Application of the Weibull distribution to describe the vertical distribution of cesium-137 on a slope under permanent pasture in Luxembourg.

The application of solutions of the Advection-Dispersion-Equation (ADE) for soil profiles is sometimes questionable. An alternative method, based on the Weibull distribution, has been developed, which can approximate the vertical distribution of radiocesium (137Cs) and allows extrapolation to account for the complete inventory. The structure of the equation allows simple parameters describing the soil depth profile to be derived. Reliable estimates of the total 137Cs inventory can help to explain the lateral distribution. This equation was used to analyse the 137Cs-activities of Chernobyl fall-out measured on a slope under permanent pasture in Luxembourg.