The Dynamics of Hongjian Nur, the Largest Desert Freshwater Lake in China, during 1990–2017

China’s largest desert freshwater lake, Hongjian Nur (HN), which is the largest habitat of relict gull (Larus relictus), has rapidly changed in recent years. However, it is difficult to quantitatively monitor the dynamics of the lake and determine the causes of its changes due to the lack of in situ observation. In this study, a remote sensing-based approach was utilized to overcome these limitations. The monthly water areas during 1990–2017 were first extracted from Landsat multispectral images via an improved method based on the floating algae index (FAI). Then, lake surface elevations measured by real-time kinematics (RTK) were used to calculate the variations in the water storage of HN. Finally, the driving factors of the rapidly changed HN in different periods were investigated by correlation analysis. The result indicated that the drivers affecting the water storage of HN in different periods were not the same. Climate change was the main driving factor of lake level fluctuation during the HN relatively stable stage (1990–1998). Drought and the intensification of human activities were the main factors for the rapid shrinkage of the HN during 1999–2010. Human activities, especially coal-related industries and reservoir impoundment, likely was the primary factors driving the decrease in the water storage of HN from 2010 to 2015. After 2015, the policies that decreased the water consumed by human activities formulated by the government and humid climate were the main factor for the expansion of HN.