Temporal and spatial heterogeneity of recent lake surface water temperature trends in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Lake surface water temperature (LSWT) monitoring is significant as it provides valuable information on climate changes and resultant in lakes. Here, monthly moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer LSWT data of 364 lakes during 2001–2015 were analysed to determine spatiotemporal patterns daytime (LSWTd), nighttime (LSWTn), daily (LSWTm) their drivers the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at monthly, seasonal annual timescales. We focused heterogeneity trends. Results showed climatological presented a saddle-shaped distribution along northeast-southwest direction except for LSWTd March, while highly heterogeneous trends without spatial dependence observed all Diurnal asymmetry was evident with 56.04–88.19% showing smaller than LSWTn August September. Further, we found lake albedo trend could effectively explain different timescales, its interactions other variable generally largest or second-largest.