Thermal Responses of the Largest Freshwater Lake in the Tibetan Plateau and Its Nearby Saline Lake to Climate Change

There are thousands of lakes in the Tibetan Plateau (TP), and most saline. However, little is known about responses TP to climate change, especially saline ones. We investigated thermal largest freshwater lake (Ngoring Lake) its nearby small (Hajiang Salt Pond) change using improved scheme Community Land model (CLM4-LISSS), which we primarily developed salinity parameterizations previously evaluated Great Lake USA further considered effect on temperature maximum density water present study. The with was first applied a TP, where make up majority bodies. CLM4-LISSS could effectively simulate surface (LSWT), (LT) ice thickness Ngoring Lake. Additionally, including our significantly simulations LSWT LT Hajiang Pond, winter. two completely opposite were warming at rate above 0.6 °C/decade. Meteorological forces main driving factor, increasing downward longwave radiation, air humidity, as well weakening winds contributing increase. Compared hypothetical shallow lake, greater depth made warm faster, slightly accelerated Pond. Monthly mean differences between induced by effects cold periods unfrozen period. In response climate, ice-free Pond rapidly increased from January April due whereas faster last month ice-cover period later ice-on earlier ice-off. This study will provide useful tool for help deepen knowledge lakes, reasons these differences.