An estimation of the spatial distribution of agricultural ammonia emissions in the Greater Athens Area

An assessment of the magnitude and the spatial distribution of ammonia emissions originating from agricultural practices in the Greater Athens Area (GAA) is performed due to the primary role of ammonia in aerosol formation. As no emission factors are available for the area of interest, the emissions were estimated using typical emission factors for the emissions from animals, fertilized and unfertilized cultures, as well as the 1996 primary statistical data of the agricultural census for the GAA. Our analysis estimated the annual ammonia emissions from agricultural sources to be approximately 13 250±40% t of ammonia per year. This detailed ammonia emission record can and will be used for the study, via modeling, of the serious aerosol problem in the GAA.