Acid Rain Flashcards
What is the source of acid rain/deposition?
Acid rain & deposition is due to nitrogen oxides & sulfur oxides from anthropogenic & natural sources in the atmosphere
What regions does acid desposition affect the most?
Acid deposition mainly affects communities that are downwind of coal-burning power plants
How does the kind of bedrock affect the effect of acidity and what kind of bedrock neutralizes the effect?
Regional differences in soils & bedrock affect the impact that acid deposition has on the region - such as limestone bedrock’s ability to neutralize the effect of acid rain on lakes and ponds.
What is the pH difference between natural rain and acid rain?
Natural rain is about 5.6
Acid rain is about 4.3
How are nitrous acid and nitric acid formed?
Vehicles burning fossil fuels/coal-burning power plants emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), Nitrogen oxide then reacts with water resulting in nitrous acid & nitric acid
How are sulfurous acid and sulfuric acid formed?
Coal-burning power plants release nitrogen oxides (NOx)
& sulfur dioxides (SO2), Sulfur dioxide reacts with water, resulting in sulfurous acid, then sulfuric acid
What are natural sources of acid-forming compounds?
Volcanoes, geysers, & hot springs can contribute sulfur dioxides, nitrogen oxides & carbon dioxide
What are the steps by which acid deposition forms and travels?
- Primary pollutants sulfur dioxide & nitrogen oxides are precursors to acid deposition and are released into the atmosphere from our burning of fossil fuels & some natural sources.
- SOx & NOx react with water in the atmosphere & are carried long distances by winds.
- The resulting ions—hydrogen, sulfate, & nitrate—cause adverse ecosystem effects of acid deposition.
- Nitric acid & sulfuric acid fall to the earth in the form of dry particle deposits or rain/snow.
Why does acid deposition also affect areas far from the source?
Pollutants high in the atmosphere also get carried by winds hundreds of miles away, resulting in areas far from the source being damaged (Northeast US)
What increases the chances of acid rain forming?
SOx & NOx released high into the atmosphere gives more time to react with water, increasing the likelihood that acid rain will form
How does acid rain affect aluminum levels in the soil? What effects does this have on plants and photosynthesis?
Acid rain promotes aluminum ions to leach from soils.
This is toxic to plants & aquatic life.
- Tree roots are unable to take up calcium when aluminum ions are present. Calcium is critical for normal cell processes, without it trees & plants suffer.
- Damaged needles & leaves, as well as nutrient deficiencies caused by changing soil chemistry, mean plants, don’t photosynthesize as effectively.
How does acid rain/deposition affect aquatic organisms?
- death
- skeletal deformities
- damaged eggs of fish & other aquatic life
Which aquatic animals have wider ranges for pH? Which aquatic animals have less?
- Clams & Snails only have a tolerance for pH from 6.5 to 6.0 - have calcium carbonate shells - makes them vulnerable to changes in water pH
- Frogs have a wide range of tolerance for pH from 6.5 to 4.0
What kind of material in bedrock/soils are least vulnerable to acid rain? What kind of soil is most vulnerable? What parts of America are particularly affected?
- Soils rich in magnesium, calcium carbonate & limestone can buffer or neutralize the acid
- Lakes surrounded by granite that have thin, nutrient-poor soils, are vulnerable
- Forests & lakes of New England & high elevations have those conditions
Effects of Acid Deposition on Aquatic Environments and Humans
- Lowering the pH of lake water
- Decreasing species diversity of aquatic organisms
- Mobilizing metals that are found in soils and releasing them into surface waters
- Damaging statues, monuments, and buildings
