Factor Modeling of Mass Transfer of Pollutants in the Areas of Hydrogeological Windows

Abstract

The main purpose of the research was to study the distinctive features of groundwater chemistry of the target aquifer in Moscow in the sites of hydrogeological windows, where the contaminants can rapidly enter from the shallow to more deep aquifers that leads to substantial water quality deterioration. To determine the background concentrations, the representative sample was analyzed and the features of chemical elements -indicators distribution in the target and overlying aquifers was defined. The principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to evaluate the main factors controlling groundwater chemistry in the sites of hydrogeological windows and outside the windows. Variogram analysis was used to clarify the patterns of the spatial distribution of concentrations of indicator components. The results of research allowed to reveal a complex linear correlation between the components concentrations and identify the following factors of groundwater chemistry formation: the anthropogenic factor in the sites of hydrogeological windows caused by percolation the water contaminated with anti-icing agents or communal drains, and the natural factor outside the hydrogeological windows caused by dissolution of water-bearing carbonate rocks and gypsum layers in carbonate rocks.