Discriminant analysis for characterization of hydrochemistry of two mountain river basins of contrasting climates in the southern Western Ghats, India

摘要: Discriminant analysis (DA) was performed on river hydrochemistry data for three seasons (i.e., monsoon (MON), post-monsoon (POM), and pre-monsoon (PRM)) to examine the spatio-temporal hydrochemical variability of two mountain basins (Muthirapuzha River Basin (MRB) Pambar (PRB)) southern Western Ghats, India. Although drain tropical mountainous terrain, climate degree anthropogenic disturbances show significant differences humid, more disturbed MRB vs semiarid, less PRB). In MRB, TDS, Na+, pH, Mg2+, K+ are attributes responsible variations between seasons, while Cl−, TH, Na+ predictors in PRB. The temporal discriminant models imply importance rainfall pattern, relative contribution groundwater toward stream discharge farming activities seasons. Inclusion (in functions) that can be derived from both natural sources suggests ionic enrichment strongly depends is mainly due intensity as well fluctuations discharge. spatial models, Cl− only variable (during MON), whereas Si discriminates during POM PRM, implying role atmospheric supply, modifications weathering. discrimination misclassification PRB attributed overlapping effect humid extending upstream (semiarid) This study underscores versatility DA deciphering significance climatic controls composition rivers.