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Acid RainA Contemporary World Problem Acid rain is one of the most dangerous and widespread forms of pollution. Sometimes called the unseen plague, acid rain can go undetected in an area for years. Technically, acid rain is rain that has a larger amount of acid in it than what is normal. The acidity of rain in parts of Europe and North America has dramatically increased over the past few decades. It is now common in many places for rain to be ten to seventy times more acid than unpolluted rain. Many living and non-living systems become harmed and damaged as a result of acid rain.
This website gives an informational, in-depth look at acid rains causes and effects; and solutions to the acid rain problem. Causes of Acid Rain Acid rain is caused by smoke and gases that are given off by factories and cars that run on fossil fuels. When these fuels are burned to produce energy, the sulfur that is present in the fuel combines with oxygen and becomes sulfur dioxide; some of the nitrogen in the air becomes nitrogen oxide. These pollutants go into the atmosphere, and become acid. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are produced especially when coal is burnt for fuel. Burning coal produces electricity, and the more electricity that people use, the more coal is burnt.
Of course, nowadays people probably couldnt live without electricity, so coal will continue to be burnt; but electricity and energy are constantly being overused. Think of it this way: every time you turn on a light switch or the television set without really needing to, youre indirectly contributing to the acid rain problem. Automobiles produce nitrogen oxides (which cause acid rain), so every time you dont carpool when you can, you are helping to cause acid rain. So now that we know what causes acid rain, heres a look at how acid rain can hurt you and the world around you... How Acid Rain Affects The Environment Acid rain is an extremely destructive form of pollution, and the environment suffers from its effects. Forests, trees, lakes, animals, and plants suffer from acid rain.
Trees are an extremely important natural resource. They provide timber, regulate local climate, and forests are homes to wildlife. Acid rain can make trees lose their leaves or needles, as is shown in these pictures of forests damaged by acid rain in Germany. The needles and leaves of the trees turn brown and fall off. Trees can also suffer from stunted growth; and have damaged bark and leaves, which makes them vulnerable to weather, disease, and insects. All of this happens partly because of direct contact between trees and acid rain, but it also happens when trees absorb soil that has come into contact with acid rain.
The soil poisons the tree with toxic substances that the rain has deposited into it. Lakes are also damaged by acid rain. A lake polluted by acid rain will support only the hardiest species. Fish die off, and that removes the main source of food for birds. Also, birds can die from eating toxic fish and insects. Just as birds can be killed from eating toxic fish, fish can die from eating animals that are toxic.
Acid rain can even kill fish before they are born. Acid rain hits the lakes mostly in the springtime, when fish lay their eggs. The eggs come into contact with the acid, and the entire generation can be killed. Fish usually die only when the acid level of a lake is high; when the acid level is lower, they can become sick, suffer stunted growth, or lose their ability to reproduce.
Free research essays on topics related to: sulfur dioxide, rain, nitrogen oxide, acid, acid rain
Research essay sample on Acid Rain Sulfur Dioxide
