave model and turbidity retrievals from high-resolution satellite-based imagery to assess whether wind waves can generate the turbidity levels observed in the nearshore waters of Siling Lake. Seasonal variability in turbidity in Siling Lake is primarily driven by the riverine influx of sediments during the warm season, and by wave-induced resuspension of sediments along the lake's shorelines in the cold season (Mi et al, 2019). This study thus focuses on the cold-season time period only (November and December), before any ice coverage appears on the lake.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rapid shoreline flooding enhances water turbidity by sediment resuspension: An example in a large Tibetan lake

Fichot

Bryan

et al. 2020

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Rapid water level rise due to climate change has the potential to remobilize loose sediments along shorelines and increase the turbidity of nearshore waters, thereby impacting water quality and aquatic ecosystem health. Siling Lake is one of the largest and most rapidly expanding lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. Between 2000 and 2017, this lake experienced an increase in water level of about 8 m and a doubling in water turbidity. Here, using this lake as a study site, we used a wave model and high‐resolution remote sensing of turbidity (Landsat‐8) to assess the potential connection between water‐level rise, enhanced wind‐driven sediment resuspension and water turbidity. Our analysis revealed that strong bottom shear stresses triggered by wind‐generated waves over newly flooded areas were related to an increase in water turbidity. The spatial variability of Siling Lake turbidity showed a strong dependence on local wind characteristics and fetch. Two factors combined to drive the increase in turbidity: (1) high wave energy leading to high bottom shear stresses, and (2) flooding of unvegetated shallow areas. Using a new relationship between wave energy and turbidity developed here, we expect the increase in turbidity of Siling Lake to taper off in the near future due to the steep landscape surrounding the lake that will prevent further flooding. Our results imply that rising water levels along the coast are not only expected to influence terrestrial ecosystems but could also change water quality. The methodology presented herein could be applied to other shorelines affected by a rapid increase in water level. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Rapid shoreline flooding enhances water turbidity by sediment resuspension: An example in a large Tibetan lake

Fichot

Bryan

et al. 2020

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Shoaling behaviour in response to turbidity in three‐spined sticklebacks

MacGregor,

Ioannou

2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Many fresh and coastal waters are becoming increasingly turbid because of human activities, which may disrupt the visually mediated behaviours of aquatic organisms. Shoaling fish typically depend on vision to maintain collective behaviour, which has a range of benefits including protection from predators, enhanced foraging efficiency and access to mates. Previous studies of the effects of turbidity on shoaling behaviour have focussed on changes to nearest neighbour distance and average group‐level behaviours. Here, we investigated whether and how experimental shoals of three‐spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in clear (<10 Nephelometric Turbidity Units [NTU]) and turbid (~35 NTU) conditions differed in five local‐level behaviours of individuals (nearest and furthest neighbour distance, heading difference with nearest neighbour, bearing angle to nearest neighbour and swimming speed). These variables are important for the emergent group‐level properties of shoaling behaviour. We found an indirect effect of turbidity on nearest neighbour distances driven by a reduction in swimming speed, and a direct effect of turbidity which increased variability in furthest neighbour distances. In contrast, the alignment and relative position of individuals was not significantly altered in turbid compared to clear conditions. Overall, our results suggest that the shoals were usually robust to adverse effects of turbidity on collective behaviour, but group cohesion was occasionally lost during periods of instability.

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Increased water temperature and turbidity act independently to alter social behavior in guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

Allibhai

Zanghi

How

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Changes in environmental conditions can shift the costs and benefits of aggregation or interfere with the sensory perception of near neighbors. This affects group cohesion with potential impacts on the benefits of collective behavior such as reduced predation risk. Organisms are rarely exposed to one stressor in isolation, yet there are only a few studies exploring the interactions between multiple stressors and their effects on social behavior. Here, we tested the effects of increased water temperature How to cite this article:

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Climate change leads to a doubling of turbidity in a rapidly expanding Tibetan lake

Cited by 27 publications

References 55 publications

Rapid shoreline flooding enhances water turbidity by sediment resuspension: An example in a large Tibetan lake

Rapid shoreline flooding enhances water turbidity by sediment resuspension: An example in a large Tibetan lake

Shoaling behaviour in response to turbidity in three‐spined sticklebacks

Increased water temperature and turbidity act independently to alter social behavior in guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

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