Factor Analysis in Physical Sciences
Factor analysis has also been widely used in physical sciences such as geochemistry, ecology, and hydrochemistry.
In groundwater quality management, it is important to relate the spatial distribution of different chemical parameters to different possible sources, which have different chemical signatures. For example, a sulfide mine is likely to be associated with high levels of acidity, dissolved sulfates and transition metals. These signatures can be identified as factors through R-mode factor analysis, and the location of possible sources can be suggested by contouring the factor scores.
In geochemistry, different factors can correspond to different mineral associations, and thus to mineralisation.
Read more about this topic: Factor Analysis
Famous quotes containing the words factor, analysis, physical and/or sciences:
“You factor in racism as a reality and you keep moving.”
—Jewell Jackson McCabe (b. 1945)
“A commodity appears at first sight an extremely obvious, trivial thing. But its analysis brings out that it is a very strange thing, abounding in metaphysical subtleties and theological niceties.”
—Karl Marx (1818–1883)
“A woman may very well form a friendship with a man, but for this to endure, it must be assisted by a little physical antipathy.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. The power of invention has been conferred by nature upon few, and the labour of learning those sciences which may, by mere labour, be obtained, is too great to be willingly endured; but every man can exert some judgment as he has upon the works of others; and he whom nature has made weak, and idleness keeps ignorant, may yet support his vanity by the name of critic.”
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)