Acid rain- causes and effects

Acid rain is the mixture of nitric acid, sulfuric acid and water that falls from the clouds.
The last 100 years, acid rain has caused some serious damages to our planet. It slowly kills plants but that is not the biggest concern. In the last century. nitric and sulfuric acid have greatly accumulated in the atmosphere. As a result of a emissions of carbon dioxide, burning of fossil fuels ( power plants and agricultural activities) and volcanic eruptions. The most effected part of the planet are coastal areas that are already vulnerable due to pollution over fishing and climate change ( Figure 1 )

Figure 1: Results of acid rain on sculptures

In the long term, sulfuric and nitric acid will increase the acidity or lower the pH of our oceans. As a result, marine organisms especially algae( like phytoplankton ) will die causing a dramatic decrease in oxygen levels and conversely an increase in carbon dioxide. Researchers believe that at the current rate of acidification of the oceans, it will take one more century for the oceans to become inhabitable for most marine organisms ( except some that bear  extreme underwater conditions ) ( Figure 2 ).

Figure 2: Destruction of sea life from acidification of the oceans

Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and it helps damaging all kinds of plants. In the long term, this damage caused by acid rain could result in the death of most plant matter. With all these plants gone, a big percentage of oxygen will be lost and the quantity of carbon dioxide will dramatically increase (Figure 3)

Figure 3: Effect of acid rain to the forests