Exploration of the factors that influence total phosphorus in surface water and an evaluation of surface water vulnerability based on an advanced algorithm and traditional index method.

Due to the continuous influence of human activities, phosphorus pollution in surface water has become a persistent problem that needs to be addressed since phosphorous entails certain risks and degrees of damage to ecosystems and humans. The presence and accumulation of total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in surface waters is the result of a combined effect of many natural and anthropogenic factors, and it is often difficult to intuitively identify the individual importance of each factor in regard to the pollution of the aquatic environment. Considering these issues, this study provides a new methodology to better understand the vulnerability of surface water to TP pollution and the factors that influence TP pollution through the application of two modeling approaches.