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MAFF funded postgraduate research studentship:
The spatial pattern of agricultural 
ammonia emission in the UK and its 
deposition close to sources.
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (Edinburgh Research 
Station) 
and University of Edinburgh, Department of Geography.
BACKGROUND
Gaseous ammonia (NH3) is an important constituent of 
atmospheric pollution. Alongside sulphur dioxide (SO2) 
and nitrogen oxides (NOx), it contributes to acidic 
deposition, which has been suggested to be adversely 
affecting the health of freshwater ecosystems and 
forests.  In addition, both ammonia and nitrogen oxides 
are nitrogen containing compounds, so that deposition of 
ammonia may also result in eutrophication of ecosystems 
and a loss of species diversity.
In contrast to sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which 
are primarily emitted by industrial activities, most of 
the ammonia arises from agricultural practice.  As an 
input to atmospheric transport models sound estimates are 
required of the spatial and temporal distribution of 
ammonia emissions.  About 80 % of European ammonia 
emission is estimated to arise from volatilization of 
livestock waste.  Hence mapping of emissions may be based 
on estimated emissions factors for different livestock 
classes, and mapped distribution of numbers of animals.  
There is a very large uncertainty in the magnitude of the 
emissions factors applied.  Work is therefore required to 
assimilate the results of current agricultural research 
on the processes controlling ammonia emissions, and to 
apply this to generate updated emission fields for the 
United Kingdom.  
The Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF) are 
becoming increasingly interested in the emission, 
transport and deposition of ammonia, because its effects 
and the likelihood of future control measures on 
emissions being required across Europe.  This would 
necessitate control measures on UK agricultural ammonia 
emissions and entail significant economic costs.
STUDENTSHIP
A 3 year postgraduate studentship leading to a Ph.D. is 
proposed to be based jointly between the Institute of 
Terrestrial Ecology (Edinburgh) and the University of 
Edinburgh (Department of Geography).  The project will 
involve two main aspects:  firstly, the development of 
spatially disaggregated ammonia emission maps for the 
United Kingdom, and secondly, field measurements of the 
local variability of ammonia deposition close to 
agricultural sources.  These activities fit in closely 
with the goals of a larger research programme funded by 
MAFF and it is anticipated that the student will liaise 
closely with colleagues from ITE as well as other UK 
research institutes (Imperial College, Institute of 
Grassland and Environmental Research, ADAS, Harwell 
Laboratory).  The project would utilize the expertise in 
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) at the University 
of Edinburgh, and the knowledge of ammonia emission and 
deposition at ITE.
The mapping component of the project would involve: a) 
development of expertise on the sources of agricultural 
ammonia emission and their controlling processes 
(including visits to IGER and other institutes); b) 
development of agricultural emissions factors and 
relationships defining their regional variability (e.g. 
livestock classes, land classes, fertilizer inputs); c) 
application of GIS techniques to validate existing 
aggregation of agricultural parish census data and to 
update this; and d) use of this information to construct 
GIS based updated ammonia emission fields for the UK at a 
5 km resolution. The field measurements aspect of the 
project aims to examine the spatial variability of 
ammonia emission and deposition at much finer spatial 
scales than 5 km.  Collaborative field campaigns will be 
made with the other institutes to measure the spatial 
pattern of ammonia deposition in the vicinity of 
agricultural sources. The student will be responsible for 
the measurement of ammonia concentrations and fluxes 
using a sensitive continuous technique, which will be 
used to test atmospheric models of the dispersion and 
deposition of ammonia close to sources.
LOCATIONS
The project will be based mainly at ITE (70 %) for 
development of expertise in ammonia emissions and 
application of the results to UK mapping.  Other time 
will be spent at the University developing expertise in 
GIS techniques and incorporating and verifying 5 km data 
on livestock distributions over the UK.  The close 
proximity of ITE and the University (6 miles) will allow 
frequent contact between both institutes.  Some time will 
also be spent at IGER and the other institutes in the 
development of approaches to describe ammonia emissions 
factors.  The nature of the studentship is 
multidisciplinary and will provide training in aspects of 
agricultural and air pollution research, quantitative 
analysis of geographically based data, and in micro-
meteorological field experimentation.

CONTACT
Prospective applicants should telephone or write at the 
earliest opportunity to:
Mark Sutton, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (Edinburgh 
Research Station), Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, 
EH26 0QB. (Tel:  031-445-4343) e-mail: MS@ITE.AC.UK
or
Chris Place, Dept. Geography, University of Edinburgh, 
Drummond Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9XP (Tel: 031-650-2542).  
e-mail: CJP@GEOVAX.ED.AC.UK
The studentship is anticipated to start in or before 
October 1st 1994.