| There are a large number of lakes on the Tibet Plateau whose levels and surface areas are indicators of climate change and climate variability. The surface extents of all lakes in the study area were delineated from Landsat images obtained in 1973–1977, 1989–1992, 1999–2001, 2008–2010 and 2017 based on RS and GIS. The dynamic changes of lake surface areas from 1973 to 2017 were analyzed. The total surface area of these lakes increased, and the total surface area increased by 47.23% during 1973–1977 to 2017. More especially, during 1973–1977 to around 1990, lakes whose areas decreased were mainly distributed in the northern and middle parts of the Tibet Plateau, whereas lakes elsewhere tended to expand. Since 2000, most lakes have expanded. Additionally, average annual temperature, total annual precipitation and total annual evaporation were analyzed. Over the past four decades, the climate has become warmer and wetter, characterized by rising temperature and precipitation as well as dropping evaporation. Lake variations differ from area to area in different periods, and the response to climate fluctuation is strong. (1) During the 1970s–1990s, lakes in northern and central Tibet Plateau was mainly recharged by glaciers, snow melt water and surface runoff. During this period, there were slight fluctuations in temperature and precipitation. Lakes in these areas shrank without enough glaciers and snow melt water to supply. (2) During the 1990s to 2017, lakes throughout the study area showed the tendency of expansion due to increasing temperature and precipitation as well as decreasing evaporation. |