Navigation and service

Go to:

Ionising radiation

Environmental Radioactivity - Medicine - Occupational Radiation Protection - Nuclear Hazards Defence

Ionisierende Strahlung

Air monitoring at Schauinsland measuring station

In addition to highly sensitive monitoring equipment for trace analysis, the Schauinsland measuring station has a multitude of measuring instruments used for gathering data in real time in the context of emergency preparedness.

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 the air. In air monitoring, natural and artificial radionuclides from the atmosphere are measured continuously; the results are available within a few hours. In trace analysis, minute traces of radionuclides are detected. For that purpose, airborne dust is collected in large-area filters over seven days, measured and then analysed.

more
View of the BfS Schauinsland measuring station

Monitoring station Schauinsland: history and tasksmission

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

more

© Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz