BY: SAM WALLER Acid Precipitation

What Is Acid Precipitation? Acid precipitation is a phrase used to describe any form of precipitation (rain, snow, fog) that has developed acidic properties due to reactions with various chemicals in our atmosphere. water/default.asp?lang=En&n=FDF30C16-1

What Causes Acid Precipitation? Activities caused by humans are the main cause of acid precipitation. Humans release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere on a daily basis. When compounds such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are released into the air, a chemical reaction occurs. These substances have the ability to rise extremely high into our atmosphere, which allows them to mix and react with oxygen and water to form acidic pollutants.

What Causes Acid Precipitation? Once these pollutants have sufficiently mixed into our atmosphere, various forms of precipitation fall with these pollutants still mixed in. The sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can dissolve with ease into water and is able to be carried very far by the wind. Because of these tendencies, the two compounds can travel very long and large distances when part of the precipitation.

Why Is Acid Precipitation Harmful? Acid precipitation can be extremely harmful for a variety of different reasons. Acid precipitation can cause health problems in people: When the air becomes contaminated with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, a variety of respiratory conditions can appear or worsen. These problems occur because the pollution that causes acidic precipitation creates tiny particles which become trapped in people’s lungs. This can cause problems such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma.

Why Is Acid Precipitation Harmful? Acid precipitation damages lakes and streams: The addition of acidic rainwater to various bodies of water has caused pH levels to drop dangerously low. The change in acidity greatly effects aquatic ecosystems, as aquatic life can only endure minute alterations in pH levels. The decrease of pH levels brings with it the death of the most delicate aquatic organisms. The loss of fish lowest on the food chain in turn affects organisms which are higher up.

Why Is Acid Precipitation Harmful? As these predators lose their most vital source of food, animals such as loons, otters, and large fish must move to a more plentiful and clean area, otherwise find other sources of food to survive.

Why Is Acid Precipitation Harmful? Acid precipitation harms soil and forests: When precipitation of a strong acidic pH level seeps into the soil, the acidic groundwater washes away nutrients vital for plant growth. The pollutants can also bring with them aluminum; a substance toxic to plant growth. Although soil has the ability to resist changes in acidity called buffering capacity, neutralization reactions decrease this ability.

Why Is Acid Precipitation Harmful? As the buffering capacity of the soil becomes weaker, it can only neutralize a small amount of acid. The soil then loses valuable nutrients needed for trees to grow properly. Although acid precipitation is unable to kill trees directly, it does have the capacity to greatly weaken them. This means the trees are more vulnerable to things like strong winds, diseases, and extreme cold.

To Conclude As learned throughout this presentation, acid precipitation can be extremely dangerous to not only the environment, but also ourselves. Efforts to reduce the emissions of acid-forming pollutants are showing some encouraging signs, but we still have a long way to go before things return to normal.