Using principal component analysis to monitor spatial and temporal changes in water quality

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-27-2003

Abstract

Chemical, biological and physical data monitored at 12 locations along the Passaic River, New Jersey, during the year 1998 are analyzed. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used: (i) to extract the factors associated with the hydrochemistry variability; (ii) to obtain the spatial and temporal changes in the water quality. Solute content, temperature, nutrients and organics were the main patterns extracted. The spatial analysis isolated two stations showing a possible point or non-point source of pollution. This study shows the importance of environmental monitoring associated with simple but powerful statistics to better understand a complex water system. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Identifier

0038354623 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Journal of Hazardous Materials

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3894(03)00104-3

ISSN

03043894

PubMed ID

12835021

First Page

179

Last Page

195

Issue

1-3

Volume

100

Fund Ref

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

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