TY - JOUR
T1 - Multivariate statistical technique in the assessment of coastal water quality of Oman
AU - Chitrakar, Prerana
AU - Baawain, Mahad Said
AU - Sana, Ahmad
AU - Al-Mamun, Abdullah
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, Sultanate of Oman, for the financial support provided through the research project (CR/DVC/CESAR/15/02).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 ICE Publishing: All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/6/10
Y1 - 2020/6/10
N2 - Coastal water plays a significant role in the growth and productivity of marine organisms; and is the source of many important economic activities including fishery, coastal recreation and socio-economic development. Coastal water quality is highly influenced by the physical, chemical and biological processes in the ocean. The present study assessed 17 physico-chemical water quality parameters along the Omani coastline of Capital Muscat at Mina Al Fahal, Al Ghubrah, Barka and Quriyat. The results showed that the level of dissolved oxygen (O2) was lower than 5 mg/l at the Mina Al Fahal (2.24 mg/l) and Quriyat stations (3.68 mg/l), signifying a threat to coastal species. Relatively high total dissolved solids (>40 000 mg/l), total coliform (>500 most probable number (MPN)/100 ml) and Escherichia coli (>35 MPN/100 ml) at the Al Ghubrah and Barka stations indicated contamination from brine disposal, local run-offs, decomposition of organic waste and domestic effluent discharges. The higher phosphate-phosphorus level of 0.14 mg/l at Quriyat suggested pollution from local fish waste and sediment decomposition. The analysed parameters were further evaluated using multivariate statistical techniques such as cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis/factor analysis (PCA/FA). CA provided five clusters after grouping the parameters based on similarity. PCA/FA identified four main loading factors, with a total variance of 74.2%. The analysis showed contamination from desalination plants, domestic waste, local discharge and natural fish wastes and weathering of seabed rocks and sediments as the main contributors to the elevated concentrations affecting the water quality in the study locations.
AB - Coastal water plays a significant role in the growth and productivity of marine organisms; and is the source of many important economic activities including fishery, coastal recreation and socio-economic development. Coastal water quality is highly influenced by the physical, chemical and biological processes in the ocean. The present study assessed 17 physico-chemical water quality parameters along the Omani coastline of Capital Muscat at Mina Al Fahal, Al Ghubrah, Barka and Quriyat. The results showed that the level of dissolved oxygen (O2) was lower than 5 mg/l at the Mina Al Fahal (2.24 mg/l) and Quriyat stations (3.68 mg/l), signifying a threat to coastal species. Relatively high total dissolved solids (>40 000 mg/l), total coliform (>500 most probable number (MPN)/100 ml) and Escherichia coli (>35 MPN/100 ml) at the Al Ghubrah and Barka stations indicated contamination from brine disposal, local run-offs, decomposition of organic waste and domestic effluent discharges. The higher phosphate-phosphorus level of 0.14 mg/l at Quriyat suggested pollution from local fish waste and sediment decomposition. The analysed parameters were further evaluated using multivariate statistical techniques such as cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis/factor analysis (PCA/FA). CA provided five clusters after grouping the parameters based on similarity. PCA/FA identified four main loading factors, with a total variance of 74.2%. The analysis showed contamination from desalination plants, domestic waste, local discharge and natural fish wastes and weathering of seabed rocks and sediments as the main contributors to the elevated concentrations affecting the water quality in the study locations.
KW - Environment
KW - field testing & monitoring
KW - statistical analysis
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U2 - 10.1680/jenes.19.00038
DO - 10.1680/jenes.19.00038
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85091846505
SN - 1496-2551
VL - 15
SP - 141
EP - 153
JO - Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science
JF - Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science
IS - 3
ER -