In‐Phase PDO and El Niño Events Enhance the Summer CO2 Emissions in Saline Lakes on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau

Abstract Saline lakes contributions to the carbon cycle is crucial to the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) carbon budget. Here, based on the 8‐year direct measurement of CO 2 flux over the Qinghai Lake (QHL) and 83 collected CO 2 flux data estimated by p CO 2 sampling from 45 lakes over the QTP, we identified the interannual variations of CO 2 flux and its response to the extreme climate events. Results showed: (a) the QHL CO 2 absorption weakened in the spring, autumn and winter and turn to CO 2 emissions in the summer during 2013–2020; (b) with higher Ts and less precipitation, coupling of positive Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and El Niño enhanced the summer CO 2 emissions; and (c) the PDO and ENSO had obvious superposition effect on the decrease of CO 2 absorption in autumn. Our results show the potential mechanism of lake CO 2 flux responses to extreme climate and further defines the significance of the QTP carbon budget and cycling.