Determination and sensitivity analysis of dispersion parameters for solute transport in soils

Analytical solutions to the problem of solute transport in soils are presented for simple one-dimensional cases. A model from the literature, determining transport parameters by employing a nonlinear least-squares inversion method, is evaluated as to its reliability in producing the correct set of parameters. A sensitivity analysis of the parameters is also performed and some useful conclusions, about the reliability of the numerical code, are drawn. On the basis of theoretical analysis, an application is attempted for simple cases of one-dimensional solute transport in soils. Comments concerning the sampling design for the parameters' estimation are also added. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.