Enhanced understanding of hydrological connectivity among lakes on the Qiangtang Plateau

Accurate catchment delineation and lake connectivity assessment are crucial for understanding hydrological conditions and managing water resources. However, the accuracy and timeliness of Digital Elevation Models (DEM) constrain existing catchment datasets. Temporal mismatches between DEM acquisitio...

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Main Authors: Yunmei Li, Chang Huang, Ninglian Wang, Yun Chen, Shiqiang Zhang, Hongtao Duan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:International Journal of Digital Earth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2450845
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author Yunmei Li
Chang Huang
Ninglian Wang
Yun Chen
Shiqiang Zhang
Hongtao Duan
author_facet Yunmei Li
Chang Huang
Ninglian Wang
Yun Chen
Shiqiang Zhang
Hongtao Duan
author_sort Yunmei Li
collection DOAJ
description Accurate catchment delineation and lake connectivity assessment are crucial for understanding hydrological conditions and managing water resources. However, the accuracy and timeliness of Digital Elevation Models (DEM) constrain existing catchment datasets. Temporal mismatches between DEM acquisition and lake datasets further undermine the reliability of analyses. By employing the Forest And Buildings removed Copernicus DEM (FABDEM) and a 2015 lake dataset, this study has updated the delineations of 798 lake catchments on the Qiangtang Plateau. From these lake catchments, 434 whole catchments are identified based on inter-lake connectivity, with 144 encompassing multiple lakes. The multi-lake whole catchments are further categorized into three types: 89 single-linkage, 30 dendritic, and 25 convergent based on the cascading structures of them using graph theory. This provides a refined understanding of the hierarchical organization within the lake networks. Furthermore, projected reductions to 408 whole catchments by 2030 and 391 by 2050 due to global warming underscore the dynamic impacts of climate change on lake connectivity. This research is crucial for understanding lake system hydrodynamics, enhancing water quality, flood control, and resource management, and for developing strategies and models to mitigate climate change impacts.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1753-8947
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language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
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series International Journal of Digital Earth
spelling doaj-art-b5a201eb9a06428e983f7d599e9de6122025-01-17T02:27:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Digital Earth1753-89471753-89552025-12-0118110.1080/17538947.2025.2450845Enhanced understanding of hydrological connectivity among lakes on the Qiangtang PlateauYunmei Li0Chang Huang1Ninglian Wang2Yun Chen3Shiqiang Zhang4Hongtao Duan5Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Northwest University, Xi'an, People’s Republic of ChinaEngineering Technology Research Center of Resources Environment and Geographic Information System of Anhui Province, School of Geography and Tourism, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, People’s Republic of ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Northwest University, Xi'an, People’s Republic of ChinaCSIRO Environment, Canberra, AustraliaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Northwest University, Xi'an, People’s Republic of ChinaInstitute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, People’s Republic of ChinaAccurate catchment delineation and lake connectivity assessment are crucial for understanding hydrological conditions and managing water resources. However, the accuracy and timeliness of Digital Elevation Models (DEM) constrain existing catchment datasets. Temporal mismatches between DEM acquisition and lake datasets further undermine the reliability of analyses. By employing the Forest And Buildings removed Copernicus DEM (FABDEM) and a 2015 lake dataset, this study has updated the delineations of 798 lake catchments on the Qiangtang Plateau. From these lake catchments, 434 whole catchments are identified based on inter-lake connectivity, with 144 encompassing multiple lakes. The multi-lake whole catchments are further categorized into three types: 89 single-linkage, 30 dendritic, and 25 convergent based on the cascading structures of them using graph theory. This provides a refined understanding of the hierarchical organization within the lake networks. Furthermore, projected reductions to 408 whole catchments by 2030 and 391 by 2050 due to global warming underscore the dynamic impacts of climate change on lake connectivity. This research is crucial for understanding lake system hydrodynamics, enhancing water quality, flood control, and resource management, and for developing strategies and models to mitigate climate change impacts.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2450845Lake catchmentLake connectivityFABDEMQiangtang Plateau
spellingShingle Yunmei Li
Chang Huang
Ninglian Wang
Yun Chen
Shiqiang Zhang
Hongtao Duan
Enhanced understanding of hydrological connectivity among lakes on the Qiangtang Plateau
International Journal of Digital Earth
Lake catchment
Lake connectivity
FABDEM
Qiangtang Plateau
title Enhanced understanding of hydrological connectivity among lakes on the Qiangtang Plateau
title_full Enhanced understanding of hydrological connectivity among lakes on the Qiangtang Plateau
title_fullStr Enhanced understanding of hydrological connectivity among lakes on the Qiangtang Plateau
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced understanding of hydrological connectivity among lakes on the Qiangtang Plateau
title_short Enhanced understanding of hydrological connectivity among lakes on the Qiangtang Plateau
title_sort enhanced understanding of hydrological connectivity among lakes on the qiangtang plateau
topic Lake catchment
Lake connectivity
FABDEM
Qiangtang Plateau
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2450845
work_keys_str_mv AT yunmeili enhancedunderstandingofhydrologicalconnectivityamonglakesontheqiangtangplateau
AT changhuang enhancedunderstandingofhydrologicalconnectivityamonglakesontheqiangtangplateau
AT ninglianwang enhancedunderstandingofhydrologicalconnectivityamonglakesontheqiangtangplateau
AT yunchen enhancedunderstandingofhydrologicalconnectivityamonglakesontheqiangtangplateau
AT shiqiangzhang enhancedunderstandingofhydrologicalconnectivityamonglakesontheqiangtangplateau
AT hongtaoduan enhancedunderstandingofhydrologicalconnectivityamonglakesontheqiangtangplateau