Interpretation of Hydrochemical Facies by Factor Analysis

Abstract

Hydrochemical facies interpretations are useful tools for determining the flow patterns, origins, and chemical histories of ground‐water masses. Factor analysis is advantageous for hydrochemical interpretations because it is independent of the number or type of variables used. Factor analysis also allows avoidance of problems of closed‐number systems inherent in more traditional techniques, such as trilinear diagrams. This paper applies factor analysis to the interpretation of mixing between sulfate and bicarbonate ground‐water masses. Whereas trilinear diagrams show one mixing trend (bicarbonate with sulfate waters), factor analysis allows interpretation of multiple mixing trends. These trends include the bicarbonate‐sulfate trend; a sodium‐, silica‐, fluoride‐, and temperature‐mixing system that is interpreted as resulting from recharge; and a chloride‐sodium system that appears to represent mixing with residual, connate water. The latter trends are identified as small‐scale, chemical variations that result in dispersion of the data points about the dominant mixing trend on the trilinear diagram. Thus, factor analysis provides greater precision in identifying hydrochemical facies and interpreting their origins.

Identification of groundwater chemistry origins in a regional aquifer system (Wielkopolska region, Poland)

“…The factor scores of each sample were calculated. Dalton and Upchurch (1978) found that the factor scores of a sample can be related to the intensity of the associated chemical processes and may then be used to interpret the hydrochemical facies origin. Extremely positive factor scores ([1) indicate the areas that are most affected, and extremely negative scores (\-1) indicate the areas unaffected by the chemical process represented by a factor.…”

Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater of peninsular Indian region using multivariate statistical techniques

“…It is superior to other simple techniques (Cattle 1966). The basic purpose of PCA is to study the hydrogeochemistry of groundwater and explain large amount variance in analytical data by a small number of key factors (Biswal et al 2004;Dalton and Upchruch 1978;Singh et al 2009Singh et al , 2013a.…”

“…The objective of the present study is to hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater using multivariate statistical analysis of bore well water in study area. The good amount of dataset obtained was subjected to the PCA multivariate analysis to evaluate information about seasonal variation in hydro chemical quality of the study area (Dalton and Upchruch 1978).…”

Using Statistical Analysis Approach to Evaluate the Groundwater Quality in Jisser Diyala Area

“…These methods can give the solution to the hydrological factors like aquifer boundaries, ground water flow paths, or hydrochemical contents [2], identify geochemical controls on composition [3], and fell apart anomalies like artificial impacts from the background on a variety of scales [4]. These studies often use either or both R-mode (source of variation in a dataset from parameters) or Q mode (variation between samples) multivariate techniques [5].…”