For the simulation of the transport of dissolved matter particle model
s can be used. In this paper a technique is developed for the identifi
cation of uncertain parameters in these models. This model calibration
is formulated as an optimization problem and is solved with a gradien
t based algorithm. Here adjoint particle tracks are used for the calcu
lation of the gradient of the cost function. The performance of the ca
libration method is illustrated by simulations and an application to a
river Rhine water quality calamity in November 1986.