Remote Sensing Technology and Application, Volume. 40, Issue 4, 936(2025)

Monitoring Water Resources Changes in Key Lakes and Reservoirs in China based on Multi-source Remote Sensing and Actual Measurements

SONG Jingwei1,2,3, LIU Changhua1, ZHAN Pengfei2,3, and SONG Chunqiao2,3、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1College of Surveying and Geotechnical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
  • 2Key Laboratory of Lake and Watershed Science for Water Security, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
  • 3State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
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    As the main surface water resource carrier, lakes play an important role in regulating river water volume and meeting water demand for life, production and ecology. Similarly, artificial lakes (reservoirs) also play a key role in water supply, irrigation, power generation and ecological protection. In recent years, affected by climate change and human activities, the water volume and quality of lakes and reservoirs (referred to as "lakes and reservoirs") have changed greatly. Long-term remote sensing monitoring can more objectively and accurately understand the temporal and spatial changes. The study combined multi-source remote sensing image data and satellite altimetry data to extract the area and water level of China's key monitored lakes (83) and reservoirs(118) from 2013 to 2022, estimated the changes in the water volume of lakes and reservoirs, and sorted out the monitoring data of key lakes and reservoirs through the monthly water quality reports issued by relevant national departments, analyzed the changes in their eutrophication levels, and finally conducted a comprehensive analysis of the two. The results show that: in terms of water volume, the water volume of China's key lakes and reservoirs showed an overall increasing trend during 2013~2022, with the water volume of lakes increasing by 10.65 km3 and the water volume of reservoirs increasing by 2.50 km3; in terms of water quality, the water quality of most monitored lakes was poor, ranging from mesotrophic to mildly eutrophic, and the number of lakes with mesotrophic to mildly eutrophic levels generally increased year by year; the water quality of reservoirs was relatively good, but the water quality of some reservoirs showed a trend of deterioration. The combined analysis of water volume and water quality change information found that the water volume of lakes and reservoirs changed greatly when they were at the mesotrophic level, and there were different correlations between water volume and water quality. Among them, the water volume and water quality changes of 33 lakes showed a negative correlation, especially Chengxi Lake and Shijiu Lake in the eastern plains, with correlation coefficients of-0.67 and -0.90, respectively. In addition, the water volume and water quality changes of nearly half of the reservoirs showed a positive correlation. By combining the water quantity and water quality monitoring data of lakes and reservoirs and exploring the relationship between the two, we can provide an important scientific basis for the comprehensive water resources management and ecological protection of lakes and reservoirs.

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    SONG Jingwei, LIU Changhua, ZHAN Pengfei, SONG Chunqiao. Monitoring Water Resources Changes in Key Lakes and Reservoirs in China based on Multi-source Remote Sensing and Actual Measurements[J]. Remote Sensing Technology and Application, 2025, 40(4): 936

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    Paper Information

    Received: Nov. 11, 2024

    Accepted: Aug. 26, 2025

    Published Online: Aug. 26, 2025

    The Author Email: SONG Chunqiao (cqsong@niglas.ac.cn)

    DOI:10.11873/j.issn.1004-0323.2025.4.0936

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