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Acid Rain

Acid Rain. How does it form? Where is this a problem? What does it do to ecosystems and people?. Acid Deposition formation: Secondary or primary pollutant? Sources for precursors? Transportation? Wet or dry deposition?. Formulas you need to memorize:.

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Acid Rain

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  1. Acid Rain How does it form? Where is this a problem? What does it do to ecosystems and people?

  2. Acid Deposition formation:Secondary or primary pollutant?Sources for precursors?Transportation? Wet or dry deposition?

  3. Formulas you need to memorize: • SO3 + H2O  H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) • NOx + H2O  2HNO3 (nitric acid) • These are two forms (flavors) of acid deposition.

  4. Normal rain CO2 + H2O  H2CO3 (carbonic acid) Normal rain is always slightly acidic! THIS IS NOT ACID RAIN!!! THIS IS NOT POLLUTION!!!! Acid rain < pH 5.6

  5. OBSERVATIONS? IS ACID RAIN A BIG PROBLEM IN HOUSTON?WHERE IS ACID RAIN A BIG CONCERN?

  6. Global acid rain areas of concern

  7. Effects on terrestrial systems: Direct damage to leaves and roots Weak trees are susceptible to insects and disease

  8. Acid deposition leaches nutrients from soil and makes toxins (Al3+)more soluble

  9. Effects on Aquatic ecosystems • Loss of biodiversity • Range of tolerance • Jelly-like fish eggs broken down • Acidity denatures enzymes • Acid shock – sudden increase in acidity, often in spring can cause fish kills • Aluminum ions (Al3+) are released from lake bed, suffocating fish • Below pH4.5, lakes devoid of fish

  10. Cultural effects of acid rain Marble and limestone Acid breaks down these basic materials

  11. Many famous buildings are being damaged Taj Mahal Parthenon

  12. Statue of liberty Loss of artistic detail in Acropolis

  13. Human health effects of acid rain • Contributes to bronchitis and asthma

  14. Acid Rain: Check for understanding! • How does acid rain form? • What is the pH of acid rain? • Why is rain normally acidic? • Why is this a bigger problem on the East Coast than here? • Why is acid rain “like AIDS for plants”? • Why are there more significant effects on aquatic systems than on terrestrial systems?

  15. IF YOU’RE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION, YOU’RE PART OF THE PRECIPITATE. Solutions to Air pollution

  16. 1994

  17. 1999

  18. 2007

  19. Pollution prevention (don’t create the primary pollutants in the first place) Pollution clean up (now that they’re in the environment, let’s mitigate the effects) Two strategies

  20. Legal solutions • Emissions trading policy (Cap and Trade): stationary pollution sources can buy, sell and trade the right to pollute. • This policy ONLY exists in the US for SOx right now. • (CO2 cap and trade just started in California last year!)

  21. Technology Strategies: trap pollutants at the source

  22. Technology solution: improved vehicle efficiency • Using less gas = fewer combustion pollutants • Hybrids use friction from breaking to charge electric battery “regenerative breaking” • Computer switches engine from gas to electricity.

  23. CHEVY VOLT 2011 – POLLUTION DIVERTED TO POWER PLANT

  24. Technology solution: burn cleaner coal/coal gasification • Burn low-sulfur coal from Western US • Gasification turns solid coal to gas before it is burned – fewer particulates, SOx

  25. “LIMING” A LAKE (POWDERED LIMESTONE)

  26. Stream doser • Spot the pipe which adds the limestone solution to the stream!

  27. I=PAT • I = clean air • P = growing • A = options? • T = options? • Which of these can YOU do TODAY? 

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