Temporal and Spatial Evolution of Lakes in the Bashang Plateau for Nearly Recent 30 Years

Abstract

Lakes are important ecological water sources in the Bashang Plateau. Its expansion or shrinkage directly affects the ecological security of the plateau and its surrounding areas. In this study, Landsat images from 1984 to 2015 were selected to monitor the area of lakes in the Bashang Plateau and to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution and driving forces of lakes in the Bashang Plateau. The results showed that there were 47 lakes in the Bashang Plateau in 2015, with a total area of 37.63 km2, mainly distributed in the central and western regions of the region. From 1984 to 2015, the lakes in Bashang Plateau showed a shrinking trend. At the same time, there are obvious stage differences in lake changes. During 1984-1996, the number of lakes increased by 99 and the total area increased by 124.43 km2. From 1996 to 2015, the number of lakes decreased by 142, and the total area decreased by 183.96 km2. Before 1996, climate change was the dominant factor. However, the shrinkage of lakes after 1996 is the result of climate change and human activities. Among them, the large-scale planting of water consuming crops such as vegetables is the main human activity mode leading to lake shrinkage. This study will help to understand the expansion and contraction factors of the Bashang Plateau lakes in Hebei province and provide a reference for the future protection and management of the lakes.