Measurement and Prediction of the Oxygen Diffusion Coefficient in Unsaturated Media,with Applications to Soil Covers

The paper describes a methodology of extrapolation and conversion of detailed information on atmospheric deposition in small experimental catchments into regional scale. This method uses the GIS for interpretation of satellite imagery of vegetation cover CORINE and the Digital Elevation Model. The reliability of presentation of the achieved results on regional scale was tested and established by the comparison of maps with data obtained by measurements in small catchments. The resulting differences varied in a range of 10-17%. These results confirmed the fact that the attenuation of heavy industry and desulphurization of power plants burning lignite resulted in the reduction of total atmospheric deposition of sulphur in the Central Europe. On the other hand, the increase in total nitrogen deposition on regional scale takes place even in areas, which were considered to have not been affected by anthropogenic activities. The established trends in the acid atmospheric deposition, and its impact on groundwater quality will become evident with some delay. A high runoff of sulphates still occurs at the present time and will last in future in regions, which were exposed to acid precipitation for a long time.