Topic 6.4 - Acid Deposition Flashcards
What are the two types of acid deposition?
Wet deposition - acidic rain, snow, other precipitation
Dry deposition - acidic gas or dry particles
What is a primary pollutant?
Those directly emitted by a single point souce (factory, vehicle etc…)
What are two examples of primary pollutants?
Sulfure dioxide
Nitrogen oxide
What are secondary pollutants?
The pollutants which undergo chemical changes in the environment as a result of reactions among two or more pollutants
What are examples of secondary pollutants?
Sulfurous acid
Sulfuric acid
Nitric acid
What are the main sources of acid deposition?
Burning fossil fuels
Vehicles
Electricity generation
Manufacturing oil
What are the direct effects of acid deposition?
Affects the chemical and pH balances in ground water
Reduces mineral levels in the soil
Acid rain damages leaves as it falls
What are the indirect toxic effects of acid deposition?
Acid rain reduces the population of soil microorganisms
The excess aluminium created by acid rain makes aquatic environments toxic
Causes a build up of mucus on fish gills
Trees uptake toxic aluminium ions from soils
What are the indirect nutrient effects of acid deposition?
The increase in acidity leads to an accelerated leaching of calcium causing snails and birds to die off and their eggs to be brittle and fail to hatch
Eutrophication in water
A reduced ability in living organisms to carry out photosynthesis
Can damage the respiratory systems in humans –> decreased oxygen in blood supply which damages the heart
Case study examples of acid deposition effecting areas that are downwind/ not in the country of emissions
Canadian forests damaged by coal-fired power plants in USA
Scandinavian and German forests damaged by British coal plants
What strategies could be used to manage human activity causing pollutants in the atmosphere?
Campaigns
Education
Community groups
Governmental legislation
Economic incentives/disincentives
What are strategies that could be used to manage the release of pollutants in the environment?
Legislating and regulating standards of emission
Developing/applying technologies for extracting pollutant from emissions
What are strategies that can be used to replace what has been lost? (Pollution management)
Switch to renewable energy sources (reduce fossil fuel use)
Increase energy efficiency (better light bulbs and appliances)
More public transportation (fewer automobiles on the road)
Use low-sulfur fuels
What can be done to regulate the amount of acid in the atmosphere? (Pollution management)
Install ‘scrubbers’ on smokestacks of coal-fired power plants to remove SO2
Catalytic converters installed on automobiles
What methods can be used to restore what has been lost due to acid deposition? (Pollution management)
Add lime to acidified lakes and streams
Add lime to forestry plantations
UN Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollutants
