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Air monitoring at Schauinsland monitoring station
- As part of air monitoring and trace analysis, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) measures the activity concentrations of radioactive substances in air.
- For air monitoring, natural and artificial radionuclides from the atmosphere are measured continuously; the results are available within a few hours.
- For trace analysis, minute traces of radionuclides are detected. For that purpose, e.g. airborne dust is collected on large-area filters over seven days, measured and then analysed.
In order to measure the activity concentrations of radioactive substances in air, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) uses two methods: air monitoring and trace analysis.
For air monitoring, natural and artificial radionuclides from the atmosphere are measured continuously with (partly) automated systems. Measurement results from these methods are available within only a few hours. In trace analysis, airborne dust is collected on large-area filters over seven days, measured and then analysed in order to detect even minute traces of radioactive substances in air. Measurement results are usually available several days after the end of the sampling period.
In comparison to trace analysis, the sensitivity of air monitoring is lower; however a considerably higher temporal resolution is achieved.
Activity concentration of naturally occurring radon and the calculated proportion of artificial beta activity
Measurement results from Schauinsland measuring station show the activity concentration of naturally occurring radon and the calculated proportion of artificial beta activity.
Current measurement results
Current measurement results from air monitoring
Natural Radon-222 (natural radionuclides, blue) and artificial proportion (pink) of the beta activity concentration measured for the past month at Schauinsland station. This graph is updated monthly.
Natural radioactivity in the air is mainly produced by the radioactive gas radon and its decay products. Radon diffuses from the ground into the air. The activity concentration may vary highly depending on the weather conditions.
The measurement systems used for air monitoring are capable of distinguishing between this natural radioactivity and possible additional artificial radioactivity (see first figure). A radioactive cloud with artificial radioactive substances - as after Chornobyl - would be identified by a significant rise in the pink-coloured graph.
Calculated artificial proportion of the beta activity concentration measured at Schauinsland monitoring station. This graph is updated monthly.
Slight fluctuations in the pink-coloured graph result from the calculation method and are shown magnified again in the second figure. The fluctuations are inherent to the measurement process and demonstrate that the system is functioning correctly. Negative values result from the calculation algorithm due to statistical fluctuations and do not constitute a measurement error.
In semi-automated systems, so-called fixed filter systems, the filter has to be changed manually periodically in order to prevent it from clogging. These filter changes result in regular data gaps in the diagrams.
In fully automated systems, so-called moving filter systems, a filter tape is automatically advanced within a particular time interval.
Results relating to the incident in Fukushima 2011
Air monitoring results relating to the incident in Fukushima
The figures show the air monitoring results at Schauinsland monitoring station for the period from 21 March to 12 May 2011.
Natural Radon-222 (natural radioactivity concentration, blue) and artificial proportion (pink) of the beta activity concentration measured at Schauinsland station for the period from 21 March - 12 May 2011
Calculated artificial proportion of the beta activity concentration measured at Schauinsland monitoring station for the period from 21 March - 12 May 2011
From March to May 2011, very small amounts of artificial radionuclides from Fukushima were measured using trace analysis on Mt. Schauinsland. These activity concentrations are not detectable with air monitoring methods. They are extremely low compared to the naturally occurring radioactivity in air which is continuously at a few becquerels per cubic metre of outdoor air in Germany.
State of 2023.06.26
