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Recommended: Impact of ocean acidification on the environment

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrous oxides (NOx) are primary causes of acid rain formation. Small amounts of these gases can be produced naturally by soil bacteria and volcanoes, or in industrial and commercial activities such as the combustion of petroleum and coal, and the production of iron and steel. SO2 and NOx react with water vapour and sunlight to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid. When these acid pollutants reach high into the atmosphere, they travel downwind for about 12km, after which they change shape into a widening cone and disperse due to diffusion and atmospheric turbulence. Eventually, these pollutants return to the earth’s surface in two forms: dry deposition and wet deposition, the latter including acid rain. 2.2 Biological effects of acid rain on the ecosystem Acid rain’s corruptive nature may result in widespread biological damage on our ecosystem. Although naturally occurring alkaline chemicals in rocks, soils and lakes can buffer slightly acidic substances, when acid rain becomes highly acidic, the acid buffers may become depleted over time, and nature’s ability to neutralize the acids is impaired. This may become a high threat to the growth and biodiversity of plant species. 2.2.1 Aquatic Systems Because aquatic bodies such as lakes and streams are collection points for rainwater, acid rain may have serious damage to the flora of these systems. Very few freshwater plants are acid-tolerant. With increasing acidification, acid-sensitive species disappear and this results in a highly reduced biodiversity in acidified aquatic systems. Thus, the population sizes and number of species of algae, zooplankton, and angiosperm hydrophytes gradually decrease with increasing acidification of water bodies. As... ... middle of paper ... ...idrain.gif [Accessed: 8 Mar 2014]. Ukm.my. n.d. Acid Rain. [online] http://www.ukm.my/ahmadukm/images/stories/data/kuliah/manusia/artikel/acid.htm[Accessed: 6 Mar 2014]. CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN. 2008. Environment of earth, [blog] 9th March 2008, https://environmentofearth.wordpress.com/tag/acid-rain/[Accessed: 8 Mar 2014]. Bbc.co.uk. n.d. BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Plants and minerals. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_gateway_pre_2011/greenworld/plantmineralsrev1.shtml[Accessed: 8 Mar 2014]. Roger W. Ferenbaugh, Acid Rain: Biological Effects and Implications, 4 B.C. Envtl. Aff. L. Rev. 745(1975), http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/ealr/vol4/iss4/6 [Accessed: 6 Mar 2014]. Effect of Acid Rain on Plant Growth. 2004. [e-book] http://mason.gmu.edu/~klargen/111labacidraineffectsonplantsspring04.PDF [Accessed: 6 Mar 2014].

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