Mathematical model of 137Cs vertical migration in a forest soil

A detailed simulation model for prediction of the magnitude and direction of radionuclide migration in forest soils is described. The mathematical model has been constructed to simulate 137Cs dynamics in the soddy podzolic soils of a mixed forest system (predominantly oak with some birch and pine) in the 30-km zone around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP). Field data gathered by the Radioecology Laboratory of Moscow State University were used both for parameterization of the model and also for validation. Some problems encountered in the mathematical modeling of 137Cs migration in these ecosystems are discussed.