The Tibetan Plateau Lakes: Early-stage research progress of observational evidence as catalysts for weather patterns

The Tibetan Plateau, known as the “Roof of the World,” hosts numerous lakes that play a pivotal role in triggering and modulating regional and even global weather patterns. This study focuses on the observational evidence of these lakes on the Tibetan Plateau acting as catalysts for weather phenomena. Lake observations are selected based on typical lakes with a hundred-kilometer scale under the synergistic effect of westerlies and monsoons. Such as Bamu Co, Laang Co and Longmu Co.

Extensive field measurements and remote sensing data have been analyzed to unravel the complex interactions between the lakes on the Tibetan Plateau and the surrounding atmosphere. The findings reveal that these lakes, through processes such as lake-effect precipitation, thermal regulation, and evaporation, significantly influence the formation and evolution of weather systems in the region.

The lake-effect precipitation, for instance, has been observed to generate localized heavy rainfall and snowfall events downwind of the lakes. The thermal regulation effect of the lakes mitigates extreme temperature variations, while the evaporation from the lakes contributes to the water vapor supply in the atmosphere, thereby affecting cloud formation and precipitation.

Furthermore, the study highlights the potential impact of changing lake dynamics, such as fluctuations in lake levels and temperatures, on the regional climate. These observations underscore the importance of incorporating the influences of Tibetan Plateau lakes into weather forecasting and climate modeling.

In conclusion, this research provides substantial observational evidence that the lakes on the Tibetan Plateau act as crucial triggers for weather patterns, offering valuable insights for understanding and predicting the complex and dynamic meteorological processes in the region and beyond.