Abstract:Using ETM+ remote sensing images acquired on Dec.28 in 2001, March 18, July 24, Sept.26, Dec.15 in 2002, re-spectively,this study extracted the information of seasonal changes of the number and areas of lakes and analyzed the statistical char-acteristics and spatial distribution of them.The following conclusions were drawn.Firstly,the number and total area of desert lakes showed a decreasing trend from spring, summer, autumn to winter in the first year and regained the original condition gradually in the next spring.Secondly,the seasonal variation of lake area displayed an obvious characteristic that the atrophic and increased area of lake present a distribution of gathers and continual pieces and gradual changes in the spatial distribution showed in some time section.The automatic weather observation station of Badain Jaran Desert had been completed in winter in 2009.Our next focus is to study the scientific issues of lake water cycle further,water balance both using RS imagery data and meteorological observation data.