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Environmental Impact Of Acid Rain
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
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1.2 WHAT IS ACID RAIN
Acid rain is a broad term referring to a
mixture of wet and dry deposition (deposited material) from the
atmosphere containing higher than normal amount of nitric and Sulfuric
acid, (Berresheim, 1995). The precursors, or chemical forerunners of
acid rains formation result from both natural sources, such as
volcanoes and decaying vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily
emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen oxide (NO2) resulting
from fossil fuel combustion.
In the United States, roughly 2/3 of
all SO2 and ¼ of all NO2 come from electric power generation that
relies on burning fossil fuel, like coal.
Acid rain occurs when
these gases react in the atmosphere with water vapour, oxygen, and
other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild
solution of Sulfur acid and Nitric acid. When Sulfur dioxide and
Nitrogen oxide are released from power plants and other sources,
prevailing winds blow these compounds across states and national
borders, sometimes over hundred of miles.
Net Deposition
Wet
deposition refers to acidic rain, fog and snow if the acid chemicals in
the air are blown into areas where the weather is wet. The acids can
fall to the ground in the form of rain, snow, fog or mist. As this
acidic water flows over and through the ground it affects a variety of
plants and animals.
The series of the effects depends on several
factors including how acidic the water is, the chemistry and buffering
capacity of the soil involved and the type of fish, trees and other
living things that rely on the water.
Dry Deposition
In areas
where the weather is dry, the acid chemicals may become in corporated
into dust or smoke and fall to the ground through dry deposition
sticking to the ground building, homes, cars and trees. Dry deposition
gases and particles can be washed from these surfaces by rain storms,
leading to increased runoff. This runoff water makes the resulting
mixture more acidic. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls
back to earth through dry deposition.
1.3 CAUSES OF ACID RAIN
Acid rain is mainly caused by these substances that are being released into the air: (Hottmann, 1982).
Carbon
dioxide (Co2): Carbon dioxide is released by burning coal, oil and
natural gas, if you inhale carbon dioxide, then since it is toxic, it
can cause you to have to breathe more than usual, unconsciousness and
other serious health problems.
Carbon Monoxide: Carbon monoxide is
released by burning gasoline, oil and wood. When carbon monoxide enter
your body, it goes into the blood-stream and when this happens, it will
slow down the delivery of oxygen to the rest of the body causing
dizziness, headaches, fatique and ultimately death, if the situation is
not arrested quickly enough.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
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