Zheng et al. (2026) Suitable Lake Water Area for Ecological Security of Terminal Lakes in Xinjiang, China

Identification

• Journal: Atmosphere
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-03-31
• Authors: Z. Zheng, Xuexia Shi, Ning Pang, Xinlin He, Xiyu Gu
• DOI: 10.3390/atmos17040366

Research Groups

• College of Water Conservancy and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
• Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production & Construction Group, Shihezi, China
• Department of Water Resources of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
• College of Culinary and Catering Management, Xinjiang Vocational University, Urumqi, China
• Central Southern China Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. of China Power Engineering Consulting Group, Wuhan, China
• School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China

Short Summary

This study developed a new method based on ecosystem safety demands to determine the suitable water surface area for eight terminal lakes in Xinjiang, China, providing precise recommendations for sustainable ecological security and optimized water resource management.

Objective

• To determine the suitable water surface area for terminal lakes in Xinjiang, China, by developing a new method based on ecosystem safety demands to assess minimum ecological water levels for maintaining lake health and ecological security.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Eight major terminal lakes in Xinjiang, China, including Bosten Lake, Lake Ebinur, Lake Ailik, Manas Lake, and Lake Ayding.
• Temporal Scale: Analysis of water surface area changes over the past 30 years (up to 2022).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: A new method based on ecosystem safety demands was proposed to assess the minimum ecological water levels required for lake health.
• Data sources: Remote sensing images, ecological security assessments, and hydrological data.

Main Results

• The water surface area of most studied lakes showed significant fluctuations; Bosten Lake maintained an area between 920 km² and 1100 km², while Lake Ebinur sharply decreased from 884 km² in 2003 to 350 km² in 2022.
• The proposed method calculated suitable water surface areas for individual lakes, ranging from 25 km² (Lake Ayding) to 1050 km² (Bosten Lake).
• The method provides precise recommendations capable of maintaining ecological stability while optimizing water resource usage.
• Some findings have been adopted by local government departments for water resource management in Xinjiang.

Contributions

• Provides a novel approach for defining suitable water surface areas based on ecological security demands.
• Offers valuable insights for the sustainable management of terminal lakes in arid regions.
• Demonstrates practical applicability with findings already adopted by local government departments.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Zheng2026Suitable,
  author = {Zheng, Z. and Shi, Xuexia and Pang, Ning and He, Xinlin and Gu, Xiyu},
  title = {Suitable Lake Water Area for Ecological Security of Terminal Lakes in Xinjiang, China},
  journal = {Atmosphere},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3390/atmos17040366},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17040366}
}