SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS OF AHIMALAYANLAKE(DALLAKE)BY MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS.

Abstract

Dal Lake is one of the topmost attraction of tourists in Kashmir valley and is subjected to a steadily expanding rate of eutrophication and siltation. Considering the significance of this world acclaimed water body for Kashmiri human advancement and economy, the main objectives of this study was long term assessment of water quality of the Dal Lake by using multivariate statistical tools. The period of water quality assessment was 5 years from September 2010 to August 2015.Significant spatio-temporal variability in most parameters indicated considerable spatio-temporal variations. From the principal component analysis it can be construed that the lake water quality is mainly influenced by waste water discharge and agricultural run-off in the form of proliferation of nutrients like nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, phosphates and chlorides. From the spatial cluster analysis it is clear that the Central Site Nigeen, Outlet Sites of Habak and Outlet Site of Hazratbal are the most polluted sites of Dal Lake and need immediate remediation strategies.Overall, this study may contribute towards the advancement of knowledge and development of conservation strategies for the Dal Lake. Copy Right, IJAR, 2016,. All rights reserved.