Integrated hydrogeochemical and spatial assessment of groundwater quality using multivariate statistics and GIS: a case study from northeastern Iran

Effective monitoring and assessment of groundwater quality are essential for sustainable resource management in arid regions. This study investigates the hydrogeochemical variability and environmental risks associated with groundwater in the Neyshabur Plain, northeastern Iran, as a semi-arid basin under climatic pressures. To clarify spatial variability, the study distinguishes between groundwater inside the main aquifer, representing extraction zones, and outside areas that mainly serve as rech