The Application of Local Moran’s and Getis–Ord to Identify Spatial Patterns and Critical Source Areas of Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 5
Abstract
Agricultural nonpoint source pollution (ANPS) can cause systemic pollution of the ecological environment, directly threatening sustainable agricultural development and human health and safety. Accurate estimation of ANPS loads, clarification of the sources and spatial distribution patterns of ANPS, and effective control and management of ANPS in the watershed require identifying critical source areas. This case study focuses on the Danjiang River basin, a critical water source for China’s South-to-North Water Division and demonstrates the efficiency of ArcGIS’s spatial statistical analysis methods in discovering the hidden spatial pattern of ANPS and extracting the causes associated with the spatial pattern, as well as the accuracy of identifying critical source areas of ANPS. In this study, two spatial statistical analysis methods, Anselin local Moran’s and hot-spot analysis (Getis–Ord ), are applied to propose a method for accurately identifying critical source areas of ANPS based on the spatial distribution of ANPS loads. The results of the study are as follows: (1) based on the MIKE LOAD model, the annual ANPS loads of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in the Danhan River basin are calculated as 182,530.15, 16,137.39, 58,285.92, and , respectively. (2) Clusters are mainly distributed in the southwestern part of the watershed, and the spatial pattern is directly related to land use and rural population; the spatial pattern of outliers is related to agricultural modes and geographical characteristics. (3) Hot spot clusters are concentrated in the hinterland of Hanzhong Plain; the regional specialty of agriculture is the dominant factor in determining the spatial pattern of cold-spot and hot-spot clusters. (4) Based on these findings, seven critical subbasins and one critical source area of ANPS that need to be prioritized for control in the study area are identified.
Practical Applications
Agricultural nonpoint source pollution (ANPS) is a significant cause of ecosystem pollution, which directly threatens the sustainable development of agriculture, human health, and safety. The Dan–Han River Basin is a crucial water source in China for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and provides water to 140 million people. It is essential to ensure that the water quality of the Dan-Han River remains unpolluted. The ANPS as a major source of water pollution in the watershed is difficult to identify and control. Accurately identifying the sources and spatial distribution patterns of ANPS pollutants is a prerequisite for maintaining water quality and controlling ANPS. Our study offers a new perspective on methods to reveal the hidden spatial pattern and identify critical source areas of ANPS in watersheds. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of ArcGIS’s spatial statistical analysis methods in discovering the hidden spatial pattern of ANPS, extracting the causes associated with the spatial pattern, and accurately identifying critical source areas of ANPS. These methods can also be applied to study nonpoint source pollution in other watersheds.
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Data Availability Statement
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Key Research and Development Project of Shaanxi Province (2019ZDLSF06-01); the open project of National Demonstration Center for Experimental Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering Education of Xi’an University of Technology (WRHE2101); and the “Scientists+Engineers” Team Construction Based on QinChuangYuan Platform, Shaanxi Province (No. 2022KXJ-115). We gratefully thank all the research group members on Non-Point Source Pollution Control and Sponge City of the State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China for their efforts in the water quality test.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 5 • May 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 28, 2023
Accepted: Dec 3, 2023
Published online: Feb 22, 2024
Published in print: May 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jul 22, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Agricultural wastes
- Analysis (by type)
- Buckling
- Business management
- Continuum mechanics
- Critical loads
- Design (by type)
- Distribution functions
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Environmental engineering
- Load distribution
- Mathematical functions
- Mathematics
- Nonpoint pollution
- Nutrient pollution
- Pollutants
- Pollution
- Practice and Profession
- Public administration
- Public health and safety
- Solid mechanics
- Spatial analysis
- Spatial distribution
- Structural design
- Structural dynamics
- Wastes
- Water pollution
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