Acid rain is precipitation containing harmful amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. Acid rain also causes the corrosion of water pipes. Acid rain ppt free download as powerpoint presentation. Pdf documents opened from your browser may not display or print as intended. The renewed acid rain permit would reflect applicable regulatory requirements of the federal acid rain program.
It explains what acid rain is and the adverse affects it has. Laboratory activities to accompany killing killer rain unit. Many people think that acid rain was a problem solved in the 1980s. Rain is called acid rain only if it has more acid than normal. Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that. Epas acid rain program forms can be downloaded in microsoft word document doc or adobe acrobat pdf formats.
Paper masters can help you get started on your acid rain research paper or essay by giving you points to address in the paper, like the ones. The main causes of acid rain are gases called sulfur dioxide so2 and nitrogen oxides nox. Acid rain is a popular expression for the more scientific term acid deposition, which refers to the many ways in which acidity can move from the atmosphere to earths surface. Water contains atmospheric gases as well as carbon dioxide, and when the carbon. Acid rain facts and information national geographic. Acid rain is rain with an unusually low ph level, meaning it is extremely acidic. Some lakes in countries such as sweden have become so acidic, from acid rain resulting from pollution in other countries, that they are no longer able to support fish life. More information about viewing, downloading, and printing report files can be found here. Acid rain research papers on the effects acid rain has on the. Identify which lake substratum is the least and the most effective in buffering the effects of acid rain. The chemist robert angus smith, was the first to report about the dangers of acid rain in 1872 in his book air and rain. Creates an allowance program for existing and new units. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere. These acids are formed primarily by nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned.
In most industrialised countries, anthropogenic emissions exceed natural sources of sulphur and nitrogen. Establishes an absolute cap that can be emitted after 2000. The ph of the rain waterwas found to be more than 5. When sulfur dioxide dissolves into rain droplets, sulfuric acid, h2so4, is. At the beginning of this program, acid rain was suspected to have negative effects on surface waters, crops, forests. Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it has elevated levels of hydrogen ions low ph. Graph the effects of adding acid rain to model lakes. The social construction of acid rain new york university. The realisation in the 1970s of the significance of acid deposition resulted in worldwide programmes. The ph potential for hydrogen scale is used to measure acidity or alkalinity. Significant reduction in the so2, nox emission and deposition of acid have been occurred via. The acid rain program 2003 progress report updates data reported in previous years, specifically. As it alters the chemical composition of the water, to a form which is actually harmful to the aquatic ecosystem to survive and causes water pollution. Epa region 5 77 west jackson street chicago, il 606043590.
Acid rain refers to rain or other forms of precipitation with a low ph level. Acids are more concentrated in this form than in rainwith a ph as low as 3nearing the acidity of lemon juice and vinegar. This acid rain program permit does not authorize the construction and operation of the affected units as such matters are addressed by titles i and v of the clean air act. Smith in 1872 from his studies of air in manchester, england. Acid rain, precipitation possessing a ph of about 5. Understanding acid rain new york state department of. When fossil fuels are burned, however, gases such as sulfur dioxide, so2, are released into the air.
Acid rain is a complicated problem affecting soil and water chemis try, as well as the life cycles of plants and animals on land and in the water. Charles herrick and dale jamieson yoked to a policy agenda. In addition, weather conditions contribute to air pollution and cause acid rain to spread vast distances. It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. Acid rain describes any form of precipitation that contains high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. Documents the first observations of scientists on acid rain as far back as the 17th century.
Research papers on acid rain address a number of important environmental questions for the 20th century. Scrubbers an examination of a solution that will reduce the toxins that cause acid rain. Cup of water cup of vinegar two pieces of chalk tweezers or tongs magnifying glass paper towel procedure 1. Acid rain acid rain research papers discuss the effects it has on the ecosystem. Acid rain is rain that is more acidic than it should be. The dramatic increase in acid rain deposition in the northeast united states and large parts of canada over the past few decades has been well documented. Opinions regarding the danger posed by acid rain range from no danger at all. Acid rain is one of the major environmental threats since 19th century. It can also occur in the form of snow, fog, and tiny bits of dry material that settle to earth. In addition, maricopa county is in the process of creating a fivemodule online air quality class for middle and high school students. Pdf acid rain is one of the major environmental threats since 19th century. As such, it would require the source to hold sulfur dioxide so 2 allowances under the acid rain program to account for the so 2 emissions of the affected units. Acid rain forms when water reacts with sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide.
These acid rain program documents shall be submitted to. Acid deposition forms when sulfur dioxide so 2 and nitrogen oxides no x combine with moisture in the atmosphere to produce sulfuric acid and nitric acid. The acid rain program under title iv of the clean air act limits annual sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions of fossil fuelfired utility units. The massaccommodation coefficients of soa and haoa on aqueous surfaces over the temperature range 260292 k are reported. Precipitation samples were collected as wetfall only andprimarily on event basis in delhi during the monsoon period of1995.
Carbonic acid occurs when carbon dioxide gas dissolves in rain droplets of unpolluted air. Under the acid rain program, affected sources must hold enough allowances to cover their sulfur dioxide emissions, and certain coalfired sources must meet an emission limit for nitrogen oxides. Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. One 40 minute period materials needed for each group of students. Acid deposition can reduce the ph of surface waters, lower biodiversity, and increase the susceptibility of plants to disease and other stressors. What causes such a dramatic increase in the acidity of rain relative to.
Scientists have discovered that burning fossil fuels creates acid rain through air pollution. Acid fog or clouds are a problem at high elevations, too. The united states and canada begin study of crossborder acid rain transport. The widespread occurrence of acid rain was recognized only in 1980. Mechanisms and effects of acid rain on environment. The acid rain program progress report is published annually by epa to update the public on compliance with the acid rain program, the status of implementation, and progress toward achieving environmental goals. The united states is called upon to reduce emissions of so2 and nox, especially from coalburning power plants. Measurement of acid rain acid rain is measured through ph tests that determine the concentration of hydrogen ions in a liter of fluid. This document replaces the epa information sheet no. Please click here for a pdf version of this tutorial. Establishes continuous emission monitoring program. Acid rain sources and effects in connecticut report of the acid rain task force rain in connecticut and the northeast is generally more acid than that found in other areas of the united states. Lake acidification and fish loss in the adirondacks, green mountains, and sierra nevada make national news. The realisation in the 1970s of the significance of acid deposition resulted in worldwide programmes culminating in far greater knowledge.
Acid rain can damage plants, animals, soil, water, building materials, and people. Public notice planned issuance of a renewed acid rain permit. Indeed, the united states congress pass acid rain amendments to the clean air act in 1990 and as a result, our air was cleaned up, right. A complete certificate of representation must be received by epa before the permit application is submitted to the title v permitting authority. Acid rain the development of a comprehensive national acid rain program. Acid rain program, the acid rain permit application, the acid rain permit, or an exemption under 40 cfr 72. H2co3aq nitrous acid and nitric acid result from a common air pollutant, nitrogen dioxide no2. Acid rain forms when water molecules in the atmosphere react with sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides to form an acidic compound. Acid deposition includes acidic rain as well as other forms of acidic wet depositionsuch as snow, sleet, hail, and fog or cloud water. An allowance is a limited authorization to emit one ton of so 2. Electricity heats and lights buildings and runs appliances such as televisions and video. These acids come from factories that burn fossil fuels for power such as coal. We need to solve this problem before it is too late. The most obvious environmental effect of acid rain has been the loss of fish in acid sensitive lakes and streams.
This permit also does not affect the sources responsibility to meet all other applicable local, state and federal. The modules will include a virtual field trip to the. Most nitrogen dioxide in our atmosphere is produced from automobile exhaust. The experimental method used combined a monodisperse train of droplets and a low pressure flow reactor. Download the latest version of adobe reader, free of charge. People burn fossil fuels such as coal and oil to make electricity. Acid deposition can reduce the ph of surface waters, lower biodiversity, and increase the susceptibility of. Study the causes, effects, along with a few examples and understand the prevention measures. Public notice planned issuance of a renewed acid rain. Acid rain is caused by the omission of harmful particles into the atmosphere, including sulfur dioxide so 2 and nitrogen oxide no 2. Acid rain program, a complete acid rain permit application, an acid rain permit, or an exemption under 40 cfr 72.
Explain why some lakes are more or less affected by acid rain. Effects of acid rain acid rain has taken a terrible toll on germanys forests. An decreased in 10% of the waterbodies but remained stable in the other 90%. Acid rain permit public notice documents page 2 of 3 return to the michigan air permits system website consumers energy, j. When acid rain falls down and flows into the rivers and ponds it affects the aquatic ecosystem. Acid rain is a local environment pollution but global concern.
These acids fall to the earth either as wet precipitation rain, snow, or fog or dry precipitation gas and particulates. Rain of ph 5 to 6 is common and does not generally cause any problems. Acid rain department of chemistry washington university. Experts estimate that more than onehalf of germanys trees have been damaged or killed by acid rain.
540 313 912 1550 590 405 601 898 611 1056 1621 210 480 1288 748 971 1121 802 1170 1344 250 137 625 1229 199 788 1076 435 1415 444 420