Fossil fuels - Acid Deposition Flashcards
What are the causes?
The burning of fossil fuels in power station, the smelting of metals in older industrial plants and exhaust fumes from motor vechiles.
What is it?
it consists of the dry deposition of pollutants released e.g. sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. The chemicals mix with with precipitation mist and clouds to produce wet deposits of sulphuric acid, nitric acid and compounds of ammonia.
What impact does it have?
It causes damage to trees and other plant life which can cause the loss of habitats and subsequently biodiversity. It can ask kill fish and aquatic life as it ends up in lakes and ponds, reducing biodiversity again. It can reduce the nutrient content of soil so that some species of plants cannot grow or grow more slowly. Lastly the acid deposition can corrode rocks such as limestone and sandstone. This means it can cause damage to buildings and statues. As for the impact on humans it can cause respiratory problems such as bronchitis.
