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Environmental Systems > Acid Deposition > Flashcards

Acid Deposition Flashcards

1
Q

What is acid deposition?

A

Acid deposition is the general term for acid coming down from the air

Wet deposition = acid comes down in form of rain (or snow)

Dry deposition = when acid comes down as ash or dry particles

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2
Q

What is the pH of normal unpolluted rain?

A
  • Normal unpolluted rain is slightly acidic + has a pH of 5.6, caused by presence of co2 in atmosphere
  • Precipitation is called acidic when its pH is well below pH 5.6
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3
Q

What are the main primary pollutants leading to acid deposition?

A
  • sulphur dioxide
  • nitrogen oxides

They react with water to form strong acids (sulphuric and nitric acids)

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4
Q

How are sulphur dioxide + nitrogen oxides produced naturally?

A

Sulphur dioxide by volcanic eruptions

Nitrogen oxides by lightning

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5
Q

How does burning fossil fuels lead to formation of primary air pollutants?

A
  • Sulphur dioxide formed when sulphur-containing fuels (e.g. coal, oil) are combusted
  • Nitrogen oxides formed by reaction of oxygen + nitrogen from the air, that takes place at high temp. during fossil fuel combustion
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6
Q

What are the effects of acid deposition?

A
  • weakening tree growth in coniferous forests
  • decreasing pH of water bodies, affecting aquatic organisms
  • toxic effects eg. increased solubility of metal ions like aluminium (toxic to fish+plant roots)
  • nutrient effects eg. leaching of nutrients
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7
Q

3 effects of acid deposition on coniferous forests

A
  • Leaves + buds lose chlorophyll
  • This reduces growth +allows nutrients to be leached out and pathogens to gain entry
  • Symbiotic root microbes killed, reducing availability of nutrients
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8
Q

Toxic effects of acid deposition // aluminium ions - effect on fish and other aquatic organisms

A
  • Decreased pH of soil makes aluminium more soluble
  • Aluminium ends up in streams + rivers
  • aluminium disturbs fish’s ability to regulate amount of salt in body, so salt content is slowly lost + fish die
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9
Q

Toxic effects of acid deposition // buildings

A

Limestone buildings + statues (w great archaeological + historical value) react w acid and dissolve

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10
Q

Toxic effects of acid deposition // peat bogs

A
  • peat bogs affected by acid rain produce up to 40% less methane than before
  • because bacteria that use sulphates as a food source outcompete the ones that use methane
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11
Q

Toxic effects of acid deposition // human health

A
  • dry deposition in form of small particles of sulphates + nitrates penetrate into our lungs
  • premature deaths from lung disease, asthma, bronchitis
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12
Q

Why are the effects of acid deposition regional in contrast to climate change // ozone depletion that affect all the Earth?

A
  • Before the pollutants can spread over long distances, they return to the surface as dry or wet precipitation
  • The acids seldom travel further than a few thousand kilometres
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13
Q

Where does dry deposition usually occur?

A
  • occurs quite close to source of acidic substances

- consists of sulphur dioxide, sulphur trioxide + nitrogen oxides

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14
Q

Where does wet deposition usually occur?

A
  • occurs at slightly longer distances from the sources of primary pollutants
  • consists of sulphurous acid, sulphuric acid + nitric acid
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15
Q

It is mainly the downwind areas of major industrial regions that are strongly affected. Give 2 examples of this

A
  • Scandinavian forests + lakes affected by acid rain originating in UK, Poland + Germany brought over by prevailing southwestern winds
  • Industrial pollution from USA is blow by prevailing winds towards Canadian forests
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16
Q

Why does the impact of acid rain depend on the geology of the area on which it falls?

A
  • Acid rain does little harm to limestone and chalk soils as they are alkaline soils + neutralise the acids
  • But acid rocks produce soils that are v sensitive to acid rain
17
Q

Pollution management strategies for acid deposition // altering human activity producing pollution ACTION

A
  • replace fossil fuel use w ethanol for cars + renewable energy sources
  • reduce overall demand fr electricity - education campaigns to turn off lights etc
  • use less private transport
18
Q

Pollution management strategies for acid deposition // altering human activity producing pollution (EVALUATION)

A
  • we live in a fossil fuel reliant economy

- demand for power is every increasing, esp. in India + China as they industrialise

19
Q

Pollution management strategies for acid deposition // regulating + reducing pollutants at point of emission (ACTIONS)

A
  • Clean-up technologies at end of pipe locations e.g. scrubbing in chimneys to remove sulphur dioxide
  • Catalytic converters convert nitrous oxides back to nitrogen gas
20
Q

Pollution management strategies for acid deposition // regulating + reducing pollutants at point of emission (EVALUATION)

A
  • Clean-up technologies are expensive + costs passed onto consumer
  • Catalysers are cost effective if well maintained, but expensive to buy
21
Q

Pollution management strategies for acid deposition // clean up and restoration

A
  • liming acidified lakes (effective but expensive)
  • recolonise damaged areas
  • liming forestry plantations // trees acidify soils as they remove nutrients
  • international agreements (difficult to establish + monitor)
22
Q

What happened in 1999 in Europe?

A

27 countries signed up to new protocol on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution to reduce + prevent air pollution

23
Q

Evaluation of international agreement success in Europe

A
  • avg of 50% reductions achieved by 2000
  • but LEDCs rapidly industrialising + emissions set to increase unless MEDCs can help them to leapfrog to clean technologies
  • due to regional character of acid deposition, international agreements are more regional
  • but Kyoto Agreement will also help reduce acid deposition
24
Q

Reducing effects of acid deposition // Liming lakes to neutralise acidity

A

> From 1950s, loss of many fish + invertebrate species in Scandinavian lakes linked to high levels of lake acidity
By 1990, 400+ lakes virtually lifeless
In 1980s, Sweden added limestone to lakes + rivers w mixed results
pH of treated lakes quickly raised but short-lived because of acidic nature of inflow of water
lime affected nutrient balance

25
Q

Reducing effects of acid deposition // pre combustion techniques

A
  • reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by removing sulphur from fuel before combustion
  • sulphur obtained can be used in construction (as gypsum) or as the element sulphur in the chemical industry

Environmental Systems (30 decks)

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