Numerical classification of saline groundwater chemistry in the Murrumbidgee irrigation area

Abstract

Numerical classification techniques were used to examine the chemical composition of 169 shallow groundwater samples in relation to their geographical distribution within the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. The ionic proportions are very similar throughout the whole area, but the total soluble salt concentrations are very variable. The classification was more coherent when primary variables were used rather than derived variables such as Saturation Indices.