When Rain Becomes a Killer

When Rain Becomes a Killer

(Fig 1) Showing the cycle in which acid rain is created.

Acid rain can be described in any form of precipitation with a high level of nitric, carbonic acid and sulfuric acids. This can occur in many different forms such as snow, rain, fog or even tiny materials that can settle on the surface of the earth. Acid rain can be caused by the nature or by us humans. But it is mostly caused by the human activities. In the nature erupting volcanoes and some rotting vegetation mostly cause it, but humans by burning fuel in power plants, factories and transport vehicles cause most of the acid rains. The two elements that mostly cause the acid rain as said in the article "Causes of Acid Rain" are sulfur and nitrogen. First of all, sulfur is a element which is a part of fuel and coal which after getting burned in the power plants and industrial boilers, the element combines with oxygen and its forms a new bond which is sulfur dioxide (SO2). The new-formed element does not react. Since it does not react it can travel for extended period of time till it comes in contact with the ozone or hydrogen peroxide. When it is at this stage it can combine with one of those and it converts in sulfur trioxide. Sulfur trioxide is a element that can easily dissolve in water forming a sulfuric acid which after causes the acid rain. The other element that can cause acid rain is a element that makes up most of the atmosphere that element is nitrogen. Since in the power plants and the factories it is use for heating other things up, which means after leaving the factory it combines with oxygen to form a new element, which is nitrogen oxide. This can easily dissolve in water forming nitric and nitrous acids. These are the two elements that mostly cause the acid rain. These kinds of rains are not events that occur a lot but when they occur they can cause a lot of damage to the area where it occurred. The acid rains affect everything it touches but all those damages are not that visible right a way, the damage which you can see right away is the damage in the waters. The first things you notice is the dead fish that are floating on the surface of the water. This is bad because it reduces the particular kind of fish and also in a way can eliminate the fish species from that body of water. This doesn’t only effect animals but it also affects plants and trees, which need the water to live, but when this kind of rain falls it damages them they start falling apart.

(Fig 2) This is a forest which was destroyed by acid rain.

What can we do to reduce acid rain?In the article that I have read "Acid Rain: What can I do?" tells about some things that you could do in

(Fig 3) Go Green!

oroder to prevent acid rain.  First of scientists have to sit down and try to understand the problem that we are having with acid rain. Also not by knowing the problems bringing but also what solutions can we make. People can start conserving energy that we are making. First of all factories that are making these pollutants can start using some other elements or start using some materials that contain less of the elements that cause the acid rain, also they can start cleaning the pipe or the smokestacks. Also people can start to reduce the use of the transformational vehicles or if they use them they should the electrical cars. Also families should be more focused on having a more green life, not just families but also factories and power plants. If humans start using these aspects we might be able to save planet and also live a better life. 

Bibliography: 

1. http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/acidrain/causes.html

2. http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/surface_water.html

3. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/acids-ph-d_401.html

4. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/acid-rain-overview/

5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/znsk7ty/revision