Applying Factor Analysis Combined with Kriging and Information Entropy Theory for Mapping and Evaluating the Stability of Groundwater Quality Variation in Taiwan

Guey-Shin Shyu, Bai-You Cheng, Chi-Ting Chiang, Pei-Hsuan Yao and Tsun-Kuo Chang
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Guey-Shin Shyu: Department of Environmental Management, Tungnan University, Taipei County 222, Taiwan
Bai-You Cheng: Ecological Engineering Research Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Chi-Ting Chiang: Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Pei-Hsuan Yao: Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Tsun-Kuo Chang: Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2011, vol. 8, issue 4, 1-26

Abstract: In Taiwan many factors, whether geological parent materials, human activities, and climate change, can affect the groundwater quality and its stability. This work combines factor analysis and kriging with information entropy theory to interpret the stability of groundwater quality variation in Taiwan between 2005 and 2007. Groundwater quality demonstrated apparent differences between the northern and southern areas of Taiwan when divided by the Wu River. Approximately 52% of the monitoring wells in southern Taiwan suffered from progressing seawater intrusion, causing unstable groundwater quality. Industrial and livestock wastewaters also polluted 59.6% of the monitoring wells, resulting in elevated EC and TOC concentrations in the groundwater. In northern Taiwan, domestic wastewaters polluted city groundwater, resulting in higher NH 3 -N concentration and groundwater quality instability was apparent among 10.3% of the monitoring wells. The method proposed in this study for analyzing groundwater quality inspects common stability factors, identifies potential areas influenced by common factors, and assists in elevating and reinforcing information in support of an overall groundwater management strategy.

Keywords: Kriging; factor analysis; information entropy theory; groundwater; GIS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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