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Satellite Observations Reveal Widespread Color Variations in Global Lakes Since the 1980s

Shen, Xiaoyi ; Ke, Chang Qing ; Duan, Zheng LU ; Cai, Yu LU ; Li, Haili and Xiao, Yao (2025) In Water Resources Research 61(1).
Abstract

The color of lakes is an essential indicator of the local ecological state, and the corresponding changes can reflect the physical and biochemical processes of lakes. However, worldwide changes in lake color and their drivers remain largely unknown. Here, we analyze the long-term color distributions and changes of 67,579 lakes worldwide from 1984 to 2021 by utilizing 32 million consistent satellite observations. Blue lakes (<495 nm) were primarily located in high-latitude and high-elevation areas. Green lakes (495–560 nm) were more prevalent in densely populated middle-latitude regions, while most red and yellow colors (≥560 nm) were located in the Southern Hemisphere. Our findings reveal distinct temporal patterns of lake color... (More)

The color of lakes is an essential indicator of the local ecological state, and the corresponding changes can reflect the physical and biochemical processes of lakes. However, worldwide changes in lake color and their drivers remain largely unknown. Here, we analyze the long-term color distributions and changes of 67,579 lakes worldwide from 1984 to 2021 by utilizing 32 million consistent satellite observations. Blue lakes (<495 nm) were primarily located in high-latitude and high-elevation areas. Green lakes (495–560 nm) were more prevalent in densely populated middle-latitude regions, while most red and yellow colors (≥560 nm) were located in the Southern Hemisphere. Our findings reveal distinct temporal patterns of lake color changes, with the majority of global lakes shifted toward shorter wavelengths. This phenomenon is more common in Warm Temperate and Boreal zones. Lake color changes are closely linked to basin vegetation conditions, population, water volume change, and lake area. Our study provides essential references for monitoring the ecological status of global lakes, further supporting the sustainable development of water resources in the future.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
color, global, lake, Landsat
in
Water Resources Research
volume
61
issue
1
article number
e2023WR036926
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85213009714
ISSN
0043-1397
DOI
10.1029/2023WR036926
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
057a857d-4f4e-468f-b3aa-d649315a7e07
date added to LUP
2025-03-03 12:02:12
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:48:39
@article{057a857d-4f4e-468f-b3aa-d649315a7e07,
  abstract     = {{<p>The color of lakes is an essential indicator of the local ecological state, and the corresponding changes can reflect the physical and biochemical processes of lakes. However, worldwide changes in lake color and their drivers remain largely unknown. Here, we analyze the long-term color distributions and changes of 67,579 lakes worldwide from 1984 to 2021 by utilizing 32 million consistent satellite observations. Blue lakes (&lt;495 nm) were primarily located in high-latitude and high-elevation areas. Green lakes (495–560 nm) were more prevalent in densely populated middle-latitude regions, while most red and yellow colors (≥560 nm) were located in the Southern Hemisphere. Our findings reveal distinct temporal patterns of lake color changes, with the majority of global lakes shifted toward shorter wavelengths. This phenomenon is more common in Warm Temperate and Boreal zones. Lake color changes are closely linked to basin vegetation conditions, population, water volume change, and lake area. Our study provides essential references for monitoring the ecological status of global lakes, further supporting the sustainable development of water resources in the future.</p>}},
  author       = {{Shen, Xiaoyi and Ke, Chang Qing and Duan, Zheng and Cai, Yu and Li, Haili and Xiao, Yao}},
  issn         = {{0043-1397}},
  keywords     = {{color; global; lake; Landsat}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Water Resources Research}},
  title        = {{Satellite Observations Reveal Widespread Color Variations in Global Lakes Since the 1980s}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036926}},
  doi          = {{10.1029/2023WR036926}},
  volume       = {{61}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}