Evolution of Lakeshore Shape of Qinghai Lake and its Causes
青海湖湖岸形态变化及成因分析

From 1975 to 2000, the lakeshore shape of Qinghai Lake had changed much. The relative advance distances are 1566.3m and 3 266.9m respectively on west and north bank,its average advance distances are 62.6m/a and 130.6m/a respectively. The sand body on east bank is eroding the lake with a shape of "beak", the water body about 100km~2 will be separated, and there is only a strait river way connecting with the lake region, the "beak" has an outspread trend. Warm and dry climate, water level declined, desert land and human activity are the primary reasons of this evolution. Climatic change around Qinghai Lake is the direct cause of aspect variation along the coast line of lake, while climatic warming and drying, which results in falling of water level, land desertification and grassland degeneration are the indirect causes of its variation. Human activities have an indirect influence on its variation through grassland, land and water utilization.