Using Principal Components Analysis and IDW Interpolation to Determine Spatial and Temporal Changes of Surface Water Quality of Xin’anjiang River in Huangshan, China

A decade-long assessment of the Xin'anjiang River in Huangshan, China, reveals stable water quality from 2008 to 2017 but highlights significant pollution at the Pukou sampling point. The study, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation on 960 monthly samples, identified nutrient and organic pollution as major factors degrading water quality. Agricultural activities, erosion, domestic, and industrial discharges were pinpointed as primary sources of contamination. PCA accounted for 87.24% of the variance, while IDW interpolation mapped spatial-temporal changes, guiding targeted pollution control efforts. This combined approach proves effective in managing water quality and mitigating eutrophication pressure in Thousand Island Lake, offering a robust framework for environmental safety.

Yang, W., Zhao, Y., Wang, D., Wu, H., Lin, A., & He, L. (2020). Using Principal Components Analysis and IDW Interpolation to Determine Spatial and Temporal Changes of Surface Water Quality of Xin’anjiang River in Huangshan, China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), 2942. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082942