Acidification Flashcards
_____ _____= the settling, of deposition of acidic or acidic-forming pollutants from the atmosphere onto Earth’s surface
acid deposition
Acid deposition includes:
(list 4)
- acid precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, hail)
- acid fog
- acidic gases
- acidic dry particles
acid deposition is mostly caused by ____ activities, but can be ____
- it occurs when pH < ___
anthropogenic
natural
5.6
T/F
precipitation is naturally slightly acidic
What’s the usual pH of rain?
true!
rain pH= 5.6
What’s the first step in the acid deposition pathway?
SO2, CO2, and NOx emissions are released
What are the largest sources of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in Canada?
CO2: oil and gas industry
SO2: largest source is oil and gas industry
NOx: largest source is transportation
___ of CO2 released by burning coal, oil, & gas dissolves into the ocean
As a result, in the past 200 years, oceans have become __% more acidic
1/4
30%
What’s the second step in the acid deposition pathway?
How does it happen?
The pollutants are transformed into acid particles
- Oxidizes in the atmosphere
- oxidized form dissociates in water vapor (in the atmosphere) to release H+ and form acid
___ transport these acids long distances (no matter the source)- usually go toward the poles
winds
what’s the 3rd step in the acid deposition pathway?
the acid particles fall to the earth as wet or dry depositions
wet deposition=
acids removed from the atmosphere in the form of water (rain, snow, sleet, hail)
dry deposition=
acids removed from the atmosphere in the form of particulates or gases (no water).
- often in the form of fly ash, sulfates, nitrates, and SO2 and NOx gas
What is the 4th step in the acid deposition pathway?
May cause harmful effects to soils, forests, streams, lakes, and more
*some areas get the worst of it as it accumulates over time
List 3 ways in which acid deposition damages soils
- depletes calcium and other base cations (nutrients in the soil)
- mobilizes aluminum, heavy metals from soil to water
- accumulates sulfur, nitrogen in soils –> can lead to eutrophication
How does acid deposition damage forest ecosystems?
- list 1 direct effect and 1 indirect effect
direct effect: leaches Ca out of needles
- lose calcium in cell membranes= more susceptible to freezing, so they usually die in the winter
indirect effect: alters soil chemistry
- even less calcium to uptake, more toxic aluminum
Acid deposition causes increased leaching of ___ into surface waters as runoff from soils
aluminum