Quantifying the major drivers for the expanding lakes in the interior Tibetan Plateau

Lakes are an important component of the terrestrial hydro-sphere,and have a strong influence on the regional hydrological cycle [1].Due to the distinctive geographic location and climatic characteristics of the Tibetan Plateau (TP),the water level,surface area,and water storage of lakes across this region are extremely sensitive to climate change [2-4].Rapid lake expansion has become one of the most significant environmental changes across the TP [5],motivating the need for continuous monitoring of lake dynamics [4].