A Mathematical Model of Phenolic Groundwater Contamination at a Brownfield Site Based on Few Available Data

Author: Thiergärtner, Hannes

Source: Mathematical Geology, Volume 38, Number 6, August 2006 , pp. 749-763(15)

Publisher: Springer

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $47.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Phenolic chemicals form multi-substance systems. They can pollute aquifers by the leacheate from tar residues and their concentrations which vary in space and time and require quantitative models of composition, spatial distribution and temporal alteration of the contaminants for monitoring and remediation. Mathematical models for groundwater flow, contaminant transport or mass balances and numerous unspecific multivariate-statistical methods cannot be applied if there are only few observation points within comparatively small polluted industrial sites. However, multi-dimensional heuristc models of pattern recognition can be used to study attribute patterns, object pattern, the spatial distribution of object classes, and the temporal development of objects. A proved sequence of investigative steps includes: (1) determination of contaminant association patterns by cluster analysis; (2) visualization of spectral analysis of polluting constituents; (3) determination of classes of pollution from cluster dendrograms; (4) descriptive class characteristics; (5) subdivision of the studied area regarding its multivariate properties; and (6) interpretative temporal analysis. This approach is demonstrated with groundwater contamination at a brownfield site.

Keywords: groundwater contamination; phenols; spatial distribution; temporal development; few data; mathematical models; classification

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11004-006-9045-9

Affiliations: 1: Email: thiergartner@aol.com

Publication date: 2006-08-01