Acid rain

ACID RAIN

Rain is liquid water falling in drops condensed from vapor in the atmosphere. Normal, clean rain has pH value of about 5, that means that it is slightly acidic. However, it is not what "acid rain" is.

1. “Normal, clean” rain

According to Student site, the “problem” of acid rain begins when normal rain combines with nitrogen oxides or sulfur dioxide. Usually, acid rain has pH value of about 4; that means that acid rain is about 10 times more acidic than normal rain.

There are two major ways of how normal rain combines with nitrogen oxides or sulfur dioxide: - Natural way and by human actions, EPA says.

Acid rain is mostly caused by human actions, but it is not the only reason acid rain is created. There are many natural contributors to acid rain but the biggest one are volcanoes. According to CEF, Volcanoes emit acid producing gases to create higher than normal amounts of acid rain or any other precipitation. These precipitations often affect vegetation cover and health of residents within the surrounding. Acid rain forming gases are also produced by decaying vegetation, wildfires and biological processes within environment. NADP says that sometimes acid rain is created because nitrogen oxides are formed when thunderstorm produces lightning and causes extreme heating of air.

2. Volcano

We should not forget about natural sources, but we (humans) should pay more attention on our actions and things that we can improve in order to make our lives healthier. Daily human activities are the ones that are the biggest reason for acid rain. There are many ways humans "help" producing acid rain. Man-made sources of acid rain include the burning of any fuel that contains nitrogen or sulfur compounds; that includes public utilities, motor vehicles, industrial broilers and chemical plants. Besides fuel burning, the biggest man-made reason for acid rain is overuse of coal used for electrical power. For example, during 2010, electric power generation accounted for about 70% of total sulfur emissions and 20% of nitrogen oxides in USA, says USEPA.  In urban regions, the biggest problems are cars and factories that release high scores of gaseous emissions every day.  

3. Cars producing carbon dioxide

Acid rain has a big impact on environment, but also affects people and other living beings.

Every creature is differently affected by acid rain, and probably the most affected ones are living in aquatic environment. When lakes and streams become more acidic than they usually are, organisms living there often can not adapt or move somewhere else fast, and they can not survive.

4. Fish could not survive after effects of acid rain

But, not only aquatic world suffers because of acid rain. Many plants can not survive because acid rain changes chemical properties of soil and slows down the rate of microbiological processes and reducing soil nutrients. Roots of natural vegetation can be damaged because of stunted growth. Acid rain can potentially reduce agricultural production and it can affect many organisms who are using those plants for eating.

5. Right leaf is affected by acid rain and left leaf is not

Buildings and architectures, especially in which limestone is used, are also affected by acid rain; Acid rain reacts with minerals and corrode them away. This leaves building weak and susceptible to decay. This kind of rain can cause some irreplaceable damages.

6.Before and after acid rain

Acid rain can not affect humans directly, but high levels of acid in dry form in the air can cause lung and heart problems such as asthma and bronchitis.

There are many things that people can do in order to prevent acid rain. For sure, the most important one is to educate people all around the world and create awareness about causes and effects of acid rain. I will write few possible solutions, that I think can reduce the threat of acid rain if are followed by large number of people:

1 - I think that humans should burn coal more efficiently. It is impossible to make people stop using coal, but if we start to use it smarter, it will limit the amount of acids in the atmosphere.

2 - Instead of fossil fuels we should try to use alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, nuclear and water energy.

3 - I think that it would be great if some powerful and important people started educating people, that might result with decent number of people turning of lights and other electronic devices when are not used.

4 - I think that it would be great if people started using public transport instead of owning car(s) and walking instead of driving when not necessary. It would help us save fuel and gas.

Even if I or my family started living as these solutions say, it would be pointless if other people continue to live the same way, the way that is killing us.