An example of the use of factor analysis and cluster analysis in groundwater chemistry interpretation

Abstract Factor analysis and cluster analysis, as applied to two widely differing sets of groundwater hydrochemical data, appear to be moderately successful as statistical tools for revealing hydrochemical and hydrogeological features, including patterns of groundwater flow. They possess advantages over the traditional graphical methods of solving similar problems, principally in their systematic nature, and they can generate inter-parameter relationships that may be overlooked in the less sophisticated traditional methods. Their disadvantages are that they are easily prone to misuse and misinterpretation due to their complexity. Further, there is a need for the user to have adequate statistical knowledge.