Dynamic Monitoring and Climatic Background of Lake Changes in Tibet Based on RS/GIS

Based on the 1∶100000 topographic maps in 1970's,remote sensing images of Landsat TM in 1990 and Landsat ETM in 2000,and the air temperature and precipitation datum from 1965 to 2002 in Tibet,this paper analyzes the distribution and variation of lakes in time and space.The results show that the change of inland lakes is sensitive to climate changes.Generally,the area of lakes in Tibet shrinked in 1980's,but increased since 2000.The regional differences in the changes of lakes indicate a continuous area-increasing lakes in the southern part of North Tibet and Galakunlun Mountain area.The driving force of area changing of lakes' is fluctuant climate,but the other reasons,for example,geological or geographical conditions,riverhead supply mode,and so on,determine the types and grades of change.