A Growing Concern: An Introduction to Acid Rain

If you have ever seen a statue or other large structure that looks like it’s being dissolved away, then you are observing first hand one of the effects of acid rain.  Acid rain is a phenomenon that occurs when chemical substances like nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides are mixed with rainwater.  A huge excess of these chemicals results from various forms of human activity involving the burning of fossil fuels such as car emissions and factory emanation.  The harmful substances that a coal power plant releases over a year are roughly equal to that of the infamous 1980 explosion of Mount St. Helens.  When these chemicals mix with water droplets, they cause an overall lowering of pH, which results in higher levels of acidity.  Acid rain causes a variety of problems to human health, the environment and manmade infrastructure.  This is a far-reaching problem: there are over 1,350 streams in the Mid-Atlantic United States alone that have been acidified by acid rain, while cities and water bodies all over North America, Asia and Europe are also being effected.  But while things may seem bleak, there are ways to mitigate the acid rain problem.  Both individuals and large industries like power plants can take steps to lessen the amount of harmful substances that cause acid rain.

Acid Rain Causes

Causes:

·       - Majority is from factories

·        -Car emissions is next greatest source

·        -Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides combine to form the acidic mixture

·        -The sulfur dioxide is trapped in the fossil fuels and released when burned

-Atmosphere can neutralize the mixture but sometimes there too much of it

·        -Ph is between 5.5 and 5.9

·        -Can fall as wet or dry

·        -Wet disposition is rain, fog, snow and sleet

·        -Dry disposition is acidic acids and dust particles

·       - The acid gases or rain can cover hundreds of miles

Cause of Acid Rain Image

Acid Rain Research Document

Sources (APA)

Eviromental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Acid Rain. Washington D.C., AL: EPA. Retrieved May 23, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/index.html

Clean Air Admissions. (2009). Sulfur Dioxide. , AL: EPA. Retrieved May 23, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/air/emissions/so2.htm

 

Clean Air Admissions. (2009). Sulfur Dioxide. , AL: EPA. Retrieved May 23, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/air/emissions/so2.htm

Eviromental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Acid Rain. Washington D.C., AL: EPA. Retrieved May 23, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/index.html

     

      Environmental Protection Agency.  (2011).  Environmental Effects of Acid Rain.  New    

      England, AL: EPA.  Retrieved May 24, 2011, 

      fromhttp://www.epa.gov/ne/eco/acidrain/enveffects.html

Acid Rain Solutions

·        Set limits on amounts of harmful emissions factories can produce

·        Tax companies that produce too much and put money towards cleaner energy sources

·        Provide loans to companies that want to install cleaning processes in their plants

·        Give tax breaks to companies that already have the greener processes installed

·        Research better fuel sources for cars and factories

·        Design cars with better mpg and less emissions

·        Improve cars catalytic convertors

·        Choose coal with less sulfur content to burn

Acid Rain Solutions Image

A Global Issue: An Introduction to Estuary Loss

Estuary loss is a major problem in coastal areas throughout the world. Estuaries in California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, the UK, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia are disappearing. Estuaries are bodies of water where freshwater from rivers or streams meets the ocean, causing brackish water. They are protected from wind and waves by the land surrounding them. These water forms are vital ecosystems that house countless species of birds, mammals, fish, shellfish, and plants. They are also important to humans; they protect land from flooding and filter out pollutants in water. The grasses and trees help prevent soil erosion. People use estuaries for boating, fishing, swimming, and other recreation. Estuaries provide a nursery for two-thirds of the commercial fish and shellfish in the US. They are critical to our fishing economy. Humans are the main cause of estuary loss.

Causes of estuary loss:

1. Population growth in coastal watersheds
2. dredging, draining, bulldozing, paving
3. polluted runoff from rural, suburban, and urban areas
4. dams
5. sewage discharges
6. coastal land loss and subsidence
7. lack of understanding and resulting apathy
8. invasive species