What is piper plots?

Piper plots are graphical representations of water chemistry data, commonly used in hydrology, geology, and environmental science. They are used to show the proportions of different ions or chemical compounds, such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate, chloride, and bicarbonate, in natural water samples.

The plots consist of three diamonds, representing the proportion of cations (positively charged ions), anions (negatively charged ions), and total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water sample. The cations and anions diamonds are located at the top and bottom of the plot, respectively, while the TDS diamond is located in the center.

The size of each diamond represents the total concentration of the respective ions or compounds, while the position of each diamond indicates the relative proportion of those ions or compounds.

Piper plots are particularly useful for identifying water chemistry patterns and changes in groundwater quality over time or distance. They can also help to identify geochemical processes occurring within an aquifer or other natural water system.