These studies have proceeded from initial dendroecological documentation of altered growth patterns of mature trees to increasingly more focused ecophysiological research on the. The role of acid deposition in the health of spruce fir forests in the southern appalachian mountains has been investigated by a wide variety of experimental approaches during the past 10 years. The national atmospheric deposition programnational. A database of annual atmospheric acid and nutrient. It often results when the acidity of normal precipitation is increased by sulfates and nitrates that are emitted into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels. Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that. The purpose of the acid deposition control program is to reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide so 2 and nitrogen oxide no x emissions to the atmosphere. For more information on the ph scale and the causes and chemistry of acid rain, please view the powerpoint slideshow titled acid rain 101, or use one of the resources listed in appendix b. Rivers and streams are constantly getting deeper into the crust of the earth. Acid deposition penetrates deeply into the fabric of an ecosystem, changing the chemistry of the soil and streams and narrowingsometimes to nothing.
Acid deposition degrades materials beyond natural weathering, harming buildings, monuments, bridges and automobiles, and other parts of the built environment. People burn fossil fuels such as coal and oil to make electricity. What is the national atmospheric deposition program. Electricity heats and lights buildings and runs appliances such as televisions and video. Since rain naturally has things dissolved in it, it will always be slightly acidic. Acid rain with sources in the pennsylvaniaohio steel belt, for example, generally is. A 1993 survey in 27 european countries revealed air pollution damage or mortality in 23 percent of the 100,000 trees surveyed. Pdf almost all of the electricity that powers modern life comes from burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil.
Some lakes in countries such as sweden have become so acidic, from acid rain resulting from pollution in other countries, that they are no longer able to support fish life. Although it is a problem that people have worked diligently to solve, there are still many problem areas throughout the world. Study the causes, effects, along with a few examples and understand the prevention measures. Acid rain is more correctly referred to as acid deposition because in addition to rain, acid can deposit as snow, sleet, hail, particles, gasses and water vapor. Acid deposition, acid rain and acid precipitation all relate to the chemistry of air pollution and moisture in the atmosphere. This report summarizes the annual progress of epas clean air markets programs such as the acid rain program arp and the crossstate air pollution rule csapr. Acid rain is made up of water droplets that are unusually acidic because of atmospheric pollution, most notably the excessive amounts of sulfur and nitrogen released by cars and industrial processes. In reality the focus of acid rain research has shifted, and this book adds new vision to the topic.
This means it can imply both wet and dry gaseous precipitation. No one earth sphere exists without the impact of the others. Acid deposition includes acidic rain as well as other forms of acidic wet depositionsuch as snow, sleet, hail, and fog or cloud water. By working together, earth scientists combine data and knowledge of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere to learn more about interactions between them. Acid deposition, commonly known as acid rain, occurs when emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels and other industrial processes undergo complex chemical reactions in the atmosphere and fall to the earth as wet deposition rain, snow, cloud, fog or dry deposition dry particles, gas.
Minnesotas response to the acid rain threat acid rain was recognized early as a potentially. The widespread occurrence of acid rain was recognized only in 1980. These acidic compounds then fall to earth in either a. A national picture of acid deposition critical loads for. As a result of rapid industrial, agricultural and urban development, anthropogenic emissions of acid precursors e. Acid rain is still a problem and has had a greater environmental impact than previously. Acid rain, also known as acid deposition, is any form of precipitation with acidic components. Acid deposition, more commonly known as acid rain, occurs when emissions of so2 and nox react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and oxidants to form various acidic compounds. Acid rain is the term commonly used by scientists to describe rain that is abnormally acidic. In the 1970s and 80s, forested areas in central europe, southern scandinavia, and eastern north america showed alarming signs of forest dieback and tree mortality.
Congress established the worlds first capandtrade system by creating the acid rain program arp during its 1990 amendments to the clean air act. A critical load is an effectsbased measurement defined as a quantitative estimate of. Likens documents the problem of acid deposition and its effects in north america. Rain is called acid rain only if it has more acid than normal. Acid rain can damage plants, animals, soil, water, building materials, and people. It contains papers, selected from acid rain 2005, the 7 th international conference on acid deposition, that take a broad perspective of the issues, emphasizing a number of themes. Acid rainor acid deposition as it is correctly callednot only has an adverse effect on environmental ecosystems, but also affects human health and many of the. For more information on the acid rain program, including additional information on so2 and nox emissions, acid deposition monitoring, and the environ.
These two pollutants affect the ph of precipitation e. Areas impacted typically are just hundreds of km downwind from the source. The main causes of acid rain are gases called sulfur dioxide so2 and nitrogen oxides nox. The term acid rain was first used by robert angus smith, a scientist working in manchester in the 1870s. The formation of acid rain burn fossil fuels in transport, industry, homes, power stations the rest reacts with sunlight and ozone in the atmosphere. The mission of hbrf is to promote the understanding and stewardship of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems through.
Pdf acid raina contemporary world problem researchgate. Acid rain is more correctly referred to as acid deposition because in. Nitrogen oxides contribute to the formation of smog and ozone, which are a health concern. Acid rain in minnesota minnesota pollution control agency. Pdf acid rain is one of the major environmental threats since 19th century. Smith in 1872 from his studies of air in manchester, england. Acid rain effects on forested and mountainous regions. Acid rain, sulphuric, deposition, nitrogen, pollutants causes, effects, control pdf of full length paper is available with author. It includes rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog, and even dust that fall from.
Acid deposition is a complicated atmospheric process that has many direct and indirect environmental and public health impacts. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. The discovery of acid rain yale university press blog. Please click here for a pdf version of this tutorial.
They will continue to slowly move more and more soil and sand downstream. The causes of acid rain, how acid rain affects our environment and our health, and what regulatory actions have been put in place to reduce the pollutants that cause acid rain. Page 2 acid rain revisited the hubbard brook research foundation hbrf is a nonprofit501c3 charitable organization established in 1993. You can sort them by title, published date, author and reference number. We are concerned here with acidity in the form of acid rain and other acid deposition. Acid rain deposition to recovery peter brimblecombe. Pdf acidic atmospheric deposition, popularly referred to as acid rain, is the transfer of strong acids and acid forming substances from the atmosphere. With these changes and the not yet implemented federal clean air interstate rule aimed at control of acid rain precursors, further reduction in acidic deposition should be forthcoming. Acidic deposition, or acid rain, describes any form of precipitation, including rain, snow, and fog, with a ph of 5. Well, plain distilled water, like that used in laboratories, is neutral not acidic or basic. Introduction the primary longterm goal of the canadawide acid rain strategy for post2000 the strategy is to meet the environmental threshold of critical loads for acid deposition across canada. Effects of acid deposition on calcium nutrition and health. Acid rain or acid deposition occurs when sulfur dioxide so2 and nitrogen oxides nox react in the atmosphere with h2o, o2 and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds such as.
Acid rain acid rain became a household term in the 1980s when unchecked emissions from industry and motor vehicles were blamed for causing environmental deterioration. Since the beginning of civilization, human beings have. Epa systematically collects data on emissions, compliance, and environmental effects, these data are highlighted in our progress reports. Acid rain acid rain effects on forested and mountainous regions. It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. The acid deposition control program, also known as the acid rain program, is a federal program, established by the u. Scientists have discovered that burning fossil fuels creates acid rain through air pollution.
The most obvious environmental effect of acid rain has been the loss of. Acid rain strategy for post2000, in which they committed to take steps over the longterm to solve the acid rain problem in eastern canada and prevent one in western and northern canada. Holmes acid rain or acid precipitation or acid deposition as it is variably called, was first identified in north america more than five decades ago at the hubbard brook experimental forest in the white mountains of new hampshire. Status and trends in acid deposition, air quality, and ecological effects detailed unitlevel emissions data are available on epas clean air markets website. The strategy set a longterm goal of achieving the threshold of critical loads for acid deposition across canada. Acid deposition is a rather well known environmental problem, for example acid fog killed several thousand people in. Acid rain is also called acid deposition because this term includes other forms of acidic precipitation such as snow. Learning about acid rain a teachers guide for grades 6.
Laurence kulp concern in the scientific community about the effects of acid rain from industrial sources. What causes such a dramatic increase in the acidity of rain relative to pure water. Scientific evidence has linked acid rain to decreased fish and wildlife populations, degraded lakes and streams, and human health hazards. The purpose of the arp was to reduce acid rain deposition by decreasing sulfur dioxide so 2 emissions from power plants to 50 percent below 1980 levels by 2010. Acid rain department of chemistry washington university. Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it has elevated levels of hydrogen ions low ph. Acid rain program annual progress report, 2001 page 3 why worry about acid rain. The ph scale and some representative values are shown in the graphics below. After weathering turns rocks into smaller pieces or soil, then often erosion takes place and moves the smaller pieces away. You may wish to use the entire acid rain revisited report or the summary as a resource for your students during your study of acid rain.
Acid deposition is a general name for a number of phenomena, namely acid rain, acid fog and acid mist. Erosion erosion is the movement of soil by water or wind. The administrator of the environmental protection agency, in consultation with the secretary. Although sulfur emissions that contribute to acid deposition have declined, nitrogen. Uk scientists generally use the term acid deposition but all three terms relate to the same issue.
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