SPATIAL DISTRIBUTIONCHARACTERISTICS OF SUBTERRANEAN HOT WATER EVALUATED USING WATER QUALITY CONCENTRATION DATA

Abstract

Spatial distribution characteristics of subterranean hot water were indexed using correlation coefficient's (R) p-values for hot spring water quality indicators.For example, in a case where the p-value ofRwas smaller than 5%,the correlations of a set of water qualitiesfor two hot springs were significant.In this study, in adense hot springarea, the minimum distance with ap-value greater than Pc(critical p-value) was proposed as a stochastic andcritical distance(Xc) for both new and existing hotspring owners.By using data from 10 hot springs in each area, 45 sets of distances and p-values were examined. Of the five areas examined, threeand four Xcs more than 1,000m were found for Pc 1%andPc 5%, respectively.The experimental relation between the given Xc and the hot spring depth could not be confirmed. Results indicate that the influence of water quality from new hot springslocated outside of the Xc range is not always insignificant, even though the water quality of the new hot springs should primarily influenceexisting springs located within the Xc range