To quantify soil erosion/deposition rates, the radionuclide loss or
gain which was computed by comparing radionuclide inventories at
sampling sites to a reference inventory was converted into soil loss or
gain using conversion models. In all conversion models, a site with a
total 137Cs inventory (Bq m−2) less than the local reference inventory
(Bq m−2) was assumed to be an eroding site, while sites with inventories
higher than the reference inventory were assumed to be depositional
sites. Empirical and theoretical conversion models were used to
calculate erosion and sedimentation rates fromradionuclide inventories
developed in previous studies for both cultivated and undisturbed soils.
Models developed by Elliott et al.