Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 3.3
The Pearson correlation coefficient applied to individual ecological (A1 and A2) stress
indicators to determine their mutual correlations
(A1) Ecological indicators
A
1
A
2
A
3
A
4
A
5
A
6
A
7
A
8
A
9
A
10
A
1
−
0.324
0.708
0.341 0.158
0.658
0.760
0.060
0.453
0.250
A
2
−
0.033
−
0.071 0.503
0.113
0.245
−
0.279
−
0.219
0.000
A
3
0.665 0.190
0.715
0.731
0.203
0.396
0.357
A
4
0.302
0.419
0.384
0.436
0.171
0.004
A
5
0.129
0.406
−
0.365
0.060
−
0.288
A
6
0.709
0.441
−
0.030
0.555
A
7
−
0.032
0.336
0.237
A
8
−
0.389
0.211
A
9
0.199
A
10
(A2) Ecological indicators
Relief and soil
degradation
Air
pollution
Wa t er
pollution
Forest
devastation
Relief and soil
degradation
0.776
0.915
0.405
Air pollution
0.685
0.352
Water pollution
0.316
Forest
devastation
relaxation time is long, and forests therefore respond slowly. This is further con-
firmed by the low correlations compared to other indicator sets (polluted air and
water, degradation of relief and soil) which are closely interconnected.
Compared to ecological stress, the correlations in the case of social stress are far
more complex and difficult to interpret. This can be attributed to the far greater com-
plexity and developmental entanglement (or almost contingency) within the social
subsystem. We can detect a medium-close correlation between individual sets of
social stress indicators; in some cases there is even a negative correlation. The spa-
tial mobility of the inhabitants (indicating lability or stability of the study area)
is logically related to the economic aspects, as an economically thriving locality
attracts immigration (
r
0.664). On the other hand, less economically viable loca-
tions may become depopulated (
r
=
=
0.410) or suffer from disturbed family bonds
(
r
0.521). The psychological effect (loss of illusions) is likely to have an impor-
tant role in this respect. Of the individual social stress indicators, a relatively close
pair correlation with the ratio of natives is detectable. In localities with stable pop-
ulation (high ratio of natives) we can detect a low vital index (
r
=
=
0.591) and low
birth rate (
r
=
0.654), but comparatively favourable education structure (
r
=
-0.591)
and undisturbed family bonds (
r
0.735). In case of the vital index, closer correla-
tions with other social stress indicators are detectable. The vital index has a logical
=
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