Characterizing 19 Thousand Chinese Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs by Morphometric, Climate and Sediment Characteristics

TY - JOUR

T1 - Characterizing 19 Thousand Chinese Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs by Morphometric, Climate and Sediment Characteristics

AU - Janssen, Annette B.G.

AU - Droppers, Bram

AU - Kong, Xiangzhen

AU - Teurlincx, Sven

AU - Tong, Yindong

AU - Kroeze, Carolien

N1 - 7235, AqE; Data archiving: model data (no NIOO data)

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Chinese lakes, including ponds and reservoirs, are increasingly threatened by algal blooms. Yet, each lake is unique, leading to large inter-lake variation in lake vulnerability to algal blooms. Here, we aim to assess the effects of unique lake characteristics on lake vulnerability to algal blooms. To this end, we built a novel and comprehensive database of lake morphometric, climate and sediment characteristics of 19,536 Chinese lakes, including ponds and reservoirs (>0.1 km2). We assessed lake characteristics for nine stratification classes and show that lakes, including ponds and reservoirs, in eastern China typically have a warm stratification class (Tavg>4°C) and are slightly deeper than those in western China. Model results for representative lakes suggest that the most vulnerable lakes to algal blooms are in eastern China where pollution levels are also highest. Our characterization provides an important baseline to inform policymakers in what regions lakes are potentially most vulnerable to algal blooms.

AB - Chinese lakes, including ponds and reservoirs, are increasingly threatened by algal blooms. Yet, each lake is unique, leading to large inter-lake variation in lake vulnerability to algal blooms. Here, we aim to assess the effects of unique lake characteristics on lake vulnerability to algal blooms. To this end, we built a novel and comprehensive database of lake morphometric, climate and sediment characteristics of 19,536 Chinese lakes, including ponds and reservoirs (>0.1 km2). We assessed lake characteristics for nine stratification classes and show that lakes, including ponds and reservoirs, in eastern China typically have a warm stratification class (Tavg>4°C) and are slightly deeper than those in western China. Model results for representative lakes suggest that the most vulnerable lakes to algal blooms are in eastern China where pollution levels are also highest. Our characterization provides an important baseline to inform policymakers in what regions lakes are potentially most vulnerable to algal blooms.

KW - Eutrophication

KW - Algal blooms

KW - Vulnerability

KW - Stratification

KW - VIC-LAKE

KW - PCLake

KW - international

KW - Plan_S-Compliant-TA

U2 - 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117427

DO - 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117427

M3 - Article

SN - 0043-1354

VL - 202

JO - Water Research

JF - Water Research

M1 - 117427

ER -