Geospatial analysis of spatiotemporal patterns of pH, total suspended sediment and chlorophyll-a on the Amazon floodplain

We applied spatial data analysis and geostatistical procedures to pH, total suspended sediment and chlorophyll-a concentration data gathered on an Amazon floodplain lake. Variographic analysis and ordinary kriging interpolation were used to identify and describe spatiotemporal patterns of variability in these parameters, which are relevant to understand the dynamics of water circulation on the floodplain lake. In spite of the complexity of the processes underlying the spatiotemporal patterns, this approach demonstrated that the heterogeneity in the seasonal water composition is forced not only by the Amazon River flood pulse, but also by the lake bottom topography and the wind intensity.