Acid Rain Papers

891 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impacts of acid rain on the environment

Acid Rain The topic of this paper is acid deposition, also known as acid Rain. Acid rain is precipitation, as rain, snow or sleet containing relatively high concentration of acid forming chemicals. As the pollutants from coal, smoke, chemical manufacturing, and smelting, that have been released into the atmosphere and combine with water vapor, the harmful deposition is created (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/acid+rain). Acid rain affects many things greatly. Acid rain affects many different things and is very harmful to the environment. One aspect of the environment that is greatly affected by acid rain is soil. Acidic rain makes its way into the soil by rain falling off the branches and leaves to the soil below. Water runs through the soil on its way to different bodies of water. A process called buffering is used to neutralize acids using the base nutrients (including calcium and magnesium) found in soil (Tyson, 1992). This process helps soil resist the effects of acid rain. Thinner soils that have fewer nutrients are more vulnerable to the effects of acid rain. Thicker soils are more affective at buffering acid rain. Over many years soils that aren’t the best at buffering out acid rain can become increasingly acidic. This leads to a decrease in the ability to support healthy plant life. Over time soils may become so acidic that aluminum dissolves and is carried by rain water into bodies of water. Aluminum that is dissolved is very toxic and harmful to all aquatic life. Areas of higher elevation, such as high mountain areas, are more sensitive to the effects of acid rain. The soils are thinner and therefore are unable to buffer acid rain as well as thicker soil at lower elevations (Tyson, 1992). At high ele... ... middle of paper ... ...ns use in their homes, the fewer chemicals that power plants use the fewer that will have to be emitted in to the air. Today there are laws on how much pollution is allowed to be put out in the air these laws have made significant changes. Catalytic converters in cars help reduce emissions. There has been reduction in the amount of acid rain causing pollutant to the air by humans. Eastern Canada set a cap of 2.3 million tons of sulphur dioxide to be met by 1994 and maintained until 2000. In Canada several sulphur dioxide reduction targets for provinces to the east of Manitoba-Saskatchewan to meet this cap. Roughly halve of the sulphur dioxide emissions were intended to be cut by this reduction. Acid rain affects many things in our world greatly. Acid rain is precipitation that has been released into the atmosphere and is very harmful and can do lots of damage.

Show More
Related

  • Carbon Tax vs. Cap and Trade

    1287 Words  | 3 Pages

    The issue presented in this paper is how one can aim to reduce the amounts released, and what the best ways to solve this problem are. This has been long debated amongst scientists, businessmen, Industry-owners, and politicians amongst many other eminent figures in society. The four major approaches to reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere include: subsidies of alternative energy, cap and trade, carbon taxes, and command and control regulation. We will examine and compare the effectiveness of two of these methods: The carb...

    Read More

  • Acid Rain: Scourge From The Skies

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion, “Acid Rain: Scourge from the Skies” was effective in proving how severe acid rain is and can be. Robert Collins wrote informatively about a notable subject what anyone can comprehend and he used many commendable writing devices which all added to the effectiveness of the essay.

    Read More

  • The Magnesium Statue

    1967 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rain is naturally acidic, due to the CO2 dissolved in it, however when sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen react with the rain water they form sulphuric, and nitric acids which make the rain strongly acidic. SO2 + ½O2 + H2O → H2SO4 It may also take the form of snow or fog. The sulphur dioxides and oxides of nitrogen come mainly from industry. Acid rain is currently a subject of great controversy because of widespread environmental damage for which it has been blamed, including eroding structures, injuring crops and forests, and threatening or depleting life in freshwater lakes.

    Read More

  • Pollution in Canada is not Good

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    In reality, there are many more pollutants that we don't think about every day. The six most common air pollutants are; “Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides, Particulate matter, Volatile organic compounds, and Ground-level ozone (nitrogen oxide and Volatile organic compounds reaction)”(David Suzuki Foundation). The fact is people are dying from air pollution and we are doing nothing to make it better, in fact air pollution is getting worse. In order to see the problem with pollution, we need to see the current facts and compare them to the estimated facts if we continue on the path we are heading on today. “In 2008, 21,000 Canadians died from the effects of air pollution.

    Read More

  • Environmental Issues In The Lorax By Theodor Seuss Geisel

    686 Words  | 2 Pages

    Compounds such as Formaldehyde, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and other terrible compounds can cause cancer, limit oxygen, cause acid rain, and other side effects. Not to mention, all these gases will be collecting in the atmosphere, causing the greenhouse effect. While the greenhouse effect isn’t all that bad, considering it helps regulate the world, too much of it could potentially make earth unlivable. Limiting emissions from burning fossil fuel, particle board, and smoking, could help immensely in the tide against global

    Read More

  • Acid Rain: Its Effects on Aquatic Environments

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    Acid rain is rain, snow or fog that is polluted by acid in the atmosphere and damages the environment. Two common air pollutants acidify rain: sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx). When these substances are released into the atmosphere they are transformed into sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3) and can be carried over long distances by prevailing winds and return to earth as acidic rain, snow, fog or dust. When the environment cannot neutralize the acid being deposited, damage occurs.

    Read More

  • pH Soil and Plant Growth

    997 Words  | 2 Pages

    Soil pH is vital on the grounds that it impacts a few soil elements influencing plant development, for example, (1) soil microbes, (2) nutrient draining, (3) nutrient accessibility, (4) poisonous components, and (5) soil structure. Bacterial action that discharges nitrogen from natural matter and certain manures is especially influenced by soil pH, on the grounds that microorganisms work best in the pH reach of 5.5 to 7.0. Plant nutrient drain out of soils with a pH beneath 5.0 a great deal more quickly than from soils with qualities between 5.0 and 7.5. Plant nutrient are for the most part most accessible to plants in the pH range 5.5 to 6.5. Aluminum may get dangerous to plant development in specific soils with a pH underneath 5.0. The structure of the soil, particularly of mud, is influenced by pH. In the ideal pH range (5.5 to 7.0) mud soils are granular and are effortlessly met expectations, while if the soil pH is either greatly corrosive or amazingly antacid, muds have a tendency to get sticky and hard to develop.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Acid Rain

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is particularly damaging to lakes, streams, forests, and the creatures that inhabit these ecosystems (EPA). The primary cause of acid rain is the oxidation of sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon compounds (Goyer). Acid rain is not only harmful to nature, but also to humans in a direct way, it accelerates the decay of building materials, including monuments or historic buildings. Acid rain is also harmful to human health, While acid rain cannot burn skin, it is linked to several indirect health effects (Boumis). Studies performed by scholars such as Dr. Goyer 's "Human Health Effects of Acid Rain," have shown that people with bronchial afflictions or asthmatic tendencies are more prone to episodes of bronchial discomfort or inflammation when exposed to the chemicals present in acid rain

    Read More

  • Essay On Acid Rain

    570 Words  | 2 Pages

    Acid rain is relevant in today’s society more than ever because ever since the Industrial Revolution we are burning fuel that contain nitrogen and sulphur compounds. Nature produces some nitrogen dioxide and some sulphur dioxide but that does not compare to how much power stations, motor vehicles and blast furnaces produce. The acid rain is killing off wildlife, corroding buildings and reacting with nutrients in the soil. The acid rain can get into our waterways and poison the water, we can also breathe it in and the acid would irritate our upper respiratory tract. Our environment is degrading and acid rain is a big catalyst.

    Read More

  • Air Pollution and Acid Rain

    1295 Words  | 3 Pages

    Acid Rain is the term given to any precipitation that is above normal acidity, this includes snow and fog. It occurs when the moisture in the air mixes with carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur gases. These gases are released into the air by the burning of fossil fuels (natural gas, coal, and oil). The primary source of the gases comes from electric companies that burn coal. Damage caused by acid rain is tremendous. The acid in the rain bonds with the minerals in the soil, tying them up so that plants can not use them. The plant becomes mineral deficient and weak. The rain also kills the plant's leaves, further weakening it and making the plant more susceptible to fungus and other diseases. This is a major agricultural problem.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Acid Rain

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    Coal accounts for most U.S. SO2 emissions and a large portion of NOx emissions. Sulfur is present in coal as an impurity, and it reacts with air when the coal is burned to form SO2. In contrast, NOx is formed when any fossil fuel is burned. There are several options for reducing SO2 emissions, including using coal containing less sulfur, washing the coal, and using devices called “scrubbers” to chemically remove the SO2 from the gases leaving the smokestack. Power plants can also switch fuels. Similar to scrubbers on power plants, catalytic converters reduce NOx emissions from cars. There are other sources of electricity besides fossil

    Read More

  • Air Pollution, Smog, Acid Rain, the Greenhouse Effect, and Ozone Depletion

    1340 Words  | 3 Pages

    Acid rain, another effect of air pollution, is formed when sulfur-rich fuels such as coal and oil are burned and combined with water. This rain is harmful to our environment because sulfur creates an acid that kills fish, trees, plants, and crops. It also damages paint on cars and wears away the stone used in buildings and statues (Stille 31). Acid ra...

    Read More

  • Acid Rain

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are several causes of acidification, and various mechanisms by which it may occur. Acid rain falling on water bodies has a direct affect. In areas where soils are acidic, runoff from the soil transports acidic water, which may also contain aluminum, into lakes and rivers. Soil acidification may be caused by acid rain, but other factors may also be involved. For example, if pasture reverts to coniferous acidic runoff even though the rain itself is not acidic. Salty rain leaches acid components out of the soil and transports them to the rivers. (Rivers 1)

    Read More

  • Acid Rain And Acid Rain

    1838 Words  | 4 Pages

    For instance, upon contact, acid rain can erode structures containing limestone, bronze, marble, and sandstone (Jacobson 266). In addition, by increasing the acidity of streams and increasing the aluminum content in the water, acid rain is responsible for the decrease of fish population in certain areas (Driscoll 6). More importantly, as will be discussed later, acid rain is capable of impeding plants’ ability to grow and function properly. Acid rain can harm a plant from various approaches such as depriving it of nutrients, and even damaging the surface of the

    Read More

  • Global Food Crisis

    639 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Acid rain is another problem, the chemicals which are the main cause for the formation of acid like smelting and chemical manufacturing have known to have a very harmful effect on a variety of plants and trees. These acids are spread in the form of rain, snow and sleet and it is expected that the acid rain will have a shattering eff...

    Read More

More about Acid Rain Papers

Open Document