Abstract: The lake level variation using satellite altimetric data is focused in the environment monitoring field.The level of Qinghai Lake is computed using waveform retracking technology based on the ENVISAT SGDR data from Oct 2002 to Feb.2005.The level variations of the orthometric and normal height using EGM96 model and quasi-geoid model of Qinghai are analyzed respectively.And then the results are compared with the in-situ gauge record.The results show that the accuracy of measured altimeter range to inland lake is improved by retracking technique,and the variation of Qinghai lake level from altimetric data is very similar with that from the in-situ gauge record.