Atmospheric ammonia concentration distribution in June, July and August 2008 is seen in this map released by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

(Michael Hopfner/KIT)

At a Glance

Ammonia has been detected in the upper levels of the planet's troposphere for the first time.It's believed that the ammonia is coming from livestock farming and fertilization in China and India.

Scientists say they've discovered ammonia in the upper levels of the troposphere for the first time ever, a surprising find but also one that might have some positive impacts on the environment.

In a study in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, the team of researchers from Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technologyconcluded that the ammonia was most concentrated in the troposphere above India and China and is probably a result of those countries' livestock farming and fertilization. While plants and crops require ammonia for growth, it , according to Live Science.

"Observations show that ammonia is not washed out completely ," study's lead researcher Michael Höpfner said in a statement. "Hence, it enters the upper troposphere from the boundary layer close to the ground, where the gas occurs at relatively high concentrations."

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Because traces of the gas– one part nitrogen and three parts hydrogen– were found in the Asian monsoons, the scientists believe ammonia could be playing a pivotal role in aerosol formation in the atmosphere. Aerosols are , according to Science Alert, and they can also have a cooling effect that offsets some human-caused global warming.

On the other hand, clouds can also trap heat, which can lead to additional warming, according to Live Science.

While these aerosols can also have negative impacts on our atmosphere, knowing about their presence can help scientists develop better climate models, Live Science also said.

The ammonia was found between 7.5 and 9.3 miles above sea level, according to the study. The troposphere ranges from 4 to 12 miles above sea level, Live Science added.

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