Next, the ITD–MFFA method was applied to analyze the spring EC time series (2013–2020) for all four spring groups. Figure 6 shows the multifractal characteristic results. From Figure 6(a), h(q) decreases with the increasing q; all four spring groups' spring EC time series exhibit multiscale and multifractal characteristics. The h(2) value reflects the long-term correlation strength. All corresponding h(2) values of the spring groups are <0.5, indicating that each spring group's EC time series displays a negative long-term correlation, i.e., antipersistence. The h(2) values decrease in the order of Heihu spring > Tanxi spring > Wangfuchizi spring > Baotu spring; in addition, the antipersistence is the highest for Baotu spring's EC. Figure 6(b) and Table 3 show the multifractal spectrum of the EC time series and the singular spectrum width Δα for each spring group. The variation range is 1.56–1.81, indicating that each spring group's multifractal degree varies. The Wangfuchizi spring's Δα value is the largest, indicating that the corresponding EC time series attain the highest multifractality degree, whereas Tanxi, Baotu, and Heihu springs' values considerably fluctuate.
Table 3

Long-term correlation exponent h(2) and complexity Δα of the EC time series of each spring group

SpringLong-term correlation exponent h(2)Complexity Δα
Baotu spring 0.316 1.606 
Heihu spring 0.331 1.559 
Tanxi spring 0.374 1.722 
Wangfuchizi 0.3839 1.814 
SpringLong-term correlation exponent h(2)Complexity Δα
Baotu spring 0.316 1.606 
Heihu spring 0.331 1.559 
Tanxi spring 0.374 1.722 
Wangfuchizi 0.3839 1.814 
Figure 6

Relationship curve between h(q) and q and the multifractal spectrum for each spring group.

Figure 6

Relationship curve between h(q) and q and the multifractal spectrum for each spring group.

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