While other issues such as global warming have taken center stage in recent years, the problem still persists although some gains have been made the phrase acid rain was coined in the 19 th century by robert angus smith, but the problem became a widespread issue in the united states in. There is no doubt about the damage which acid rain has caused, but what remains unclear are the precise causes of acid rain and the most efficacious means of reducing its environmental, economic and political. Acid rain became an issue in 1980 when congress passed the acid deposition act. Merchants of doubt summary and study guide supersummary.
The ph scale measures the amount of acid in a substance. Acid rain is responsible for severe environmental destruction across the world and occurs most commonly in the north eastern united states, eastern europe and increasingly in parts of china and india. Dispelling the myths of the acid rain story sourcewatch. Distilled water, once carbon dioxide is removed, has a neutral ph of 7. Acid rain facts and information national geographic. Oct 29, 2015 generally speaking, acid rain is any type of precipitation rain, snow, fog that contains a high level of nitric or sulfuric acids. Rain includes a diagram of the water cycle and a map reflecting acid rain sources and problems around the world. Finally, i would like to use this medium to advise nigerians that the stories going around about a looming acid. It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. Precipitation comes in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
One of the causes of this type of rain is burning of coal in an area. Dec 22, 2015 acid rain occurs in multiple locations across the planet. Acid rain occurs in multiple locations across the planet. The phenomenon became an important part of his book air and rain. It may be defined as rain water having ph less than 5. Even at its weakest, acid rain wrecks ecosystems by stunting sensitive plants and killing delicate aquatic eggs.
The strength of the effects depends on many factors, including how. Acid rain may be one of the most significant environmental problems of the coming decade. When sulfur and nitrogen oxides react with water, oxygen and other substances in. Acid rain describes any form of precipitation that contains high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts. Its causes and its effects on inland waters science. The title of this book is economics and the environment. Acid rain quotes 2 quotes on acid rain science quotes. Electricity heats and lights buildings and runs appliances such as televisions and video.
Acid rain is rainfall made so acidic by atmospheric pollution that it causes environmental harm, chiefly to forests and lakes. Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation like snow that is acidic. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Effects of ddt were explained in rachel carsons book silent spring. Acid rain is a global environmental phenomenon that has had a serious impact on the ecobiological environment. May 06, 1997 teach acidrain facts, not fears and fiction.
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. The main fallacy underlined by externalities is that the costs attributed to a few sources. Decades ago, acid rain became one of the rallying points for those concerned about the environment. And to cite, unequivocally, the usa as an exemplar of acid gas reduction is getting close to the wind, while to say that when acid rain falls on limestone, the acid becomes less harmful is to neglect the harm done to the stone listed at the start of the book as part of the acid rain problem. Some traditional herbal medicines, some mycotoxins, naphthalene and styrene. Acid rain body, used, water, process, earth, life, plants, type. It is rain with high levels of hydrogen ions low ph. The principal natural phenomena that contribute acidproducing gases to the atmosphere are emissions from volcanoes. Jun 06, 2014 acid rain is a popular term referring to the deposition of wet rain, snow, sleet, fog, cloudwater, and dew and dry acidifying particles and gases acidic components.
When sulfur and nitrogen oxides react with water, oxygen and other substances in the atmosphere, they produce sulfuric and nitric acid. There are various natural causes, such as gases from volcanoes. Because of how acid rain is formed, it is often found near areas where lots of fossil. Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that. It poses new challenges to the full development of our forest, agricultural, and aquatic resources. Eastern europe and parts of scandinavia have rain with ph 4. Conway includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 7 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis.
Opinion teach acidrain facts, not fears and fiction the. The effects of acid rain environmental sciences essay. Acid rain, or rain with a lower ph due to nitric andor sulfuric acids, falls in many places across the globe. Acid rain quotes 2 quotes increasingly, our leaders must deal with dangers that threaten the entire world, where an understanding of those dangers and the possible solutions depend on a good grasp of science. Question sheet on acid rain students can use a text book or the internet to get the answers to the questions, or it could be based on a powerpoint for them to fill in as you go along.
The chemist robert angus smith, was the first to report about the dangers of acid rain in 1872 in his book air and rain. The first report was rejected and congress went ahead and amended the clean air act to mandate so2 and nox. The ozone layer, the greenhouse effect, acid rain, questions of diet and of heredityall require scientific literacy. Produced when sulfur dioxide and various nitrogen oxides combine with atmospheric moisture, acid rain can contaminate drinking water, damage vegetation and aquatic life, and erode buildings and monuments. Can you name some of the effects of acid rain on our environment. Measured values of acid rain vary according to geographical area. Immediately download the acid rain summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching acid rain. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Acid rain looks, feels, and tastes just like clean rain. The solution to the problem of acid rain is perhaps one of the main environmental and political issues facing the peoples of the industrialized nations, and their neighbours today. Acid rain discusses what acid rain is, the harmful pollutants that cause acid rain, and what we can do to protect our environment from acid rain. The rain is as a result of extreme pollution in the environment.
Precipitation collects acidic particles and gases and becomes acidic. Forest decline and acid rain some facts and fallacies. Acid precipitation has detrimental effects on the built environment, reduces agricultural. Acid rain acid rain was discovered in the 19th century by robert angus smith, a pharmacist from manchester england, who measured high levels of acidity in rain falling over industrial regions of england and contrasted them to the much lower levels he observed in less polluted areas near the coast. Acid rain is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of the atmosphere. Gr 35each book presents an environmental problem, its causes, possible scientific solutions, and ways in which readers can help. Acid rain was mainly caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide to the atmosphere from coalfired power stations, and by emissions of oxides of nitrogen from various sources.
Acid rain is defined as any type of precipitation with a ph that is unusually low. Acid rain is rain that is unusually acidic and highly corrosive in nature. Ozone hole has an instructive illustration of the different layers of the earths atmosphere as well as a computergenerated map showing ozone levels the world over. Natural rain is typically somewhat acidic, with a ph just below 6. What place in the world receives the most acid rain. But comparing acid rain to safe, natural acids can be misleading. Acid rain is downpour containing harmful quantities of nitric and sulfuric acids which released into the atmosphere. When fossil fuels are burned, harmful emotions released into the air. Dissolved carbon dioxide dissociates to form weak carbonic acid giving a ph of approximately 5. Nov 16, 20 the chemicals that produce acid rain can be released by dying and rotting plant life acid rain facts 3.
According to the environmental protection agency epa acid rain can be particularly damaging to the young from many species of plant and wildlife. Economic facts and fallacies shows that fallacies are not. The objective of our research program is to develop information which will assure that the nation. It is caused by the industrial burning of coal and other fossil fuels, the waste gases from one that contains sulphur and nitrogen oxides. Smith in 1872 from his studies of air in manchester, england. As this acidic water flows over and through the ground, it affects a variety of plants and animals. In july, 1998, environment magazine published a major critique of four key assumptions and arguments of the acid rain debate. Also included is the answer sheet for students to check their answers against. The adverse affects of acid rain have damaged lakes, streams, and living creatures in these ecosystems. Acid rain causes steel bridges, vehicles, and other metal structures to corrode or rust. Acid rain has been around for a very long time, it is as old as the very first time that we have released ammonium, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur into the atmosphere. After a ten year study, national acidic precipitation assessment program reported that there wasnt much of a problem with acid rain. Of all the environmental problems, that of acid rain is high up on the list of.
Carbon dioxide and various oxides of nitrogen also make acid in the atmosphere. Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. Walking in acid rain, or even swimming in an acid lake, is no more dangerous than walking or swimming in clean water. The program established to deal with the problem of acid rain in the united states is often cited as an example of the success of the cap and trade approach now being advanced as a solution to global warming. Liquids with a ph less than 7 are acidic, and those with a ph greater than 7 are alkaline. Scientists have discovered that burning fossil fuels creates acid rain through air pollution.
Jul 31, 2018 acid rain is rainfall made so acidic by atmospheric pollution that it causes environmental harm, chiefly to forests and lakes. Acid rain, or rain with a lower ph due to nitric and or sulfuric acids, falls in many places across the globe. Thus, for example, fumaroles from the laguna caliente crater of poas volcano create extremely high amounts of acid rain and fog, with acidity as high as a ph of 2, clearing an area of any vegetation and frequently causing irritation to the eyes and lungs of inhabitants in. Some of this can be caused by natural phenomenon such as volcanic eruptions and even gases emitted by large amounts of rotting vegetation. However, the pollutants that cause acid rainsulfur dioxide so2 and nitrogen oxides noxdo damage human health. Watson is eloquent about localized forms of pollution, such as acid rain and smog, but he sees climate change as speculative.
Opinion teach acidrain facts, not fears and fiction. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. Acid rain can have harmful effects on plants, animals and humans. There is no doubt about the damage which acid rain has caused, but what remains unclear are the precise causes of acid rain and the most efficacious means of reducing its environmental, economic and political impacts. Explains the effects of acid rain on our planet, such as the health risks to humans, plants, and animals, and suggests ways to help alleviate the problem. Transportation and the environment the geography of transport. Acid rain information book subsequent edition by david v. This paper discusses the facts and fallacies of the direct health impacts. Acid rain can damage plants, animals, soil, water, building materials, and people.
Acid rain occurs when acidcontaining precipitation falls onto the earths surface. This 81page guide for merchants of doubt by naomi oreskes and eric m. This collection cites books, journal articles, conference. People burn fossil fuels such as coal and oil to make electricity. Global warming greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect.
In 1990, congress passed the clean air act which is now known as the acid rain program to reduce as well as control the levels of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere facts about acid rain. Finally, i would like to use this medium to advise nigerians that the stories going around about a looming acid rain are not only false but also inconsistent. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Constant acid rainfall is the major reason why some areas are considered barren. List of books and articles about acid rain online research. The widespread occurrence of acid rain was recognized only in 1980. The adverse affects of acid rain have damaged lakes, streams, and living creatures in. However, it is thought that air pollution by people now causes most acid rain. Acid rain simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite reads in more than a dozen categories.
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