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Air monitoring at Schauinsland monitoring station

In addition to highly sensitive monitoring equipment for trace analysis, the Schauinsland monitoring station has multiple systems used for gathering data in real time in the context of radiological emergency preparedness.

New Schauinsland measuring station

Air monitoring

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.

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BfS monitoring station on the Schauinsland

Monitoring station Schauinsland: history and mission

In 1946, researchers of the Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg started to conduct experiments on Mt Schauinsland in the Black Forest to characterise the cosmic radiation. In 1953, they for the first time succeeded in detecting fallout from nuclear weapons tests in precipitation samples. In 1957, a permanent monitoring station was established on Mt Schauinsland for the continuous, long-term monitoring of the atmosphere for artificial and natural radioactivity. In 1989, it was integrated into the newly founded Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) and the range of responsibilities were continuously broadened. Today the station is also part of the International Monitoring System (IMS) for the verification of the United Nations Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

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