In order to analyze the annual, monthly and spatial characteristics of arid lake extent changes under the impacts of climate change, Ayakkul lake in the Alkin mountains is selected as an example to map the lake area changes and level changes with time-series Corona and Landsat imagery in the last 50 years. The results showed that, Ayakkul lake changes are presented as 3 stages: 1964—2004, 2005—2010 and 2011—2014, and the annual area changing rates are -0.012km2/a, -0.256 km2/a and -4.798km2/a, respectively. The overall lake area shrinking mode is from gentle to significant, and the lake water was firstly found extinct on September 25th, 2014, and its ecological function is weaker and weaker. The seasonal characteristic of Chaiwopu lake extent changes are showed as, lake water extent reach its peak in spring and touch its valley in autumn, and the seasonal changes becomes more obvious when the drastic water area changes happen after 2005. Monthly lake area curves showed that Chaiwopu lake is losing its area rapidly year by year. When it comes to lake water level and spatial boundary, their changes match well with the Chaiwopu lake basin topography, which is represented as “rock-ribbed shore and flat bottom”. Before 2005, water area changes are insignificant while lake water level is significant when lake water volume is decreasing. After 2005, lake water boundaries are shrinking. When they are shrinking to the lake bottom in 2012, the underground water levels have high correlations with water area changes. In the wet years between 1999 and 2004, lake shrinking rate is decreasing and Chaiwopu lake keep its dynamic water balance during that period. Exceeding groundwater exploitation after 1993 is the main reason of lake extinction, leading to ecological disaster in this region
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