1. ACID DEPOSITION AND FOREST ECOSYSTEMS Chapter 3.11

2. Acid Deposition Technology is great but it also contributes to acid deposition. Coal-burning plants, cars, and trucks, metal smelters, and oil refineries provide energy, transport, and materials for the industrial world, but at the same time produce oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, among the most dangerous of air pollutants.

3. The Problem of Combustion Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and Nitrogen oxides (NO x ) are released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. Sulfur and Nitrogen enter the atmosphere they may combine with water droplets to form acids. ACID PRECIPITATION. The acids return to the surface of the Earth in the form of snow or rain, called ACID PRECIPITATION.

4. ACID PRECIPITATION KILLS ACID PRECIPITATION KILLS: Fish Soil Bacteria Aquatic Plants Terrestrial Plants The sulfur and nitrogen oxides released from tailpipes and smokestacks do not always enter the water cycle in the atmosphere.

5. DRY DEPOSITION Sulfur and nitrogen compounds may remain airborne and settle out in the dry state – DRY DEPOSITION Dry Deposition enter the water cycle and form acid as it combines with moisture CAN BE FOUND: Dew on lawns Surface of lakes Water inside your respiratory tract

6. THE EFFECTS OF ACID PRECIPITATION Direct effects on Humans: Dissolving marble statues Corroding metal Dulling car finishes Damage to buildings

7. Medical Effects Accelerated respiratory problems Examples: Asthma, bronchitis Cause eyes to water Irritate skin

8. Effects on Ecosystems Damage to leaves Damaged to tissues of trees become more susceptible to fungal or bacterial infections.

9. EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN Acid Falls to SoilAcid falls to Soil Kills Bacteria Promotes growth of Moss Releases Aluminum in the soil Reduces Nutrients in Trees Damage tree Roots Important to Nitrogen Cycle

10. pH – Potential Hydrogen pH is a scale from 0 – 14 where: 0 – 6.9 = Acidic 7.0 = neutral 7.1-14 = Basic 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 A pH of 3 is 10 times more acidic than pH of 4 More AcidicMore Basic

11. CLASSWORK Read page 116 -118 Fill in handout Answer Questions #1-4 page 118