Modelling of the groundwater hydrological behaviour of the Langueyú creek basin by using N-way multivariate methods

The groundwater hydrochemical behaviour of the Langueyú creek basin (Argentina) has been evaluated through a systematic survey, followed by application of hydrological and chemometric multivariate techniques. Ten physicochemical parameters were determined in groundwater samples collected from 26 wells during four sampling campaigns (June 2010; October 2010; February 2011 and June 2011), originating a tridimensional experimental dataset X. Univariate statistical and graphical hydrochemical tools (contour maps and Piper diagrams) applied to individual campaigns, allowed to reach some preliminary conclusions. However, a best visualization of the aquifer behaviour was achieved by applying Principal Component Analysis (MA-PCA) and N-way PCA procedures, Parallel Factor Analysis and Tucker3. Results were consistent with two-term models, being Tucker3 [2 2 1] the most adequate, explaining a large amount of the dataset variance (50.7%) with a low complexity. The first Tucker3 [1 1 1] interaction (38.2% of variance) is related with (i) calcium/magnesium versus sodium/potassium ion exchange processes; (ii) an increase of ionic concentration and (iii) a decrease of nitrate pollution, all processes along the direction of the groundwater flow. The second [2 2 1] interaction (12.5% of variance), accounts for the predominant role played by conductivity, bicarbonate and magnesium in the dataset. The seasonal variations are closely related to concentration/dilution phenomena originated by the variations of the phreatic levels, although this point will require additional sampling to establish a definitive hydrochemical model.Fil: Barranquero, Rosario Soledad. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Humanas. Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales. Centro de Investigación y Estudios Ambientales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pardo, Rafael. Universidad de Valladolid. Facultad de Ciencias; EspañaFil: Varni, Marcelo Raúl. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Rectorado. Instituto de Hidrología de Llanuras - Sede Azul. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Hidrología de Llanuras - Sede Azul; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz de Galarreta, Victor Alejandro. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Humanas. Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales. Centro de Investigación y Estudios Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Vega, Marisol. Universidad de Valladolid. Facultad de Ciencias; Españ