Acid Rain

Acid rain is caused by burning fossil fuels like coal and oil and allowing them to pollute the atmosphere.

This form of pollution is so strong that many trees and lakes are dying, buildings are decaying and, in some cases, people’s health is being damaged.

Acid rain is one of many pressures on our environment caused by the modern way of life enjoyed by people in the more industrialized countries.

Modern technology

has made many people richer, in one way more healthy and more comfortable than ever before.

However, all these benefits depend on our environment, which provides us with everything we need - the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, the house in which we live and the school in which we learn.

If we continue to damage the environment, then it will not be able to support us so well.

I will be telling you more about acid rain and how it can damage the environment.

2. AIR POLLUTION

Most air pollution is a result of burning fossil fuels like coal and oil.

These fuels have been formed over thousands of years from dead plants and animals.

When the fuel is burnt, not only is the energy released, but many other chemicals as well, including sulphur and nitrogen that the organic material contained.

This happens in factories, traffic and cities (-->FOIL 1).

These substances are two of the most important ingredients of acid rain.

(Here is a picture you can understand better. --> FOIL 2 -->

"The water pollution cycle")

Das Bild ist leider nicht als Datei mцglich !!!

2.1.What happens to air pollution ?

Some of the pollution falls to the ground very quickly, before it is absorbed by moisture. It settles on trees, buildings and lakes, usually in and around the area where it was produced.

This is called ‘dry deposition’.

When water evaporates from seas, lakes or land, the moisture is neither acid nor alkaline.

It is neutral.

Natural rainfall has a pH of between 5 and 6 (neutral is pH 7).

It can dissolve rocks and create spectacular landscape, in a process that takes thousands of years.

The moisture absorbs gases, like carbon dioxide, found in the atmosphere, and becomes a weak acid.

It can dissolve rocks and create spectacular landscape in a few years.

The rest of the pollution can remain in the air for up to a week and is carried long distances by the wind.

During this time, the chemicals react with the moisture in the atmosphere and become dilute sulphuric and nitric acids.

They are ready to become acid rain. They also react with other chemicals in the atmosphere to form pollutants.

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Ozone is one of the most dangerous of these, as it damages vegetation.

It also attacks our health (especially babies and old people).

For example: asthma or other breathing problems, heart problems,...

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In winter, when acid rain falls as snow, the snow collects on the ground, holding on as acids.

In spring, when the snow melts, there is a sudden surge of water which flows across the land into streams and lakes.

The lake becomes more acid water, so fish and plants can die.

2.2. How far can pollution be carried ?

If you look at smoke coming from a chimney, there are very few days in the year when it goes straight up.

Most