Abstract
Multivariate statistical techniques such as cluster analysis (CA), factor analysis (FA) were used for the evaluation of spatial variations and the interpretation of a large complex water quality data set of two selected estuaries of Malaysia. The two locations of interest with 10 sites in each location were Kuala Juru (Juru estuary) and Bukit Tambun (Jejawi estuary). Cluster analysis showed that some sites in both locations have similar sources of pollution from point or non-point sources whereas FA yielded four factors which are responsible for water quality variations explaining more than 80% of the total variance of the data set and allowed to group the selected water quality. Correlation analysis of the data showed that some parameters have strong association with other parameters and they share a common origin source. This study illustrates the usefulness of multivariate statistical analysis for evaluation and interpretation of complex data sets to get better information about the pollution sources/factors and understanding the behavior of the parameters in water quality for effective river water quality management.
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The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance from Universiti Sains Malaysia and the research facilities by Dean School of Industrial Technology, USM (Grant number PTEKIND/638021).
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Alkarkhi, A.F.M., Ahmad, A. & Easa, A.M. Assessment of surface water quality of selected estuaries of Malaysia: multivariate statistical techniques. Environmentalist 29, 255–262 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-008-9190-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-008-9190-4