A dataset of lake area in Paiku Tso, southern Tibet, 1975–2021

Paiku Tso is located at the junction of Kyirong County and Nielam County in Shigatse, Tibet. It is the largest lake in Shigatse and it belongs to the major inland lake in southern Tibet. It is a salt lake. The base-map of this dataset uses the 1:100000 electronic topographic map that published in 1975, image date of 27 scenes from 1976 to 2021 is used as the data source. In order to reflect the distribution and state of the lake in different periods, with the help of ArcGIS, ENVI and other software, the data were combined by bands, artificial visual interpretation and other technologies to complete the vector boundary and area of Paiku Tso and the data of water changes in Paiku Tso (1975–2021) was developed. The dataset includes vector data(shp) and area data from 1975–2021.In order to reflect the distribution and status of the lake surface in different periods, with the help of ENVI software was used to perform band combination and geometric correction of the data ,and the error was controlled within 1 pixel, as well as geographic registration. Using DEM to preprocess the GF1-WFV satellite data such as orthographic correction. ArcGIS software completed the vector boundary data (shp) of Paiku Tso lake and calcutated the water area of the lake in different years through artificial visual interpretation and other technologies, and developed the data set of water change of Paiku Tso lake.   This dataset constructs a long term series of lake surface changes in the southern Tibet, and provides reference data for scientific research. At the same time, the datasets are of great significance to reveal the lake evolution and ecological environment changes in the southern part of the Tibetan Plateau under climate change, and provide basis for prediction and decision-making.