Freshwater lakes on the Tibetan Plateau act like lenses that accumulate heat from solar radiation

The largest alpine lake system in the world sits atop the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, commonly known as the Tibetan Plateau, which is the highest and largest plateau in the world. Researchers know the lakes influence the transfer of heat between the land and atmosphere, affecting regional temperatures and precipitation. But little is known about the physical properties and thermal dynamics of Tibetan lakes, especially during the winter months when the lakes are covered in ice.