Europe’s Environmental Issues

Acid Rain

What is acid rain? Acid rain results when noxious gases – such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide – combine with water molecules in clouds. When these clouds burst, the rain released is toxic. Acid rain pollutes freshwater sources, poisons fisheries, kills forests, and even deteriorates architecture.

What is Acid Rain? Acid rain is a result of air pollution. When any type of fuel is burnt, lots of different chemicals are produced and released into the air and mix with water in the clouds. The rain from these clouds then falls as very weak acid. It’s not acidic enough to burn your skin, but it’s very harmful for the environment.

Germany’s Acid Rain The country with the worst acid rain in Europe is GERMANY. Germany is famous for its majestic forests and historic Gothic architecture; however, these picturesque landscapes and cities are under threat from acid rain.

Germany - Its Own Worst Enemy… Main source of acid rain is smoke from factories (burning fuels like natural gas, coal, & oil) Germany is a top manufacturing country—leads the world in cars, steel, & chemical products—so it depends on these factories Cars & buses also produce harmful gases. Germans own more cars than people of most other countries. In the 1980’s, acid rain had destroyed nearly half of the Black Forest. This really hurt Germany’s economy because one of its major natural resources is timber.

Acid Rain You will have 5 minutes to read the article “Acid Rain”. In the article, look for CAUSES, EFFECTS, and SOLUTIONS to acid rain. List ONE of each on your notes page. Discuss your answers with your group.

What is Germany’s solution? The primary cause of Germany’s acid rain is emissions from its many coal-burning power plants. The nation is taking steps to reduce its coal-dependence, though, particularly in southern Germany where hydroelectric power is emerging as an alternative energy source. Wind and solar energy are also being harnessed across the nation.

What is air pollution? the presence in or introduction into the air of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.

What is Air Pollution? Many of the world’s largest and most industrialized countries are in Europe. Paris, London, Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam These cities tend to have lots of factories, lots of traffic, and produce a lot of air pollution. Factories and Power Plants pump pollutants into Europe’s atmosphere.

Air Pollution in the U.K. The country with the worst Air Pollution in Europe is the UNITED KINGDOM. London, England, the capital of the United Kingdom, has some of the worst air pollution of any major city in Europe. Word “smog” first used in 1905 to describe air in London (thick fog + factory smoke) Thick London smog happens when water in the air mixes with smoke particles from a coal fire in factories.

Great Smog of 1952 You will have 5 minutes to read the article “The Great Smog of 1952”. In the article, look the CAUSES and EFFECTS the smog. List each on your notes page. Discuss your answers with your group.

Temperature Inversion

Sources of Air Pollution The U.K. is one of Europe’s leading industrial powers with numerous factories across the country processing oil, natural gas, and coal. The pollutants emitted from factories, along with the overcrowding and widespread use of motor vehicles in its major cities, have led to the U.K.’s air quality troubles.

U.K.’s location What do you think made the United Kingdom a leading industrial power in Europe?

Effects of Air Pollution Increased asthma and pneumonia are linked to vehicle emissions have been linked to the nation’s widespread air pollution. Burns the lungs, nose, and eyes, and endangers human life Blackens buildings & harms wildlife

What is the U.K’s solution? The U.K. has taken measures to decrease air pollution, however, including: tightening vehicle and factory emissions standards, encouraging public mass transportation, and promoting the use of cleaner burning coal.

Nuclear Disaster: Chernobyl Examples include lethal effects to individuals, large radioactivity release to the environment, or reactor core melt. The prime example of a "major nuclear accident" is one in which a reactor core is damaged and significant amounts of radioactivity are released, such as in the Chernobyl.

Why? Reactor #4 exploded Results: People died Radiation posioining Gases drifted posioining livestock and land

What is Europe doing to fix these problems?...

European Environmental Policies In Western Europe, nations are trying to lessen pollution. They are spending money and researching new ways to produce power that cause less environmental damage. In Eastern Europe, few nations are researching new technologies They have less money

Ukraine still has a higher than normal radiation level. Bulgaria has made no effort at all to decrease its air pollution caused by traffic. Romania has one of the highest industrial pollution rates in Europe. This is because its factories are still using old-fashioned methods Lithuania’s forests are dying rapidly from acid rain but their government refuses to acknowledge the problem. Yugoslavia is preparing to build a new nuclear power plant but hasn’t let anyone see their plans or safety policies.

European Environmental Policies Governments are also researching alternative fuel sources for cars which would lessen air pollution and acid rain. Rather than being made of oil, these fuels come from plant soil.

European Union Most countries in Europe are members of a group called the European Union. Since its formation in 1993, the EU has passed policies designed to fight acid rain, improve air quality, restrict toxic waste, and reduce pollution.