Investigation of Potential Groundwater Acidification in Sweden - Using Principal Component Analysis and Regression Analysis

摘要

The purpose of the present investigation was to make statistical analyses on ground water data collected by the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) during the period 1968 - 1985. The intention was to trace effects due to acidification. 19 different areas from all parts of Sweden were selected for the investigation. The statistical methods used were principal component analysis and ordinary regressio analysis. The analyses showed that changes in pH worth mentioning did not occur during the period. When the alkalinity or the concentrations of calcium or sulphate changed during the period, increments were most frequent. The concentrations of magnesium were closely coupled to variations in the ground water levels. The fluctuations in time for the different ions could only be coupled to each other to a low extent. It is likely that more information could have been obtained from the material if the measurements had been made in a different way. Therefore equidistant and coordinated measurements as well as shorter intervals between measurements would be of great importance in future data collection. (ERA citation 14:011807)