Publications

Yan, Y; Du, Y; Xiao, F; Zheng, YH; Zhu, LL; Chen, JC; Xu, JW (2017). Remote sensing of seasonal variations in the beaches of Dongting Lake. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, 38(1), 1-17.

Abstract
Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China. The beach of the lake contributes significantly in controlling floods and supporting ecosystems in the middle reach of the Yangtze River. However, adequately monitoring changes in the beach area is difficult because of great fluctuations in the water level, rapid sedimentation, and intensive human activities. We monitored the seasonal change of the lake beach area from 1993 to 2011 by combining changes in lake beach topography and water-level variations based on remote sensing and hydrological data. Results showed that beach area exhibited a significant increasing trend in the wet season. The lake beach area in the wet season was at its lowest in 1999 and highest in 2011, whereas in the dry season, it was lowest in 2008, with a peak value in 1999. The seasonal difference of the lake beach area was maximum in 1999 and minimum in 2011. Deposition decreased with elevation on the lake beach. The middle-low level beach was deposition based, whereas the middle-high level beach was erosion based. Given the topographic change of the beach, the lake beach expansion rate may slow down.

DOI:
10.1080/02723646.2016.1258885

ISSN:
0272-3646