Evaluation of surface water quality characteristics by using multivariate statistical techniques: A case study of the Euphrates river basin, Turkey

FİLİK İŞÇEN C., ALTIN YAVUZ A., ŞENOĞLU B., YAVUZ H. S.

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT, vol.151, pp.259-264, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 151
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s10661-008-0267-9
  • Journal Name: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.259-264
  • Keywords: Euphrates river basin, Factor analysis, Multidimensional scaling, Statistical techniques, Water quality
  • Eskisehir Osmangazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The surface water quality of the Euphrates river basin in Turkey are evaluated by using the multivariate statistical techniques known as factor analysis (FA) and multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis. When FA was applied to the water quality data obtained from the 15 different surface water quality monitoring stations, two factors were identified, which were responsible from the 86.02% of the total variance of the water quality in the Euphrates river basin. The first factor called the urban land use factor explained 44.20% of the total variance and the second factor called the agricultural use factor explained 41.81% of the total variance. MDS technique showed that electrical conductivity (EC), percent sodium (Na%) and total salt are the most important variables causing difference in the water quality analysis.