Ngoan Tran Ecology & Environmental Biology (BIOL 1312) University of Houston Downtown Project : Acid Deposition

A CID D EPOSITION Acid deposition or acid rain occurs when green house gas undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere and fall to the earth as wet deposition or dry deposition. The chemical releases from the emission or plant can travel long distances and form to acid deposition to harm ecosystem.

P H SCALE N ATURAL A CID RAIN : P H FROM 5 TO 6 S INCE 2000, ACID RAIN IN THE US APPROXIMATE 4.3 M EASURE A CID R AIN

A CID D EPOSITION

E COLOGICAL I MPACTS Acid deposition hit hard or effect on rivers, mountain ranges, rain forests, and oceans.  Episodic acidification  Chronic acidification Acid deposition impacts on soil,, forest, freshwater, and estuarine ecosystems.

E COLOGICAL I MPACTS Lakes and forests Animals Marine life Plants and species are damaged and decreased diversity by acid deposition

A CID RAIN EFFECTS TO HUMAN Cause eyes and breathing problem Visibility low Water contains high acidity level harm to human health. Human get indirect effect to health when swim in water with acid level high.

E CONOMIC I MPACTS Plants and crops Man-made materials Status of art damaged Effect to human health: high cost of healthcare system Facilities Lower production in fishery

R ESEARCH F OCUS / R EDUCING ACID RAIN Use alternative energy Reduce burn fossil fuel Clean smokes and use lower emission facilities Capture carbon dioxide and inject them back into the ground Restore loss or damage environment Put lime into places contaminated acid waters to reduce pH level Take individual action such as saving fossil fuel energy

W ORKS C ITED Hoefnagels, Marie ̈ lle. Biology: The Essentials. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Print. EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 01 May 2015.