Introduction to Acid Rain

Acid rain is the term used to describe the deposition of acidic air pollution. Although
some air pollutants fall directly back to Earth, a lot of it returns in rain, snow, sleet,
hail, mist or fog, hence the term "acid rain".

When power stations, factories, houses and cars emit pollution into the air, it

contains chemicals known as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These chemicals
may either fall directly back to the Earth due to gravity, or they may mix with water
(moisture) in the air to form acids. Once acids have formed, they can be transported
long distances by the wind before being deposited in rain, snow or hail. This is what
we commonly call acid rain.

Acid rain can have harmful impacts on the environment. It affects freshwater

lakes and the wildlife that depend upon them. It also affects trees by harming leaves
and soil, and it damages buildings made of limestone and marble.

During the 1970 and 1980s acid rain become a worldwide problem. In countries such as Britain and America, there
are many power stations and factories that produce a large amount of pollution. This pollution is released several
hundred feet up through tall chimneys to keep the air at ground level cleaner. It is then blown by the wind and
deposited as acid rain in countries such as Canada, Norway, Sweden and Finland, which lie hundreds of miles
downwind from the source of the pollution.

Once governments became aware of the problem of acid rain, they introduced international laws to clean up
pollution from power stations and factories. Clean technology was used to reduce the amount of sulphur dioxide
and nitrogen oxide gases being released into the air.

We can all help reduce air pollution that causes acid rain. Some of the things we can do include using our car less
for short journeys and walking or cycling instead, and saving more energy that we use at home, for heating,
lighting and cooking.

What is Acid Rain?

Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any
form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or
nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or
dry forms.  This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust
that is acidic.  
What Causes Acid Rain?
 Acid rain results
when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted
into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents.
The SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and other chemicals
to form sulfuric and nitric acids.  These then mix with water and
other materials before falling to the ground.
While a small portion of the SO2 and NOX that cause acid rain is
from natural sources such as volcanoes, most of it comes from
the burning of fossil fuels.  The major sources of SO2 and NOX in
the atmosphere are:

 Burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity.  Two thirds of

SO2 and one fourth of NOX in the atmosphere come from electric
power generators.
 Vehicles and heavy equipment.
 Manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries.
Winds can blow SO2 and NOX over long distances and across
borders making acid rain a problem for everyone and not just
those who live close to these sources. 

Forms of Acid Deposition

Wet Deposition
Wet deposition is what we most commonly think of as acid rain. 
The sulfuric and nitric acids formed in the atmosphere fall to the
ground mixed with rain, snow, fog, or hail.  
Dry Deposition
Acidic particles and gases can also deposit from the atmosphere
in the absence of moisture as dry deposition.  The acidic
particles and gases may deposit to surfaces (water bodies,
vegetation, buildings) quickly or may react during atmospheric
transport to form larger particles that can be harmful to human
health. When the accumulated acids are washed off a surface by
the next rain, this acidic water flows over and through the
ground, and can harm plants and wildlife, such as insects and
fish.
The amount of acidity in the atmosphere that deposits to earth
through dry deposition depends on the amount of rainfall an area
receives.  For example, in desert areas the ratio of dry to wet
deposition is higher than an area that receives several inches of
rain each year.

Measuring Acid Rain

 Acidity and
alkalinity are measured using a pH scale for which 7.0 is neutral.
The lower a substance's pH (less than 7), the more acidic it is;
the higher a substance's pH (greater than 7), the more alkaline it
is. Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6; it is slightly acidic because
carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves into it forming weak carbonic
acid.  Acid rain usually has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4.
Policymakers, research scientists, ecologists, and modelers rely
on the National Atmospheric Deposition Program’s (NADP)
National Trends Network (NTN) for measurements of wet
deposition. The NADP/NTN collects acid rain at more than 250
monitoring sites throughout the US, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and
the US Virgin Islands. Unlike wet deposition, dry deposition is
difficult and expensive to measure. Dry deposition estimates for
nitrogen and sulfur pollutants are provided by the Clean Air
Status and Trends Network (CASTNET). Air concentrations are
measured by CASTNET at more than 90 locations.
When acid deposition is washed into lakes and streams, it can
cause some to turn acidic. The Long-Term Monitoring (LTM)
Network measures and monitors surface water chemistry at over
280 sites to provide valuable information on aquatic ecosystem
health and how water bodies respond to changes in acid-causing
emissions and acid deposition.
disadvantages of acid rain

 Acid rain affects the fresh water ponds and lakes and destroys the aquatic life
as some species of fishes are rare and may be extinct.
 it can affect the trees particularly those that are high altitude.
 it can damage historical monuments and buildings. The buildings can be found
with sulfuric acid.
 soil can be affected and can lead to deaths of good microbes.

advantages of acid rain

 It makes holes in limestone below ground, which creates caves and places to
store groundwater, as well as providing habitat for some species.

 But the new study shows that sulfuric in acid rain may have benefits, limiting
global warming by counteracting the natural production of methane gases by
microbes in wetland areas.

 Acid rain restricts global warming by reducing methane emissions from

natural wetland areas, suggests a global climate study

 Acid rain is defined as any amount of precipitation that has some level of toxic
metals or chemicals. Even though acid rain can be caused by volcano gas, acid
rain is also caused by the release of sulfur and nitrogen dioxides from fossil fuel
production. When these particles are released into the air, they can accumulate
in humid areas and be incorporated into the precipitation cycle. Acid rain is a
growing problem in America and Europe, causing government agencies to instill
laws and programs to counteract the negative effects of acid rain.

 Reduced pH Level in Water

 Acid rain can make the water in lakes and streams more acidic and discharge
toxic amounts of aluminum into a water system. Many aquatic animals cannot
thrive in a low pH environment. The death of aquatic animals results in other
animals within the habitat to have a lack of food, thus throwing the ecosystem out
of balance.
  Damage to Forests and Plants
 Acid rain damages the leaves of trees and plants, thus limiting their growth and
exposing them to the metals in the air from the toxic rain. Depending on the
severity of the damage, the vegetation can be stunted in its growth or the foliage
can be stripped away. The damage can also destroy a plant's ability to handle
cold or disease.

How to Prevent Acid

Rain Pollution
BY HOWSTUFFWORKS.COM CONTRIBUTORS

UP NEXT  
The planet that we inherited from our parents is not the same
planet that we'll be giving to our children. Through the excessive
burning of our nonrenewable fossil fuels in power plants,
factories and cars, we have created acid rain pollution, i.e.
today's precipitation has high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids.
This has devastating effects on our oceans, lakes and rivers and
all the animals that inhabit them [source: National Geographic].
 Read the tips listed below and learn about the small steps that
you can take to prevent acid rain pollution.

 Energy conservation The biggest step that you can take to

prevent acid rain is to decrease your energy consumption.
Close the lights when you leave the room and turn off
computers and televisions when you're not using them.
Whenever you're not using an electrical appliance, simply shut
it off to conserve energy. Another large consumer of energy is
your home's heating and cooling system. Make sure to use your
air conditioning only when you really need it. Also, when you
leave the house, turn down your heater's thermostat. It will
cost you less and save more energy [source: EPA].
 Transportation Because cars are a major contributor to
acid rain pollution, it's important to find alternate modes of
transportation in an effort to decrease our reliance on fossil
fuels. By using public transit, carpools, bikes and even your
feet, you're helping reduce auto emissions. Avoid using your
car whenever possible. You'll be helping the environment by
preventing acid rain [source: National Geographic].
 Alternative fuels An excellent way to prevent acid rain is
to stop using nonrenewable fuels and switch over to renewable
sources of energy, such as solar, wind and water energy. As
the technology for these alternative energies increases, they
will become more accessible to the public. Try using solar
powered heating systems and battery-powered cars to do your
part for the environment [source: EPA].

control Knowing that acid deposition in the form of acid rain, acid fog, acid
Observing that the National Academy of Sciences has concluded: "Although claims
have been made that direct evidence linking power plant emissions to the production of
acid rain is inconclusive, we find the circumstantial evidence to be overwhelming. Many
thousands of lakes have already been affected. At current rates of emissions of sulfur
and nitrogen oxides, the number of affected lakes can be expected to double by 1990
and to include larger and deeper lakes. It is the Committee's opinion, based on the
evidence we have examined, that the picture is disturbing enough to prompt tightening
of restrictions on atmospheric emissions from fossil fuel and other larger sources such
as metal smelters and cement manufacturers. Strong measures are necessary if we are
to prevent further degradation of natural ecosystems, which together support life on this
planet";1 and
Believing that remedial action must begin now rather than waiting for further research
and evidence; therefore
1. Endorses the need for immediate strong federal and state controls to reduce the
emission of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides from coal-fired plants and automobiles;
2. Encourages increased research and monitoring to better understand and
document the problem, the solution, and the health and environmental effects; and
3. Directs that copies of this resolution be distributed to the Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works, the House Subcommittee on Health and Environment,
the Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, members of the Clean Air
Coalition, all State Governors, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials,
the National Environmental Health Association: the Secretary of US Health and Human
Services; the Surgeon General, USPHS: the Canadian Ministry of Environment; the
Canadian Public Health Association; and the Conference of State Sanitary Engineers.
Recognizing that the acids in controllable air pollution emanate primarily from coal-
fired power plants, the nuclear power industry, and automobile emissions in the form
of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides; and
 Noting that acid depositions are making intolerable impacts on aquatic life;
damaging plants, natural food chains, and natural and manmade structures, and
enhancing the bio-concentration of metals in fish; and increasing the leaching of
heavy metals into water supplies, thereby directly endangering the health of the
public; and
 Observing that the problem of acid deposition which once primarily damaged the
northeastern United States and the neighboring areas of Canada threatens many
other areas of the nation; and
 Realizing that those industrial interests creating this problem will not take
remedial action in the absence of regulatory measures; and
 Believing that the problem of acid deposition, left unchecked, will follow
hazardous waste as our next national environmental crisis; and
 Knowing that the solution to the problem is a matter of political will rather than the
lack of technological capability; and