In the surroundings of livestock buildings odours can cause disturbance and ammonia can lead to damages on plants and ecosystems. For the determination of these processes measurements in and around livestock buildings are necessary.
The ATB disposes a large equipment of instruments for measuring air volume flow and emission internal livestock buildings. In parallel, ammonia concentrations are measured by a chemiluminescence NOx monitor with NH3 converter in the ambient vicinity.
Additionally, ammonia concentrations are detected by using passive samplers (in co-operation with  vTI Braunschweig).
The dispersion of ammonia emissions in the atmosphere takes place by turbulent processes. These processes are depending on meteorological conditions. Therefore, it is necessary measuring wind with high frequency (10 Hz).
In the framework of the PhD thesis and by supervision of the Technische Universität Berlin extensive measurements internal and in the surrounding of a broiler farm were performed.
The broiler farm covers an area of about six hectares and is surrounded by a pine forest. In total, 382,200 broilers are raised during a growing period (see figure left). Measurements were conducted internal and external of the broiler houses.
The physical modelling of the particular investigation area and the associated forecast of a concentration field is feasible to carry out in a boundary layer wind tunnel of the ATB. It is possible to visualize situations of dispersion by the use of fume (see picture centre).
At the moment, a new wind tunnel is under developing at the ATB which will be used in the agricultural field . This unique research infrastructure is funded by the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRE) from the research sector of agriculture and environment (see picture right).
In the context of the PhD studies following questions are of great interest: Which key processes take place during the dispersion of ammonia? Which kinds of atmospheric conditions result in a greater annoyance of ammonia by the ambient environment? Which kinds of ammonia measuring methods lead to reliable concentration values? Which kinds of effects cause ammonia towards an ambient ecosystem? The answers concerning agricultural issues and based on a meteorological background offer a new understanding of a reduction of emissions. Further the mitigation of ammonia concentration in the vicinity represents a great concern and challenge.
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