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Understanding of groundwater salinity using statistical modeling in a small tropical island, East Malaysia

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Abstract

This paper presents an understanding of groundwater salinity by identification of effective factors using chemometric methods (cluster analysis and multiple linear regressions) in Manukan Island, Sabah. Local groundwater and environmental properties were used to explore the effective factors of groundwater salinity. Cluster analysis showed salinity and chloride illustrated the highest similarities. Electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids were also grouped in the same cluster. Seawater is the only chloride source in groundwater of Manukan Island demonstrated an indication of seawater mixing in freshwater. It is an effect of upward movement of the seawater by pumping activities. Precipitation and evapotranspiration (environmental condition) with hydraulic heads were clustered together to show that they also influence salinity concentration in groundwater. Multiple linear regressions showed descending order of the factors from chloride (the largest contribution) to evapotranspiration (the smallest contribution) and illustrated the contribution to groundwater salinity in Manukan Island. The integrated results using chemometric methods have provided a way to identify the effective factors on groundwater salinity. This similar approach and resulting equation can be applied in other small tropical islands with alike hydrogeological condition and limited information available for a better understanding of its groundwater salinity.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support through Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Malaysia (ScienceFund: 04-01-10-SF0065) and National Science Fellowship (NSF) Scholarship (primary author) are gratefully acknowledged. Sincere appreciation to Sabah Parks for their permission to conduct this study in Manukan Island. Special thanks to Mr Lin Chin Yik, Miss Li Ying Chua, Mr Jay Jim, and Mr Ng Kuan Leang for their assistances during boreholes constructions.

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Correspondence to Sarva Mangala Praveena.

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Praveena, S.M., Abdullah, M.H., Bidin, K. et al. Understanding of groundwater salinity using statistical modeling in a small tropical island, East Malaysia. Environmentalist 31, 279–287 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-011-9332-y

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