ASTM_D_5877_-_95_2005.pdf

Designation:D 5877 95(Reapproved 2005)Standard Guide forDisplaying Results of Chemical Analyses of Ground Waterfor Major Ions and Trace ElementsDiagrams Based onData Analytical Calculations1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5877;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers methods that graphically displaychemical analyses of multiple ground-water samples,discretevalues and also those reduced to comprehensive summaries orparameters.Details required by the investigator to fully use themethods are found in the listed references.The methodsincluded in this guide are many of the graphical procedures thatwere not discussed in two previous guides,Guides D 5738 andD 5754.NOTE1The graphic methods in this guide apply to both raw andtransformed data,for example,unaltered medians,maximums,andminimums and transformed means,square-roots,frequency distributions,and so forth.The methods are often computational intensive,requiring theuse of a digital computer.Some graphical methods illustrate the results ofthe statistical analysis of a sample data set.For example,box plots aregraphical portrayals of the maximum,minimum,median,25th percentile,and 75th percentile of one variable,such as the chloride ion from a groupof chemical analyses.Besides chemical components,other variables that may be plotted toshow an interdependence with water chemistry include time,distance,andtemperature.1.2 This guide on diagrams based on data analytical calcu-lations is the third of several documents to inform the hydrolo-gists and geochemists about traditional graphical methods fordisplaying ground-water chemical data.NOTE2The initial guide described the category of water-analysisdiagrams that use two-dimensional trilinear graphs to display,on a singlediagram,the common chemical components from two or more analyses ofnatural ground water.1.2.1 The second guide described the category of water-analysis diagrams that use pattern and pictorial methods as abasis for displaying each of the individual chemical compo-nents determined from the analysis of a single sample ofnatural ground water.1.3 This guide presents a compilation of diagrams thatallows for transformation of numerical data into visual,usableforms.It is not a guide to selection or use.That choice isprogram or project specific.1.4 Many graphic techniques have been developed by in-vestigators to illustrate the results of the data analyticalcomputations to assist in summarizing and interpreting relateddata sets.In this guide,selected graphical methods are illus-trated using ground-water chemistry data.1.5 The basic or original format of each of the graphicaltechniques given in this guide has been modified in severalways,largely depending upon the data analytical techniquesused by the investigators.Several minor modifications arementioned,some significant revisions are discussed in moredetail.1.6 Notations have been incorporated within many diagramsillustrated in this guide to assist the reader in understandinghow the diagrams are constructed.These notations would notbe required on a diagram designed for inclusion in a projectdocument.NOTE3Use of trade names in this guide is for identification purposesonly and does not constitute endorsement by ASTM.1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.8 This guide offers an organized collection of informationor a series of options and does not recommend a specificcourse of action.This document cannot replace education orexperience and should be used in conjunction with professionaljudgment.Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in allcircumstances.This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rockand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Ground Water andVadose Zone Investigations.Current edition approved Nov.1,2005.Published December 2005.Originallyapproved in 1995.Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D 5877 95(2000).1Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.a given professional service must be judged,nor should thisdocument be applied without consideration of a projects manyunique aspects.The word“Standard”in the title of thisdocument means only that the document has been approvedthrough the ASTM consensus process.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D 596 Practice for Reporting Results of Anal