The Impact of Lake Effects on the Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Precipitation at Nam Co, on the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract:

Nam Co (Heavenly Lake) not only responds sensitively to climate change, but also provides significant influences on climate change. Lake effects impact lake processes that respond to and influence climate change. Lake effects from the North American Great Lakes have been shown to respond to and to provide important impacts on climate changes in their nearby regions. Lakes on the Tibetan Plateau occupy over 47,000 km² and have recently shown rapid expansions. However, how the lakes’ behaviors impact climate changes on the Tibetan Plateau remain unknown. Analyses of the spatial distribution of precipitation in the Nam Co Basin during July-August and November-December show that lake effects impact the spatial distribution of precipitation in the Lake basin. The lake cooling effect during July-August and lake heating effect during November-December result in significant spatial differences of precipitation within the Nam Co Basin. These effects generally cause more precipitation in the south than in the north during July-August, and more precipitation in the east than in the west during November-December. Weaker monsoon and climate warming lead to an increased north-south precipitation difference in the Nam Co Basin. However, the precipitation differences between the west and east during November-December decreased with climate warming. The intensification of the westerlies is responsible for the particular phenomenon.