Topic 6.4 Flashcards
How is acid rain cause?
Acid rain is caused when sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) react with water vapour (H2O)in the atmosphere to create sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3).
What are the primary pollutants for acid rain?
SO2 and Nitrogen oxides are the main pollutants to acid rain
What are the secondary pollutants for acid rain?
Sulphurous acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid
What produces the most sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides and why?
Power plants produce most S02 and NOx because they burn coal and other fossil fuels to produce electricity. These primary pollutants are also released due to theemissions of cars and other forms of transport.
What are the direct effects from acid rain itself?
- Weakening tree growth in coniferous forests
- Acid falling on lakes
- Ponds decreasing the pH of the water
- Affecting aquatic organisms
What are the indirect effects from acid rain itself?
toxic effects, eg increased solubility of metal ions such as aluminium which is toxic to fish and plant roots
nutrient effects, eg leaching nutrients
Lichens :
are a symbiotic pairing of an alga and fungus, are found growing on trees and buildings. they are particularly sensitive to gaseous pollutants like sulphur dioxide and are used as indirect measures of pollution.
Nutrient removal effect on soil fertility:
acid rain affects the soil by reducing the ability of soil particles to hold on to nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium ions.
Acid rain also inhibits nitrogen-fixing bacteria and thus their ability to add nitrate ions to the soil.
What are the acid rain effects on living systems: coniferous forests?
Acid deposition affects coniferous forests through the leaves and buds yellowing due to a loss of chlorophyll and damage in the form of lesions (damage in the tissue of an organism) and thinning of wax cuticles.
These affects minimise growth, allow nutrients to be leached out and washed away and inspections and pathogens to gain entry.
The symbiotic root microbes are also killed, which reduces the availability of nutrients and tree growth.
Acid deposition reduces the ability of soil particles to hold nutrients for example calcium, magnesium and potassium ions, which are then leached out.
Toxic aluminium ions are then released from soil particles which damage root hairs. These affects weaken the trees and may cause them to die.
What are the effects of acid rain on living systems:Aluminium ions – effect on fish and other organisms?
Acid deposition decreases the pH of the soil, making aluminium (a common element in the soil) more soluble. The aluminium released from the soil eventually ends up in streams and rivers with aquatic animals such as fish living in them, who are particularly sensitive to aluminium in water. At low concentrations, aluminium disturbs the fish’s ability to regulate the amount of salt and water in its body, which inhibits the normal intake of oxygen and salt. The fish gasp for breath and the salt content of their bodies is slowly lost, leading to death. At higher concentrations, a solid is formed on the fishes’ gills, leading to death by suffocation. Aside from aluminium, other toxic metals can dissolve because of increased acidity.
What are the effects of acid rain on built environment?
Buildings and statues made from marble and limestone react with acid and completely dissolve.
Acid rain corrodes the metalthat is exposed to the weather.
The sulfur dioxide from the acid rainreacts directly with limestonein the presence of water, to formgypsum, which eventually flakes off or becomes dissolved by water.
What factors make acid deposition/rain worse?
Burning fossil fuels - increase in emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Increased car usage – exhaust fumescontribute to the release of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Increase in amount of rainfall- increases the reaction causing more acid rain
What are pollution management strategies for acid deposition/rain?
- Replace: Replace Fossil Fuel Use Reduce Demand For Electricity Use Low Sulphur Fuels - Regulate: Clean-Up Technologies Catalytic Converters - Restore: Lakes/Rivers Liming Forestry Plantations International Agreements
What are the advantages of replacing fossil fuel use?
It reduces the rate of global warming as fossil fuels produce vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thus, a massive perpetrator of the enhanced greenhouse effect and therefore, global warming.
They are a non-renewable resource – once they are used they cannot be replaced
What are the disadvantages of replacing fossil fuel use?
It can be costly to implement renewable resources especially in developing countries
May be difficult to come up with sustainable solutions
Some renewable power plants may be viewed as unattractive
What is a catalytic converter and what are the advantages of using this?
Acatalytic converteris responsible for controlling harmful emissionsfrom your vehicle. It is located on the bottom of your vehicle, justbehind yourengine.
It reducesharmful emissions from cars and makes drivinglessenvironmentallydamaging
What are the disadvantages of using catalytic converters?
If not maintained, catalytic converters couldoverheat andcausedamage to thevehicle
Catalytic converters decrease the fuelefficiencyof a car
