Morphological Characteristics of Thermokarst Lakes along the Qinghai-Tibet Engineering Corridor

Thermokarst lakes along the Qinghai-Tibet Engineering Corridor exhibit significant morphometric differences across three subregions: Chumaerhe High Plain (CHP), Hoh Xil Hill region (HXR), and Beiluhe Basin region (BBR). Lakes in CHP tend to have regular outlines and smooth lake bottoms, while those in HXR are characterized by greater depths and more complex shorelines. BBR typically features the most elongated and largest lakes. The study used SPOT-5 satellite imagery and ground-penetrating radar to analyze 2163 water bodies, revealing that prevailing summer wind direction and solar insolation are dominant factors controlling lake orientation. These differences are linked to variations in ground-ice content, local relief, and topography.

Niu, F., Luo, J., Lin, Z., Liu, M., & Yin, G. (2014). Morphological Characteristics of Thermokarst Lakes along the Qinghai-Tibet Engineering Corridor. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 46(4), 963–974. https://doi.org/10.1657/1938-4246-46.4.963