Abstract
In recent years, the rapid development of the population, agriculture, and tourism around Erhai Lake has caused increasing environmental problems, which have seriously affected the ecological status of the lake. This study analyzed changes in water volume and quality in Erhai Lake, based on statistical data from 2000 to 2019, combined with climate, land-use type, and socioeconomic data, as well as the influencing factors of water environmental changes in the Erhai Lake basin. The main conclusions include: the water storage of Erhai Lake increased by 3.8 × 106 m3 year−1, from 2000 to 2019. The monthly variation in water volume showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing, in which it increased from August to December and decreased from January to July. The change in water volume was mainly affected by climate factors. From 2000 to 2019, the nitrogen concentration in Erhai Lake showed an increasing trend, and the changes in water quality were closely related to human activities. In the northern part of the basin, agricultural nonpoint source pollution was the main factor affecting water quality, while in the southern part of the basin, economic development, accelerated urbanization, and tourism were the main factors affecting water quality.
Highlights
IntroductionAs an important part of the natural ecosystem, lakes have multiple functions, such as regulating and storing runoff, water supply and irrigation, regulating the climate and environment, and maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, all of which have important impacts on human survival and development [1]
Based on the statistical data, this study analyzed the water volume and water quality changes in Erhai Lake from 2000 to 2019, analyzed the human activities in the basin with the help of land-use type, social and economic data, and discussed the influencing factors of Erhai Lake environmental changes, the results provide theoretical support for the sustainable development of the Erhai Lake basin
The water resources of Erhai Lake mainly come from precipitation, so there was a significant positive correlation between the interannual variation trend of water volume and the precipitation variation trend
Summary
As an important part of the natural ecosystem, lakes have multiple functions, such as regulating and storing runoff, water supply and irrigation, regulating the climate and environment, and maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, all of which have important impacts on human survival and development [1]. Climate warming and increased human activities have caused many problems for the lake water environment, which have led to lake water ecological degradation, and caused serious environmental problems worldwide [2,3,4,5]. Climate change can potentially have a large impact on the global water cycle by modifying precipitation and evaporation patterns [6,7]. With the increase in temperature, the evaporation of plants and land will increase, the water consumption of crops will increase, and the water resources will change [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
