Acid rain is a rain that is more acidic (has more hydrogen ions) compared to normal rain and it has serious negative effects to nature and people. It is a mixture of wet and dry depositon that contain high amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids (see Figure 1). These gases come from electric generation, factories, forest fires, burning fossil fuels and acid rain forms when these gases react with water, oxygen and air. Wet deposition happens when acid chemicals fall to the ground in a rain or snow for although dry deposition happens when acid chemicals fall to th ground in a dust or smoke form. The strength of an acid rain is determined by measuring its pH, which is about the hydrogen ions that it contains (US Environment Protection Agency, “Measuring
…show more content…
It can lead to health problems in people (see Figure 2), it can damage forests, lakes, streams and buildings. They damage plants, animals and the whole environment (see Figures 3, 4, and 5). It has many more effects which is crucial. First, it can cause health problems because nitrogen and sulfur oxides in acid rain leads to respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic bronchitis which makes it hard to breathe. Additionally, nitrogen oxides can produce ozone in ground which can cause permanent lung damage. Acid rain also damage forests by dissolving nutrients in the soil that trees need. It releases aluminum to soil, which makes it hard for plants to take up water. Acid rain increases toxins in the soil, which adversely affects germination (Ask.com, “How does acid rain affect seed germination?”, 1995). It also decreases the pH level of soil, which affects the nutrients that plants need. It also damages the leaves and roots of plants, which makes it hard to take water. Some trees are near acid clouds, acid clouds damage the nutrients in leaves and other parts of the tree. When nutrients are lost, trees are damaged easily by other factors (US Environment Protection Agency, “US Environment Protection Agency, “Acid Rain Student Site: Why is Acid Rain Harmful?”, …show more content…
Therefore, some measures must be taken. Although governments are doing things to decrease or stop acid rain, it is not enough. Decreasing energy consumption is the first action that people can take. People can turn off their electronics when they are not using it and also turn off heating units or air conditioners when it is not needed so there will be decrease in nitrogen and sulfur oxides which are the main causes of acid rain. Additionally, we can start to use solar or wind energy more efficiently to stop fossil fuels burn and mix to the atmoshphere. Rather than using normal vehicles, people can start to use energy saving vehicles or they can reduce vehicles in traffic and use mass transportation, such as buses, trains and metro, use bicycles, or walk to decrease nitrogen oxide emission. Factories or industries can reduce harmful gases that they give to air using filters. There many actions that could be taken to reduce or stop acid rain. In these days, governments like USA are trying to reduce emissions of gases in industry by changing power plants that burn coal, oil or similar things to solar, wind or hydroelectric energy. By doing this, they reduce sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which decreases acid rain. Some governments can also make laws about people to not have so many cars , they can have more public transportation to reduce nitrogen oxide emission to the atmosphere (Ask.com, “What can be
It can lead to health problems in people (see Figure 2), it can damage forests, lakes, streams and buildings. They damage plants, animals and the whole environment (see Figures 3, 4, and 5). It has many more effects which is crucial. First, it can cause health problems because nitrogen and sulfur oxides in acid rain leads to respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic bronchitis which makes it hard to breathe. Additionally, nitrogen oxides can produce ozone in ground which can cause permanent lung damage. Acid rain also damage forests by dissolving nutrients in the soil that trees need. It releases aluminum to soil, which makes it hard for plants to take up water. Acid rain increases toxins in the soil, which adversely affects germination (Ask.com, “How does acid rain affect seed germination?”, 1995). It also decreases the pH level of soil, which affects the nutrients that plants need. It also damages the leaves and roots of plants, which makes it hard to take water. Some trees are near acid clouds, acid clouds damage the nutrients in leaves and other parts of the tree. When nutrients are lost, trees are damaged easily by other factors (US Environment Protection Agency, “US Environment Protection Agency, “Acid Rain Student Site: Why is Acid Rain Harmful?”, …show more content…
Therefore, some measures must be taken. Although governments are doing things to decrease or stop acid rain, it is not enough. Decreasing energy consumption is the first action that people can take. People can turn off their electronics when they are not using it and also turn off heating units or air conditioners when it is not needed so there will be decrease in nitrogen and sulfur oxides which are the main causes of acid rain. Additionally, we can start to use solar or wind energy more efficiently to stop fossil fuels burn and mix to the atmoshphere. Rather than using normal vehicles, people can start to use energy saving vehicles or they can reduce vehicles in traffic and use mass transportation, such as buses, trains and metro, use bicycles, or walk to decrease nitrogen oxide emission. Factories or industries can reduce harmful gases that they give to air using filters. There many actions that could be taken to reduce or stop acid rain. In these days, governments like USA are trying to reduce emissions of gases in industry by changing power plants that burn coal, oil or similar things to solar, wind or hydroelectric energy. By doing this, they reduce sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which decreases acid rain. Some governments can also make laws about people to not have so many cars , they can have more public transportation to reduce nitrogen oxide emission to the atmosphere (Ask.com, “What can be