Evaluation of reconstructed multi-decadal lake levels using ICESat, ICESat-2, and Landsat satellites

Overview: This dataset contains lake hypsometry and time-varying lake levels (1992-2018) for 342 lakes worldwide with sizes ranging from 1 to 81,844 km². The method is described in detail in Yao et al., <em>Water Resources Research</em> (in review), but a quick overview is provided here. 1. We developed a proxy-based approach to reconstruct global-scale, multi-decadal lake levels using water areas and hypsometric curves. 2. We depended on elevation measurements from laser altimeters ICESat and ICESat-2 and water areas from Landsat imagery to construct lake hypsometry. 3. We used dynamic water masks to reduce the uncertainties in water levels derived from ICESat and ICESat-2. 4. We refined water areas mapped from Landsat based on topographic constraints on lake growth and shrinkage and levels from ICESat and ICESat-2. 5. We validated the method on 342 lakes against observed long-term water levels from in-situ gauges or satellite radar altimeters. This dataset includes: 1. Lake hypsometry from Landsat, ICESat, and ICESat-2 satellites 2. Reconstructed water levels using Landsat-derived water areas and hypsometric curves 3. Reference level data