Abstract
We derive an approximate solution to the Korteweg-de Vries equation with slowly varying coefficients for a soliton initial condition. Expressions are given for the amplitude, position, and velocity, and it is shown that the soliton experiences an irreversible loss of energy whenever it travels in a slowly varying medium. These results are applied to an ion acoustic soliton in a nonuniform plasma and are confirmed by comparison with the results of numerical integration of the differential equation.

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