XINING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Researchers conducted a survey on Keluke Lake, an inland plateau lake in northwest China's Qinghai province, on Monday to monitor the impact of climate change on it.

Keluke is the largest freshwater lake in the Qaidam Basin. It covers around 58 square kilometers and sits 2,800 meters above sea level.

Researchers used drones and autonomous vessels to collect data of the lake and surrounding area, such as the volume of lake, lakebed terrain, water quality and aquatic life.

The survey was conducted by Qinghai authorities and Changjiang scientific research institute.

The survey will be significant to understanding the influence of climate change on plateau lakes and infrastructure such as railways and highways, as ice may thaw and cause flooding, said Li Qijiang, deputy head of the provincial hydrology and water resources survey bureau.