Zoran Zjačić
3.19.2015
Science 9E
Mr. Youell
Causes and Effects of Acid Rain
When any kind of fuel is burnt, loads of distinctive chemicals are delivered. The smoke that originates from a flame or a car exhaust doesn’t only contain the dim particles that we can see, but they also contain a bunch of invisible gasses that can be significantly harmful to our surroundings Acid rain is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Burning oil, gas and coal in power stations releases Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere. Burning oil and petrol in motor vehicles puts nitric oxides (NOX) into the atmosphere. These gases mix with water droplets in the atmosphere creating weak solutions of nitric and sulphuric acids. These solutions then fall as acid rain.(Figure 1)
(Fig 1) A simple picture showing how acid rain is caused.
On the pH scale, acid rain usually has a value of 4, but it has been recorded of being a value as low as 2.(Figure 2)
(Fig 2) A pH scale with the levels of different types of environmental water, including acid rain
Acid rain has many ecological effects, but it has the biggest impact on lakes, streams, and other aquatic environments (Figure 3;4). Acid rain makes the water in the lakes and streams acidic and causes them to absorb the aluminum that makes its way from the ground into lakes and streams. This blend makes water harmful to the creatures that reside in our water systems. It can be carried great distances in the atmosphere, even between landmasses. Ironically enough, acid rain doesn’t even have to be rain, it can be found as snow, and even mist. It sometimes falls many miles from the source of pollution but wherever it falls it can have a serious effect on soil, trees, as well as buildings and monuments.
(Figure 3) An example of the effect of acid rain, picture taken in china
(Figure 4) A warning sign in Nova Scotia, about the effects of acid rain
Acid rain is a problem that was mainly created by man, and it is man’s job to fix it. As said here, “The only way to fight acid rain is by curbing the release of the pollutants that cause it. This means burning fewer fossil fuels. Numerous governments have attempted to control outflows by cleaning up industry smokestacks and advancing options of fuel sources. But even if acid rain could be stopped today, it would still take many years for its harmful effects to disappear.”
We cannot easily stop acid rain, nor easily reduce it, but we can always start. One way to reduce it and potentially stop it, is to use other sources of energy besides fossil fuels. They include nuclear power, hydro, wind, geothermal and solar energy. All of these sources of energy have environmental disadvantages as well as advantages. Some types of energy are more expensive to produce than others, which means that not everyone is wealthy enough to use them. Nuclear power, hydropower, and coal are examples of the forms of energy that cost the least at the time, but technology is advancing and it may change this in the future. All of these factors are considered when deciding which energy source to use today and which to invest in for the generations that will come after us.
Now, the question remains, can the damage be undone?
Well, lakes and rivers can have powdered limestone added to them to neutralize the acidity in the water, which is so called “Liming”. Liming, however, is very expensive and it only has a temporary effect, meaning that it needs to be used until the acid rain completely stops. For example, the people and governments of Norway and Sweden have used liming in a successful manner to help restore lakes and streams to their natural, non-acidic state, in their countries.
It is important not to think selfishly, and leave a better tomorrow for the generations that will come after us. Our children, and everyone else, deserve the same quality of life as us, and it won’t be a reality if we continue burning fossil fuels as much as we do now. A warning text that is on the US Enviromental Protection Agency website, "To solve the acid rain problem, people need to understand how acid rain damages the environment. They also need to understand what changes could be made to the air pollution sources that cause the problem. The answers to these questions help leaders make better decisions about how to control air pollution and therefore, how to reduce—or even eliminate—acid rain. Because there are many solutions to the acid rain problem, leaders have a choice of which options or combination of options are best."
We have a choice, the question is, will we chose the right one?
Sources
• http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/acid-rain-overview/
- http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/reducing/
- http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/92674.html
Zoran Zjačić
3.19.2015
Science 9E
Mr. Youell
Causes and Effects of Acid Rain
(Fig 1) A simple picture showing how acid rain is caused.
On the pH scale, acid rain usually has a value of 4, but it has been recorded of being a value as low as 2.(Figure 2)
(Fig 2) A pH scale with the levels of different types of environmental water, including acid rain
Acid rain has many ecological effects, but it has the biggest impact on lakes, streams, and other aquatic environments (Figure 3;4). Acid rain makes the water in the lakes and streams acidic and causes them to absorb the aluminum that makes its way from the ground into lakes and streams. This blend makes water harmful to the creatures that reside in our water systems. It can be carried great distances in the atmosphere, even between landmasses. Ironically enough, acid rain doesn’t even have to be rain, it can be found as snow, and even mist. It sometimes falls many miles from the source of pollution but wherever it falls it can have a serious effect on soil, trees, as well as buildings and monuments.
(Figure 3) An example of the effect of acid rain, picture taken in china
(Figure 4) A warning sign in Nova Scotia, about the effects of acid rain
Acid rain is a problem that was mainly created by man, and it is man’s job to fix it. As said here, “The only way to fight acid rain is by curbing the release of the pollutants that cause it. This means burning fewer fossil fuels. Numerous governments have attempted to control outflows by cleaning up industry smokestacks and advancing options of fuel sources. But even if acid rain could be stopped today, it would still take many years for its harmful effects to disappear.”
We cannot easily stop acid rain, nor easily reduce it, but we can always start. One way to reduce it and potentially stop it, is to use other sources of energy besides fossil fuels. They include nuclear power, hydro, wind, geothermal and solar energy. All of these sources of energy have environmental disadvantages as well as advantages. Some types of energy are more expensive to produce than others, which means that not everyone is wealthy enough to use them. Nuclear power, hydropower, and coal are examples of the forms of energy that cost the least at the time, but technology is advancing and it may change this in the future. All of these factors are considered when deciding which energy source to use today and which to invest in for the generations that will come after us.
Now, the question remains, can the damage be undone?
Well, lakes and rivers can have powdered limestone added to them to neutralize the acidity in the water, which is so called “Liming”. Liming, however, is very expensive and it only has a temporary effect, meaning that it needs to be used until the acid rain completely stops. For example, the people and governments of Norway and Sweden have used liming in a successful manner to help restore lakes and streams to their natural, non-acidic state, in their countries.
It is important not to think selfishly, and leave a better tomorrow for the generations that will come after us. Our children, and everyone else, deserve the same quality of life as us, and it won’t be a reality if we continue burning fossil fuels as much as we do now. A warning text that is on the US Enviromental Protection Agency website, "To solve the acid rain problem, people need to understand how acid rain damages the environment. They also need to understand what changes could be made to the air pollution sources that cause the problem. The answers to these questions help leaders make better decisions about how to control air pollution and therefore, how to reduce—or even eliminate—acid rain. Because there are many solutions to the acid rain problem, leaders have a choice of which options or combination of options are best."
We have a choice, the question is, will we chose the right one?
We have a choice, the question is, will we chose the right one?
Sources
• http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/acid-rain-overview/
- http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/reducing/
- http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/92674.html
Good Job Zoran! Your information is very precise and the format is great. I really liked how you organized your ideas and information. The hyperlinks were also done very well. Next time use a larger font, it's easier to read. Bravo
ReplyDeletewww: simple and easy explanations,examples of the terms; used hyperlinks/sources; included pictures,that were labeled; good information
ReplyDeleteebi: maybe you should break up the text into causes effects and remedies, so that it is better organised and easier to read and understand