Abstract
Multivariate statistical approaches to classify sampling sites with measuring their similarity by water quality data and understand the characteristics of classified clusters have been discussed for the optimal water quality monitering network. For empirical study, data of two years (2005, 2006) at the 9 sampling sites with the combination of 2 depth levels and 7 important variables related to water quality is collected in Yongdam reservoir. The similarity among sampling sites is measured with Euclidean distances of water quality related variables and they are classified by hierarchical clustering method. The clustered sites are discussed with principal component variables in the view of the geographical characteristics of them and reducing the number of measuring sites. Nine sampling sites are clustered as follows; One cluster of 5, 6, and 7 sampling sites shows the characteristic of low water depth and main stream of water. The sites of 2 and 4 are clustered into the same group by characteristics of hydraulics which come from that of main stream. But their changing pattern of water quality looks like different since the site of 2 is near to dam. The sampling sites of 3, 8, and 9 are individually positioned due to the different tributary.
