Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications

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    Characterisation of spatial variability in water quality in the Great Barrier Reef catchments using multivariate statistical analysis
    Liu, S ; Ryu, D ; Webb, JA ; Lintern, A ; Waters, D ; Guo, D ; Western, AW (PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2018-12)
    Water quality monitoring is important to assess changes in inland and coastal water quality. The focus of this study was to improve understanding of the spatial component of spatial-temporal water quality dynamics, particularly the spatial variability in water quality and the association between this spatial variability and catchment characteristics. A dataset of nine water quality constituents collected from 32 monitoring sites over a 11-year period (2006-2016), across the Great Barrier Reef catchments (Queensland, Australia), were evaluated by multivariate techniques. Two clusters were identified, which were strongly associated with catchment characteristics. A two-step Principal Component Analysis/Factor Analysis revealed four groupings of constituents with similar spatial pattern and allowed the key catchment characteristics affecting water quality to be determined. These findings provide a more nuanced view of spatial variations in water quality compared with previous understanding and an improved basis for water quality management to protect nearshore marine ecosystem.