| delta 18O and model results are adopted to study the affects of glacial meltwater and relative humidity in two lake basins (Lakes Yamdrok-tso and Puma Yum-tso) at two different elevations on the southern Tibetan Plateau. Temporally, the lake water delta 18O of Yamdrok-tso Lake displays a seasonal fluctuation, whereas the lake water delta 18O is stable in Puma Yum-tso Lake in whole year. Spatially, the delta 18O value in Yamdrok-tso Lake is 2‰ higher than that in Puma Yum-tso Lake. delta 18O values in the two lake basins increase by 10‰ from the termini of glaciers to the lake shores, by about 1‰ from the lakeshores to the lake center, by 0.4‰ from the water surface to depth in these lakes. The largest difference, from the terminus of the Qiangyong Glacier to the depth of 35 m, is 14.1‰ and demonstrates the importance of glacial meltwater. Evaporation alters the changes of delta 18O in the two lake basins. Model results show that relative humidity is a major controlling factor of evaporation. delta 18O values of both Yamdrok-tso and Puma Yum-tso Lakes are at their steady condition, but Puma Yum-tso Lake has taken a longer time to approach the current condition, which might be attributed to higher humidity and more glacial meltwater at the lake. |