Study of Temporal and Spatial Surface Water Quality in Coastal Waters of Hormozgan Province by Using Multivariate Analysis

In this study, Spatial and temporal water quality in coastal waters of Hormozgan province were evaluated using multivariate statistical techniques, such as cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA). For the measurement of particles and nutrients, the Sampling was performed in surface layer of water (Until one meter) for 12 months in 2013. Water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity and chlorophyll a were measured by CTD in situ. Cluster analysis grouped fourteen stations and twelve months into three and two clusters of similar water quality features respectively.The principle component analysis identified five parameters(temperature, electrical conductivity, nitrate, total ammonia and Chlorophyll a) for temporal analysis and seven parameters (temperature, electrical conductivity, nitrate, total ammonia, phosphate, silicate and chlorophyll a) for spatial analysis. In addition, PCA identified three latent pollution sources for groups 1, 2 and 3 (organic_eutrophication, Nutrient pollution and natural pollution (. It seems that the coastal waters can be classified into three groups, i.e. low, moderate and high pollution).