Acid Deposition

1. Acid Deposition By: Masa Kanaan & Aisha Bint Feisal

2. What is acid deposition? • Acid rain comes in any form of precipitation that is unusually acidic • It has high levels of hydrogen ions (low pH) • It has effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure • Acid rain is caused by the releases of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, and they react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acid

3. The formation of acid deposition/acid rain • The chemical composition of acid rain is nitric acid, carbonic acid and sulfuric acid. • It can vary based on the pollution in the area and the location of the rain • Main 2 gases that causes acid rain: sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide

4. Effects of acid deposition on soil • Too much acidity causes the soil to release aluminum particles • Lack of nutrients from rich soil may prevent seeds from germinating • Acid rain weakens the roots of existing plant life

5. Effects of acid deposition on water (rivers, lakes) • pH levels decrease so water plants and fish suffer and die • It eliminates fish species from waterbody and decreases biodiversity • Safe water supplies decrease

6. Effects of acid deposition on plants • The weakened plants and trees can’t fight off diseases • Acid rain can kill plants • The less plants, the less for animals and human to eat

7. Chemistry leading formation • Acid deposition can be either wet or dry: • Wet deposition: acidic rain, snow or other precipitation • Dry deposition: acidic gas or dry particles, not mixed with water • Pollutants can be classified as either primary or secondary: • Primary pollutants: those directly emitted by a factory or automobile, such as.. • SO2 – sulfur dioxide • NO and NO2, usually identified as NOx • Secondary pollutants: primary pollutants react with other substances in the atmosphere and create different pollutants, such as.. • H2SO3 – sulfurous acid • H2SO4 - sulfuric acid • HNO3 - nitric acid

8. Regional or global It is more of a regional problem. The effects of acid rain were exaggerated in the 1970s. Back then, they claimed that it would lead to massive deforestation. That didn't occur. It does have some consequences however particularly close to emission sources. It is a minor global concern IMO because the effects of aerosols on the climate are poorly understood. It is a regional concern. The areas of concern are the area that are downwind of the prevailing winds around industries that put sulfur particles from combustion into the atmosphere.  • Acid precipitation falls back to earth rather than entering stratospheric jet stream • Most areas are downwind of pollution sources • Canadian forests damaged by coal-fired power plants in USA • Scandinavian and German forests damaged by British coal plants

9. Pollution management • Replace • switch to renewable energy sources (reduce fossil fuel use) • increase energy efficiency (better light bulbs and appliances) • more public transportation (fewer automobiles on the road) • use low-sulfur fuels  • Regulate • install ‘scrubbers’ on smokestacks of coal-fired power plants to remove SO2 • catalytic converters installed on automobiles (required by law in the US, Canada, and Europe) • Restore • add lime to acidified lakes and streams • add lime to forestry plantations (why not natural forests?) • UN Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollutants (LRTAP) - 1979; subsequently amended and modified by US, Canada, and Europe

11. Management strategies by the UN • Acidification of the environment is recognized as an important issue. It is stressed that fossil fuels are the major source of energy used by industrial and developing nations. The burning of these fuels causes severe damage to the environment. Many governments are not utilizing the available technology or assisting with cost efficient incentives to encourage private enterprises to provide renewable sources of energy. The recommended action is for governments to join together with systematic energy plans to save the only environment we have (Environmental Prospect to the Year 2000 and Beyond). Since the UNEP was formed to direct awareness on environmental problems, the UNEP program, Global Environmental Monitoring Systems (GEMS) was established to collect long term data about the effects of world pollution. GEMS is the major research committee with data that is uniform and comparable. The UNEP has also made decisions concerning the logging of data on acid rain. The UNEP Governing Council addressed the potential dangers of acidification in developing nations.

12. Bibliography "Acid Rain." About.com Geography. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. <http://geography.about.com/od/globalproblemsandissues/a/acidrain.htm>. The Acid Rain Problem. BBC, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2014.<http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_pre_2011/context_chemistry/acidrainrev1.shtml>. "Acidifying Precipitation." – Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. <http://environment.alberta.ca/02830.html>. "Effects on Living Things." Acid Rain /. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. <http://acidrain.pbworks.com/w/page/1319112/Effects%2520on%2520Living%2520Things>. Writer, AK. "Acid Rain Effects on Living Organisms." EHow. Demand Media, 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. <http://www.ehow.com/about_6382893_acid-rain-effects-living-organisms.html>.