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SOME CONCEPTUAL AND STATISTICAL ISSUES IN ANALYSIS OF GROUNDWATER MONITORING DATA
Author(s) -
GIBBONS ROBERT D.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
environmetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-095X
pISSN - 1180-4009
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-095x(199603)7:2<185::aid-env204>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - groundwater , environmental science , parametric statistics , censoring (clinical trials) , statistical analysis , statistics , hydrology (agriculture) , econometrics , mathematics , geology , geotechnical engineering
Statistical issues in analysis of groundwater monitoring data are detailed, particularly detection of releases from waste disposal facilities into groundwater flowing beneath a landfill. The probability that new geochemical measurements from each of k monitoring wells are consistent with background levels based on a sample of n historical measurements is discussed. Future comparisons (i.e. k monitoring wells each sampled for q chemical constituents) and analytical limitations on data censoring (i.e. samples for which the analyte cannot be quantified) result in complex statistical decisions. Current regulations require all k × q comparisons be within background limits at each semi‐annual monitoring event. Parametric and non‐parametric solutions to this problem are described.