acid rain

ACID RAIN

Explanation for the Picture:
This picture shows the total effects of a factory polluting the air through these steps:

• A factory by a lake releases smoke into the air.
• Dry evidence from the smoke falls into the lake.
• The rest of the smoke rises up and forms acid rain in the atmosphere.
• The wind causes the acid rain cloud to travel.
• Acid rain falls on a forest and acid snow falls on a mountain.
• After all this, the lake, the river, the soil and the vegetation is affected.
  

The Problem:
Acid rain is rain or any other term or precipitation that is usually acidic. It is one of the most dangerous and common forms of pollution. The term 'acid rain' was first revealed in 1856 by a British chemist named Robert A. Smith when he observed that smoke and fumes from human activity could transform the acidity of rain.

Acid rain is sometimes called "the unseen plague". It is unstoppable and can be unseen for years. The main causes of acid rain are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These chemicals are released by certain trade processes, and as a result, the countries, Europe and US suffered brutally. Most sulfur dioxide comes from plants that uses coal as their fuel. These plants produce one-hundred million tons of sulfur dioxide, which is 70% percent of that in the whole entire world. Furthermore, automobiles also creates half of the world's nitrogen oxides. As the number of automobiles in use increases, so does the amount of acid rain. All of the lakes and streams in the world are normally somewhat acidic as well. Heavy rainstorms or melting snow can cause the acidity in lakes and in streams to increase. Though human causes are mainly responsible for acid rain by natural causes. Fires, volcanic eruptions, bacterial decomposition, and lightening also deeply increase the amount of nitrogen oxide on the planet.
Acid rain comes down to the Earth in the form of rain, snow, hail, fog, frost, or dew. Once it reaches the ground, the acidity in the material can harm and even destroy natural ecosystems and man-made products.

Effects on:

"Acid rain can be carried great distances in the atmosphere, not just between countries but also from continent to continent".

Sea Life -
Acid rain is very harmful to the environment. It damages everything over a period of time because it makes the living things in the environment die. It affects the life in water and as well as the life on land. Although it is worse in water because many species gets affected rapidly. Freshwater shrimps, snails, mussels are the most quickly affected by acidification followed by fish such as minnows, salmon and roach. The eggs and young of the fish are the worst affected because the acidity of the water can cause malformation in young fish and can prevent eggs from hatching properly.

Explanation for the Picture:

Each lakes, rivers, seas and such, all have their very own weak ecosystem. Every plants and animals are depending on one another in order for them to survive.

For example: If a species of fish disappears, the animals that feed on it will slowly vanish, as well.

Plant Life -

Trees are also harmed by acid rain because it prevents the plants from taking in carbon dioxide to make photosynthesis, which may cause the plants to die eventually. It also harms the soil that the trees are growing in by taking most of the valuable nutrients away from the soil. It leaves a lot of aluminum in the soil, which can be harmful to the trees that grow there.

A mixture of these effects weakens the trees, which means that they can be more easily attacked by diseases and insects or injured by awful weather. It is not just trees that are affected by this pollutants but other plants may also be affected.

Explanation for the Picture:

This picture shows that trees in the forest are brutally destroyed caused by acid rain.

Human Life -

Humans can become seriously ill, and can even die from the effects of acid rain. One of the major problems that acid rain can cause in a human being is that many of them can find it difficult to breathe, especially people who have asthma. The sulphur dioxides and nitrogen oxides can caused asthma with dry coughs, headaches, and throat irritations. Humans easily gets affected by acid rain through plants and animals because through their every day life, they eat meals that may contain toxic . They can get brain damage, kidney problems and Alzheimer's disease.

Explanation for the Picture:

This picture shows a person with asthma, which is the most disease that can affect a human being's body caused by acid rain.

Solutions:

There are many ways that people can stop pollution.

[AT HOME]

• Only run the dishwasher with a full load.
• Only run the washing machine with a full load.
• Turn off the lights in empty rooms or when you will be away from home.
• Turn off the hot water tank when you will be gone for a long period of time.
• Turn down the heat at night and when you will not be home for the night.
• Don't use you air conditioner as much.
• Install fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent light bulbs.
• Try to reduce, reuse, and recycle as often as you can.
• Try not to burn a fire as often as you usually do.

[IN YARD]

• Keep the pool cover on the pool whenever you are not using it.

[TRANSPORTATION]

• When you are going to work, you could walk, ride your bike or take a bus.
• Car-pool to a place with someone else.
• For alternative fuels, try ethanol, propane, or natural gas.
• Take the train or a bus for long trips.
• Limit the amount of long trips you take in your car.
• Make sure that your vehicle's air conditioning system is not leaking.
• Try not to overflow the gas tank.
• Make sure that you are traveling at high speeds only when you need to.

OUTLOOKS:

Acid rain is a well-known term used to describe all forms of acid precipitation (rain, snow, hail, fog, etc.). The problem of acid rain is therefore not a new one but it has changed from being a local problem for towns and cities, into being an international problem. Countries are unwilling to act independently because they think it puts them at an economic disadvantages compared with other countries. International action to decrease pollution is not being agreed. In Europe, sulfur emissions from industry have dropped by about 25% over the last ten years, partly as a result of the economic depression of the 1980s and partly because fuel is being used more efficiently. In 1985, nineteen countries agreed to arranged to decrease sulfur emissions by a further 30% but it was not enough to solve the problem. Scientists have estimated that a act of 80-90% is required to prevent extra damage to the environment. Countries are now working on agreements that will decrease the amount of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, through controlling pollution from vehicle tire.

A Video showing more information about 'acid rain'

Vocabulary:

• plague: any cause of trouble, annoyance, or vexation: Uninvited guests are a plague.
• Fumes: any smokelike or vaporous exhalation from matter or substances.
• Alzheimer's disease: a common form of dementia of unknown cause, usually beginning in late middle age, characterized by memory lapses, confusion, emotional instability, and progressive loss of mental ability.
• emissions: A substance discharged into the air, especially by an internal combustion engine.