The aim of the project is the development and provision as well as the operation and evaluation of an OP-DOAS method optimized for ammonia at the UBA measuring station Neuglobsow.

This includes the development and optimisation of an OP-DOAS system consisting of a light source, retroreflector, spectrometer and evaluation system, including data connection to the UBA air monitoring network.

Furthermore, the operation of the system over a period of two years at the Neuglobsow measuring station is part of the project. This includes support, maintenance and data evaluation including a systematic comparison with the offline ammonia measurement data collected there (reference method), as well as a comparative, descriptive and evaluative statistical evaluation with meteorological parameters (relative humidity, temperature, wind direction and speed) as well as the other air pollutants O3, NO, NO2, PM10, PM2.5 and ultrafine particles (UFP).

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) operates an air monitoring network to investigate air pollution transported over a long area in low-polluted areas of the Federal Republic of Germany. The tasks of this air monitoring network also include the determination of ammonia (NH3) and other nitrogen compounds in the outside air and in precipitation.

Ammonia is considered an air pollutant that is increasingly a cause for concern. On the one hand, in connection with the formation of particulate matter (PM2.5) and, on the other hand, with regard to eutrophication of ecosystems. Reducing ammonia emissions is one of the objectives of European agricultural policy (including the Farm to Fork Strategy).

In addition, as part of the revision of the EU Air Quality Directive, ammonia has also been included in the EU Commission's proposal as a pollutant to be continuously recorded at selected stations in the future.

As a reactive gas with corresponding adsorption potential, the measurement by means of automatic in-situ methods with upstream intake line is susceptible to artifacts (reduced findings). An alternative offline measurement method with enriching sampling (denuder) and subsequent chemical analysis cannot provide high temporal resolutions (< 2 week averages) and requires a high level of manpower. Therefore, a method for the temporally high-resolution determination of ammonia is to be developed and provided, which is based on measurements by means of open long-path differential optical absorption spectroscopy (OP-DOAS), which is different from the possible artifacts of an intake system is not affected.

- Work package 1 (WP 1) - Development and deployment of an NH3-OP-DOAS

- Work package 2 (WP 2) - Operation, support and maintenance of an NH3 OP-DOAS at the Neuglobsow measuring point

- Work Package 3 (WP 3) - Data Evaluation and Comparative Statistical Analysis

Contract duration: approx. 09/2023 to 09/2026

For details, please refer to the service description.