Long-Term Changes in Relationship between Water Level and Precipitation in Lake Yamanaka

Lake water levels fluctuate due to both natural and anthropogenic influences. Climate change can alter precipitation, driving fluctuations in lake water levels. Extreme fluctuations can cause flooding, water shortages, and changes in lake water quality and ecosystems, as well as affecting fisheries and tourism. Despite the need to predict future water-level rises, especially in the context of climate change, long-term hydrological studies are scarce. Here, we analyzed 93 years of data from 1928 to 2020 to identify changes in the relationship between water level and precipitation in Lake Yamanaka, Japan. We found that the six-day maximum rise in water level for the same six-day maximum precipitation was significantly greater in the later period than in the earlier period; the difference increased with increasing precipitation. Particularly large increases in precipitation were sometimes caused by a single event or by multiple events occurring in succession.

Automated summary

Lake water levels are influenced by climate change and human activities, and extreme fluctuations can have negative impacts on lake ecosystems and related industries. The lack of long-term hydrological studies hinders the prediction of future water level rises. In this study, we analyzed nearly a century of data from Lake Yamanaka in Japan and found that increased precipitation significantly amplified the rise in water levels, sometimes leading to extreme precipitation events.