Spatio-Temporal Variations in Water Quality of the Chao Phraya River, Thailand, between 1991 and 2008

Piyathap Avakul, Tuantong Jutagate

Ubon Ratchathani University.
Ubon Ratchathani University, Mahidol University.

DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2012.49082                

Abstract

Spatio-temporal variations in the water quality of the Chao Phraya River, Thailand, were examined, on average-yearly basis, between 1999 and 2008, from 32 surface water stations from the river origin to the delta. Five water quality parameters viz., DO, BOD, TCB, FCB, NH3-N and water temperature were used in the analysis. Analysis was performed by using the Self Organizing Maps. Four distinct spatially approached clusters were classified, according to the similarity of water quality parameters, while temporal variations of most of the surface water stations were not obviously observed. The worst water quality condition was at the stations near the river delta and highly related to anthropogenic stresses. Result from the correspondence analysis showed that, except for the cluster of the worst water quality, the stations of the remaining three clusters were overlapped. There was no statistical difference in water temperature among clusters but the expected effects from climate change should be a precautionary focus since the will eventually affect the water quality.

Keywords

Surface Water; Self Organizing Maps; Anthropogenic Stresses; Temperature

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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