Abstract
R- andQ-mode factor analysis is applied to 51 groundwater samples collected from wells drilled in the Plio-Pleistocene aquifers of NW Achaia, Greece. The purpose ofR- andQ-mode factor analysis application is to identify (i) the regional groundwater flow pattern, and (ii) the deterioration of groundwater quality. Sixteen hydrogeological parameters are used in order to examine their importance and to provide significant insight into their correlations. In theR-mode factor analysis, a six-factor model is suggested which can explain more than 77.5% of the total variance. The contribution of each factor at every site (factor scores) also is computed. Maps are constructed showing the geographical distribution of the factor scores. From these maps, the high salinity areas are delineated (seawater intrusion, possible appearance of halite layers) and the areas with elevated contribution of karastic-water are defined. Using theQ-mode correspondence analysis the meaning of the electrical conductivity as the most important variable in groundwater quality characterization is demonstrated.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Dalton, M. G., and Upchurch, S. G., 1978, Interpretation of hydrochemical facies by factor analysis: Ground Water v. 16, no. 4, p. 228–233.
Davis, J. C., 1987, Statistics and data analysis in geology (2nd ed.): John Wiley & Sons, New York, 656 p.
Dawdy, R. D., and Feth, H. J., 1966, Application of factor analysis in the study of chemistry of groundwater quality, Mojave River valley, California: Water Resources Res. v. 3, no. 2, p. 505–510.
Doutsos, T., Kontopoulos, N., and Poulimenos, G., 1988, The Korinth-Patras rift as the initial stage of continental fragmentation behind an active island arc (Greece): Basin Research, v. 1, no. 3, p. 177–190.
Durov, S. A., 1948, Natural waters and graphic representation of their composition: Dokl. Akad. Nauk. SSSR, v. 59, p. 87–90.
Hakli, T. A., 1970, Factor analysis of the sulphide phase in mafic and ultramafic rocks in Finland: Bull. Geol. Soc. Finland, v. 42, p. 109–118.
Hem, J. D., 1970, Study and Interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water, U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper, 363 p.
I.G.M.E., 1970, Geological map of Greece, Chalandritsa, Naupaktos, Patrai sheets, scale 1:50000, Athens.
Kaiser, H. F., 1958, The varimax criteria for analytical rotation in factor analysis: Psychometrika, v. 23, no. 3, p. 187–200.
Lambrakis, N., Voudouris, K., Tiniakos, L., and Kallergis, G., 1996, Impact of simultaneous action of drought and overpumping in aquifers of the Glaukos River basin: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences, in press.
Lloyd, I. W., 1965, The hydrochemistry of the aquifers of North-Eastern Jordan: Jour. Hydrology, v. 3, no. 3/4, p. 319–330.
Matalas, C. N., and Reiher, J. B., 1967, Some comments on the use of factor analysis: Water Resources Res., v. 3, no. 1, p. 213–223.
Panagos, A., and Vamavas, S., 1980, Some remarks of the genesis of the manganese ores in Western Peloponnesus, Greece: Mineral Wealth, v. 6, p. 15–18 (in Greek).
Papatheothorou, G., and Ferentinos, G., 1994, Applications of statistical multivariate analysis on pollution, with heavy metals of the marine environment: Proc. 30th Geogr. Congress, in press.
Phillipson, A., 1892, Der Peloponnes: Verlag Friedlander: Berlin, 89 p.
Piper, A. M., 1944, A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analyses: Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, v. 25, pt. 6, p. 914–923.
Poulimenos, G., Albers, G., and Doutsos, T., 1989, Neotectonic evolution of the central section of the Corinth Graben: Deutschen Geol. Gesellschaft Zeitschrift, v. 140, pt. 1, p. 173–182.
Psarianos, P., 1943, The Pliocene deposits of Ahaia: Ann. Geol. des pays Hell., v. 3, p. 193–214.
Reyment, R., and Joreskog, K. G., 1993, Applied factor analysis in the natural sciences: Cambridge Univ. Press, London, 371 p.
Rozos, E. D., 1991, Engineering-geological conditions in Achaia Province. Geomechanical characteristics of the Plio-Pleistocene sediments: unpubl. doctoral dissertation, Univ. Patras, 453 p. (in Greek).
Saager, R., and Esselaar, P. A., 1969, Factor analysis of geochemical data from the Basal Reef, Orange Free State, Goldfield, S. Africa: Econ. Geology. v. 64, no. 4, p. 445–451.
Schoeller, H., 1963, Recherches sur l’acquisition de la composition chimique des eaux: E., Drouillard, Bordeaux, 231 p.
Stiff, H. A., 1951, The interpretation of chemical analysis by means of patterns: Jour. Petrol. Tech., v. 3, p. 15–17.
Voudouris, K., 1995, Hydrogeological conditions of the Achaia area: unpubl. doctoral dissertation, Univ. Patras, 233 p. (in Greek).
Zelelidis, A., Koukouvelas, I., and Doutsos, T., 1988, Neogene paleostress changes behind the foreact fold belt in the Patraikos Gulf area. Western Greece: N. Jb. Geol. Palaont. Mh. v. 5, p. 311–325.
Ziourkas, K., and Koukis, G., 1989, Sliding phenomena of Evritania multivariate data analysis: Kentro Ereunon Demosion Ergon, v. 1-2, p. 23–32 (in Greek).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Voudouris, K.S., Lambrakis, N.J., Papatheothorou, G. et al. An application of factor analysis for the study of the hydrogeological conditions in Plio-Pleistocene aquifers of NW Achaia (NW peloponnesus, Greece). Math Geol 29, 43–59 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02769619
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02769619