Work

Long-term satellite records of water clarity suggest increasing human activity influence in an inland lake

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Water clarity is a key indicator of trophic status and lake health, yet its long-term trends and driving factors remain underexplored due to limited historical data. To fill this gap, we developed a remote sensing algorithm utilizing Landsat imagery to produce water clarity maps in Lake Gaoyou spanning 1984–2023. Our findings reveal a significant inter-annual increase in water clarity, averaging 0.07 meters per decade. The study period was divided into three phases: Phase I (pre-1999), primarily influenced by climatic factors and land use changes; Phase II (2000–2009), marked by decreased riverine material inputs following the diversion of the Huai River; and Phase III (post-2010), shaped by intensified anthropogenic activities. This research underscores the increasing impact of anthropogenic activities on water clarity in an inland lake, offering critical insights for sustainable ecosystem management.

Source: International Journal of Digital Earth

DOI: 10.1080/17538947.2025.2506491

Authors: Jian Wang, Deyong Sun, Shengqiang Wang, Hailong Zhang, Yue Zhang, Miao He

Institutions: Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Jiangsu Changjiang Electronics Technology (China), Jiangsu Frontier Electric Technology Co., Ltd. (China)

Language: English

Topic: Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics

Subfield: Environmental Chemistry

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,390