Download IMPACT OF ACID RAIN

IMPACT OF ACID RAIN
Awadh Abdul Khader | 7C | Crescent English High School
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHAT IS ACID RAIN?
PG. 3
pH SCALE
PG. 6
CLIMATIC CHANGE
PG. 9
WILDLIFE AND AGRICULTURE
PG. 11
INTEGRATION WITH ENGLISH
PG. 15
What is Acid Rain?
Acid Rain
• Acid rain, or acid deposition, any other form of precipitation that is
unusually high in acids, such as sulfuric or nitric acid.
• They fall to the ground from the atmosphere. This can include rain,
snow, fog, hail or even dust.
• It harms plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure.
• Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide,
which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce
acids.
• Nitrogen oxides can also be produced naturally by lightning strikes,
and sulphur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions
Forms of Acid Deposition
• Wet Deposition
• The sulfuric and nitric acids formed in the atmosphere fall to the ground
mixed with rain, snow, fog, or hail.
• Dry Deposition
• Deposit from the atmosphere in the absence of moisture.
• The acidic particles and gases may deposit to various surfaces quickly or
may react during atmospheric transport to form larger particles.
• When the accumulated acids are washed off a surface by the next rain,
this acidic water flows through the ground
pH scale
The pH scale
Acidity and Alkanity
• Acidity and alkalinity are measured using a pH
scale for which 7.0 is neutral. The lower a
substance's pH (less than 7), the more acidic it
is; the higher a substance's pH (greater than 7),
the more alkaline it is.
• Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6 while Acid rain
usually has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4.
Climatic Change
The Effect of Acid Rain on Climate Change
Climate Change and Acid Rain
• The causes of climate change and acid rain are anthropogenic (caused
by humans) and emissions based.
• When cumulative gases and pollutants are emitted from vehicles or
coal power plants, the effects of acid rain and climate change are
worsened.
• A higher temperature would increase the severity of acid rain. Many of
the chemicals are affected by temperature.
• A higher temperature would also mean climate change which
contributes to global warming.
Wildlife and Agriculture
How does acid rain affect wildlife and agriculture?
Wildlife
• The ecological effects of acid rain are clearly seen in aquatic
environments where it can be harmful to fish and other wildlife.
• As acidic rain water flows through the soil, it can leach aluminium from
soil clay particles and then flow into streams and lakes.
• The more acid that is introduced, the more aluminium is released.
• Some types of plants and animals are able to tolerate acidic waters.
However others are acid-sensitive and declines as the acidity increases
(pH declines). Even if a species can tolerate acidic water, it’s prey might
not. Eg; A frog have a critical pH level of 4, but the flies they eat cannot
survive a pH below 5.5.
pH levels of aquatic organisms.
7
6
Snail, 6
Clams, 6
Bass, 5.5
5
Crayfish, 5.5
Mayfly, 5.5
Trout, 5
Salamanders, 5
Perch, 4.5
4
3
2
1
0
Frogs, 4
Agriculture
• Acid rain leaches aluminium from the soil. The aluminium would
be harmful to plants.
• Acid rain removes minerals and nutrients from the soil that trees
need to grow.
• Acidic fog and clouds might strip nutrients from trees’ foliage,
leaving them with brown or dead leaves and needles. The trees
are then less able to absorb sunlight, which makes them weak
and less able to withstand freezing temperatures.
INTEGRATION WITH ENGLISH
Poem on Acid Rain
pH levels go so low
Very unusually high in acids
Between 4.2 and 4.4
Polluting earth rotating on its axis
From the atmosphere, falls to the ground
Emissions of nitrogen oxide
In a forest or on a mount,
Also precipitating, sulphur dioxide
As it is called, the acid rain
With water, the chemicals react
Expired the cattle and the grain
A huge warning, it’s time to act
The tree tops all fall down dead
To save agriculture and wildlife
Caused by the rain, they all dread
And for us, to escape alive.
THANK YOU