Acid Rain Is An Unnatural Environmental Problem

Acid rain can weaken a tree or plant’s natural defenses. It harms the soil and all organisms that need it to survive because it takes away important soil nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. When a tree’s defenses are down, it makes them more susceptible to diseases and pests. Acid rain can also deposit nitrates. Nitrogen runoff can cause eutrophication. Eutrophication is when runoff nitrogen goes into an ocean ecosystem and causes algae to grow quicker. This is called an algal bloom and it blocks sunlight from getting to the plants causing a “dead zone.” This means no organisms will be able to live there anymore. Finally, acid rain can cause the wearing away or deterioration of buildings and many other things built of stone. It does not affect humans directly. It does however harm them because of the two main chemicals involved, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. When inhaled, they have been shown to cause some illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. Some organisms are more damaged by acid rain than others, but most organisms are harmed when there are high concentrations of acid rain in the area/ecosystem they live in. Acid rain can harm an environment and humans negatively and has several effects on the Earth. Many places around the world have been affected by acid rain. 3 main places are eastern Europe and eastern United States along with some areas of China and Taiwan. In many places where there have been great effects

To conclude, acid rain includes many elements that make it well known worldwide today and also puts my mind into a new perspective of the effects that are happening in front of my own eyes that I am not noticing. Not to mention, that if I were to pursue the career of becoming an environmental engineer, I would be able to help protect the environment from acidity and become more aware of the solutions to this problem when the environment cannot neutralize the substances on its

Acid rain is polluted rain, snow, or fog. The burning of fossil fuels, base metal smelting, and fuel combustion in vehicles emits sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) (FAQ Acid Rain). These gases enter the atmosphere

Acid rain or acid deposition occurs when atmospheric pollutants, namely sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, combine with water vapour present in the atmosphere. (Morgan, 1999, p. 3) Acid deposition is a broad term which includes any precipitation that has a pH deemed to be acidic. When these pollutants, released from the burning of fossils fuels or the smelting of metal, enter into the atmosphere they combine with moisture before falling down to Earth. (National Geographic, n.d.) A chemical reaction then occurs converting these reactants into sulfuric and nitric acid which in turn will create rain that is acidic. (Petheram, 2003, p. 15)

Acid rain as a worldwide threat began when Swedish researcher Dr. Svante Oden theorized in the 1960s that pollution blowing from other countries was the cause of Sweden’s increasingly acidic waters. He then published his findings in the local newspaper and then popular scientific journals. He demonstrated for the first time ever, that rain and surface water throughout Europe were becoming more acidic and the winds were scattering sulfur and nitrogen based pollutants across the continent. His findings also showed how acid rain was causing the decline in fish, forest growth and disintegration of materials.

Another consequence of using Acid rain is rain that contains high levels of nitric and sulphuric acids, which are the result of burning fossil fuels because when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air as byproducts of burning fossil fuels, the SO2 and NO react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulphuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground. This rain can be harmful to plant and animal life. For example The harmful effects of acid rain can be seen in marine life, such as streams, lakes, and marshes where it can be harmful to fish and other wildlife, because as the rain flows through the soil, the acidic rainwater can separate aluminium from soil clay particles and then causes it to flow into streams and lakes, And as more acid is introduced to the ecosystem, the more aluminium is released. Some types of plants and animals are able to tolerate acidic waters and moderate amounts of aluminium. Others, however, are acid-sensitive and will die as the pH declines. Dead or dying trees are a common sight in areas affected by acid rain. Acid rain removes aluminium from the soil which may be harmful to plants as well as animals. Acid rain also removes minerals and nutrients from the soil that trees need to grow, making it unsuitable for plant growth. Pure water has a pH of 7 while normal rainwater has a pH of 5.6. Acid rain, however, has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4; this is due to the gases

Human activity is the main cause of acid rain. Burning of fossil fuels is the primary source of these gases. With increase in industrialization and number of vehicles running on the roads, fumes that contain these gases are being added to the atmosphere at such a rate that the excess of these gases can’t be neutralized by natural process. For example, combustion of fossil fuel in vehicles and industries like iron and steel, processing of crude oil and utility factories contribute to more than 70%

Acidification of the surface of the water is a major problem in areas of the northeastern United States, in eastern Canada, and in southern Scandinavia, it also occurs in other parts of the world as well (Baker & Schofield, 1982). The acidification on the surface of water causes many fish populations to decline in soft-water aquatic environments, that are exposed to acid precipitation (Neville & Campell, 1988). This acidification of the surface water is caused by acid rain. Acid rain or otherwise known as acid deposition is a term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that comes down from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. These forms include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that can be acidic.

You’re probably wondering, “What is acid rain?” In this essay I will be discussing what acid rain is, the nature of acid rain, and the appearance. Also, I’ll be telling you about the influence acid rain has on people’s health and different effects. Last but not least, I will be typing about some preventions against acid rain and what techniques can be used.

Acid Rain, or more specifically, acid precipitation, is an environmental phenomena. It is composed of sulfuric acid and nitric acid, in addition to water, which come to be due to the interactions between the water and atmospheric pollutants, such as sulfur oxide and nitric oxide. This combination of strong acids in water is known to be detrimental to the environment, infrastructure, and the health of people. Due to the water cycle, other water bodies, such as lakes and streams, are affected by the excess acid in rain in that their aquatic populations decrease. Acid Rain also leaches aluminum, as well as minerals and nutrients, from soils, harming vegetation. As for infrastructure, the acids in acid precipitation are known to erode metal and stone. Though acid rain itself does not damage people’s well-being, the sulfur oxide and nitric oxide in the air can react with other atmospheric compounds to produce fine, inhalable sulfate and nitrate particles, which are linked to heart attacks and damaging effects on lung function for those more prone.

Although rain water is naturally acidic, sitting at pH of 5.66.5 due to the dissolved carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Acid rain further increases this acidity, to a pH lower than 5.6, making the rain harmful to many things. Including; plants, soil, marine wildlife and many different kinds of building materials (eg. Limestone and marble will get eroded by acid rain). Note: Every drop of “1” in pH level increases the acidity by 100x.

Acid rain has been a problem to Earth's ecosystems since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution period; when machines and industry began spewing out acidic pollution into our atmosphere. However, only in the past few decades have the problem of acidic rain fallout been known and studied. The acid rain problem received top billing with environmentalist and politicians throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. Acid rain has a harmful effect to our environment.

In describing acid precipitation pollutant chosen it is more commonly known as acid rain representing a form of secondary pollution (EB,2013). Nitrogen and sulfur oxides are released into the atmosphere reacting to water and other components forming acids (EB, 2013). Acid rain refers to two different processes that enable the acid suspended in the atmosphere to deposit on the Earth’s surface water dries (EB, 2013). Wet acid decomposition fades to the Earth’s surface when it rains snows or fogs (EB, 2013). The dry acid deposition occurs when the acid particles drop to the Earth’s surface as gas or a particulate form (EB, 2013). Acid decompositions and precipitation aren’t constrained by international boundaries (EB, 2013). Many nations use fossil fuel do not have the legislation in place of air pollution limiting meaning that can contributes to the acid deposition and precipitation both locally and in other countries (EB, 2013). The Nations that haven’t’ taken any. Consideration of limiting air pollution resulting acid deposition that will affect the global environment (EB, 2013). Once the acid compounds are released they are deposited into the soil and bodies of water increasing the acidity resources (EB,2013). Acid water is not potable for humans (EB, 2013). Acid precipitation is both point and non-point pollution. The point pollutions of is from factories and the non-point the acid rain makes water more acidic and release aluminum can be toxic to fish (Acosta,

From the precise moment, we first polluted the world, from burning fossil fuels to urbanization many people were uneducated about the threatening long-term effects that came along with these massive innovations. One of the many serious threats is acid rain a lot of people don’t notice the effects of this worldwide dilemma. When we burn fossil fuels nitrous gases are released into the atmosphere and these gases react with water and oxygen, therefore, making it rain filled with many sulfuric acids and chemicals.(National Geographic,2017) Acid rain destroys many habitats, ecosystems, wear down buildings and statues, and can contaminate many of the streams of water in Canada. Thousands of trees will we wiped out due to acid rain, therefore, damaging our huge exports of lumber. Our sources of water will now be contaminated and would not be accessible or safe to drink or use. Our water would have to go through many filters before it will be safe to drink. Now we realize the detrimental effects that come with acid rain from the dwindling surplus of trees to the harmful chemicals polluting our ecosystem it's time to stand and take action to this worldwide crisis.

Acid rain is detrimental to the environment. It affects everything from plants and trees to fish and wildlife to infrastructure to human life. SO2 and NOX react in the atmosphere to form fine sulfate and nitrate particles which people breathes in which in turn raises the risk of more heart disease risks, and lung