For the first time, researchers have discovered ammonia in the Earth's lowest atmospheric layer. The highest emissions of the gas were encountered in North India and Southeast China.<br/><br/>Scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany together with researchers from US and Mexico analysed satellite measurements by the MIPAS infrared spectrometer and found increased amounts of ammonia (NH3) between 12 and 15 kilometres height in the area of the Asian monsoon. Researchers said, this suggested that the gas is responsible for the formation of aerosols, smallest particles that might contribute to cloud formation.<br/><br/>Ammonia, a chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, mainly originates from agricultural processes, in particular from live-stock farming and fertilisation. Highest ammonia emissions are encountered in North India and Southeast China. Due to population growth and global warming, global ammonia emissions are expected to increase strongly in the future, researchers said.