Spatial-temporal variations of surface water area during 1986–2018 in Qinghai Province, northwestern China based on Google Earth Engine

Abstract

ABSTRACT Called the “Water Tower”, the water resource in Qinghai Province plays a vital role in the ecological environment of northwestern China. However, significant uncertainty exists regarding its spatial-temporal variations. In this study, the data on the surface water of Qinghai Province from 1986 to 2018 was extracted and a systemic analysis of its spatial-temporal variations and responses to climate change was conducted using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud processing platform. Our findings revealed that the surface water in Qinghai Province was primarily concentrated in the Qaidam Basin, the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, and Qinghai Lake. The surface water area in Qinghai Province exhibited an overall increasing trend, with the temperature and precipitation being the primary drivers of this expansion. These results provide crucial insights into the variations of surface water variations in Qinghai Province, northwestern China, under the influence of climate change.