Fangfang Yao
Postdoctoral fellow
CIRES / CU Boulder

In Person:
GUGG 205
Feb 11, 2022, 3:30 PM

Or Join Zoom Meeting: 
cuboulder.zoom.us/j/91646916151

Abstract

Lakes hold 87% of liquid freshwater on Earth’s surface and are essential components of biogeochemical, hydrological, and ecological processes. They function as regulators of climate change through the cycling of carbon and provide indispensable water supply, hydropower generation, and aquatic ecosystems for meeting natural and human needs. The potential goods and services from lakes are largely modulated by lake water storage. Human activities and a changing climate increasingly threaten lake water storage, as evidenced by record-low water levels in some of the world’s largest lakes, such as Aral Sea in Central Asia and Lakes Mead and Michigan-Huron in North America. Yet, trends and drivers of lake water storage over decadal scales remain poorly constrained at large geographical scales, which impedes sustainable management of surface water resources, both now and into the future. Here, I will present my recent work on quantifying and attributing decadal variability of lake water storage at regional and global scales using satellite observations, hydrological models, and statistical-learning techniques. I will also discuss the impacts and implications of changing lake water storage, as well as future research opportunities.

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