Turbidity dynamics of large lakes and reservoirs in northeastern China in response to natural factors and human activities

Zhang，Lu1,2; Xin，Zhuohang1,3; Feng，Lian4; Hu，Chuanmin2; Zhou，Huicheng1; Wang，Ye1; Song，Changchun1,3; Zhang，Chi1,3

2022-09-25

10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133148

Journal of Cleaner Production   Impact Factor & Quartile

0959-6526

1879-1786

The water environment has experienced prominent changes worldwide in recent decades, especially in inland waters. As an important lake region in China, the water turbidity of lakes/reservoirs in the Northeast Plain-Mountainous Region (NPLR) remains less understood, especially the influencing mechanisms of regional climatic conditions and human activities. To enhance the knowledge of turbidity dynamics and explanatory variables of NPLR water bodies, long-term turbidity estimates of lakes/reservoirs were derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-Aqua observations between 2003 and 2019. The results show that most lakes/reservoirs became less turbid in NPLR during the study period, as indicated by a decreasing turbidity trend of 0.05–2.4 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU)/year. Overall, the decreased turbidity was mainly attributed to the decreased wind speed (from 2003 to 2012, r = 0.85, p < 0.01), but also to the increased normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of the forest region (r = −0.80, p < 0.01), with the latter being a result of the forest protection efforts of the Chinese government. The increased snowmelt depth also contributed to a substantial turbidity decline in April. In addition, distinct seasonal patterns of turbidity were observed in the NPLR, with less turbid water in the wet season (i.e., from June to August) and turbid water in the dry season (i.e., October, November, and April in the next year). This result is attributed to the rapid seasonal dynamics of precipitation and runoff. This study provided a comprehensive analysis on the influencing mechanisms of turbidity dynamics in NPLR lakes; in particular, for the first time, revealed the impacts of the national policy-mandated forest development and the snowmelt depth on lake turbidity. These findings will provide vital information for government decision-making in water environment protection in NPLR and other similar areas with densely distributed lakes.

Forest policies Global warming Inland water MODIS Northeastern China Turbidity

SCI ; EI

English

Others

National Natural Science Foundation of China[51809031];National Natural Science Foundation of China[51925902];

Science & Technology - Other Topics ; Engineering ; Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Green & Sustainable Science & Technology ; Engineering, Environmental ; Environmental Sciences

WOS:000862590300002

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

20223212535007

Decision making ; Dynamics ; Forestry ; Lakes ; Radiometers ; Reservoirs (water) ; Snow melting systems ; Turbidity ; Wind

Reservoirs:441.2 ; Atmospheric Properties:443.1 ; Light/Optics:741.1 ; Agricultural Equipment and Methods; Vegetation and Pest Control:821 ; Management:912.2 ; Radiation Measuring Instruments:944.7

2-s2.0-85135292821

Scopus

1.Faculty of Infrastructure Engineering,Dalian University of Technology,Dalian,Liaoning,116024,China
2.College of Marine Science,University of South Florida,St. Petersburg,140 Seventh Avenue South,33701,United States
3.State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering,Dalian University of Technology,Dalian,Liaoning,116024,China
4.School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,Guangdong,518055,China

Zhang，Lu,Xin，Zhuohang,Feng，Lian,et al. Turbidity dynamics of large lakes and reservoirs in northeastern China in response to natural factors and human activities[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production,2022,368.

Zhang，Lu.,Xin，Zhuohang.,Feng，Lian.,Hu，Chuanmin.,Zhou，Huicheng.,...&Zhang，Chi.(2022).Turbidity dynamics of large lakes and reservoirs in northeastern China in response to natural factors and human activities.Journal of Cleaner Production,368.

Zhang，Lu,et al."Turbidity dynamics of large lakes and reservoirs in northeastern China in response to natural factors and human activities".Journal of Cleaner Production 368(2022).