Scientists release the first full dataset on Tibetan Plateau lakes. It offers fresh insight into climate change and Asia’s key water resources.
The Tibetan Plateau, often called the “Roof of the World,” the “Third Pole,” and the “Water Tower of Asia,” holds the largest group of high-altitude lakes on Earth. Changes in these lakes draw global attention because they are vital to Asia’s water supply and to understanding climate change.
First Systematic Monitoring of Plateau Lakes
A research team led by Liao Jingjuan at the International Research Centre of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals has completed the first systematic monitoring of lakes across the Tibetan Plateau.
By combining data from eight international satellites, including Europe’s Envisat and NASA’s ICESat-1, the team tracked 361 lakes larger than 10 square kilometres. The result is a new dataset that records water level changes from 2002 to 2021, now released for global use.
The combined satellite data overcame the limits of any single satellite, improving monitoring accuracy. This makes it possible to calculate changes in lake water storage, analyse long-term trends, and even give early warnings for floods or overflows.
Key Findings
Long-term records: 181 lakes have continuous water level data for 20 years, while another 180 lakes have data from 2010 to 2021.
High accuracy: Satellite-based measurements matched field surveys, with an error margin of just 0.19 meters.
Global standard: The dataset outperformed mainstream international products, reaching advanced monitoring accuracy.
Global Significance
The Tibetan Plateau feeds major rivers across Asia, affecting water supply for billions of people. Monitoring its lakes offers insight into how the “Water Tower of Asia” responds to climate change.
This research fills a long-standing data gap and provides a new model for global high-altitude environment studies.
Additional reporting by CNS.
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