Summary/Abstract
Tianchi Lake is a UNESCO-protected lake in northwest China. However, in recent years it has experienced significant eutrophication– nutrient enrichment which causes excessive growth of algae and other phytoplankton. Researchers collected air temperature, precipitation, and sea level pressure data from existing records and applied statistical analysis to detect trends. Results showed that in the summer season, the lake experienced increased temperature, increase in overall and extreme precipitation, and increased wind speed. All of these changes favored algae growth by increasing the turbulence of the water, releasing nutrients stored in lower layers of the lake, and increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis and biomass growth. While eutrophication is part of the natural life cycle of a lake, accelerated eutrophication can deplete the oxygen of a body of water, causing fish kills and acidification of the water from algae decomposition. The results from Tianchi are likely indicative of a larger trend of climate change accelerating the eutrophication of lakes and ponds, which could have negative impacts on not only ecosystem health, but on the industries and livelihoods that depend on aquatic ecosystems.