- [ONLINE] H12H-01: Assessing Freshwater Lake Decline in Pakistan Using Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing and Hydrological Data
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Naeem Saddique, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (First Author, Presenting Author)
Imran Khan, University of Agriculture Faisalabad
Abdul Rehman Islam, university of Agriculture Faisalabad
Mannan Aleem, University of Agriculture Faisalabad
Syed Muhammad Subtain Abbas, University of Agriculture Faisalabad
Sharoon Aftab, University of Agriculture Faisalabad
Muneeb Ahmad, University of Agriculture Faisalabad
Hamza Arshad, University of Agriculture Faisalabad
Freshwater lakes are essential for people, agriculture, and the environment—especially in water-scarce countries like Pakistan. This study focuses on two important lakes, Rawal Lake and Manchar Lake, which are major sources of water for nearby communities. Over the past two decades, both lakes have been shrinking due to climate change and increased water use by humans. To better understand this problem, we used satellite images from 2000 to 2022 and processed them using cloud-based tools like Google Earth Engine. This allowed us to measure changes in lake size over time. We found that Rawal Lake shrank from about 2.5 km² to 1.7 km², and Manchar Lake decreased from over 220 km² to around 185 km². The main reasons are rising temperatures, which increase water loss through evaporation, and growing demands for water by cities and farms. While rainfall changes helped at times, they were not enough to stop the overall decline This study shows how satellite technology can help monitor water resources, especially where ground data is limited. Our findings can support better planning and management of freshwater lakes, helping to protect these critical resources in a changing climate.
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