Acid Rain

Acid Rain

Acid rain is what causes atmospheric pollution. It is formed in two ways, with wet and dry deposition mixtures from the atmosphere which have a higher level than the usual amount of nitric and sulfuric acid. Wet deposition mixtures refers to acidic rain, snow, fog, meaning if the acid chemicals are gone into the areas where the weather is wet, the acids are going to fall to the ground and create the acid rain, snow fog or mist. On the other hand, dry deposition is in the area where the weather is dry, the acid chemicals become dust or smoke and fall into the ground which could lead to it sticking to buildings, homes, trees and cars. (see figure 1) Natural sources such as rotting vegetation and volcanoes release some chemicals which can cause acid rain, but what mostly causes acid rain to fall is human activity, like the burning of fossil fuels by coal burning fossil fuels, factories and automobiles. When fossil fuels are burned, sulfur dioxide ( SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are released into the atmosphere, they react with water and oxygen which creates the mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Considering, these gasses are released into the atmosphere, the winds would spread the acidic solution across state and even hundreds of miles,when it reaches the earth, it flows across the surface, enters water systems and sinks into the soil. (see figure 2)

Figure 1: wet and dry deposition

 

Figure 2: How pollution travels, thus causing acid rain 

Not many people are aware that acid rain actually affects the earth, but from all of the effects, none are like the impacts on lakes, streams, wetlands and other aquatic environments. Acid rain makes the water acid and the aluminium from soil when it makes its way into the lakes and streams and that combination makes the water deadly for aquatic animals like crayfish, clams and many others. Although, some species can tolerate the acidic water it will eventually impact the other species through food chains.(see figure 3) Also, acid rain can damage forests, especially those on higher levels. The rain is likely to weaken the trees, by damaging their leaves, limiting their nutrients, and exposing them to toxic substances, like the ones released from soil. The forests that are on a higher level are exposed to greater amounts of acid because they are exposed to acidic clouds and fog that contain more acid than rainfall. When the trees are surrounded by this fog, they lose their nutrients.

Figure 3: How acid rain effects aquatic environments.

Being able to solve the issues with acid rain, more than just scientist and the government need to help, everyone needs to be aware of what acid rain really is and what it does. Many governments are requiring that energy producers have to clean the smoke stacks scrubbers which trap the pollution from spreading in the atmosphere. (see figure 4) The way we individuals could stop acid rain is by reducing the amount of energy used. This means that the fewer people use electricity, the less plants have to consume chemicals.Reducing electricity used at home is no the only way to prevent acid rain, but also by reducing the amount of fossil fuel used in vehicles, people should carpool, use public transportation or something as biking and this would get more attention to the problem. Even if everyone was to stop with polluting the air and prevent acid rain, it would take years more for all the harmful effects to go away.

Figure 4: What a scrubber looks like