Q of DQ of DAcid RainAcid Rain

1. 1. What do you think is acid rain?What do you think is acid rain?

2. What do you think causes acid rain?2. What do you think causes acid rain?

3. Do you think we have acid rain in 3. Do you think we have acid rain in PA?PA?

ACID RAINACID RAIN Rain and snow are naturally slightly Rain and snow are naturally slightly

acidic due to reaction with carbon acidic due to reaction with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The pH of dioxide in the atmosphere. The pH of normal rain is 5.5normal rain is 5.5

The term acid rain is used to describe The term acid rain is used to describe precipitation that has a pH lower than precipitation that has a pH lower than what is normal. The pH of acid rain is what is normal. The pH of acid rain is lower than 5.5lower than 5.5

What causes acid rain?What causes acid rain?

When fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) are When fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) are burned it releases pollutants.burned it releases pollutants.

These pollutants include sulfur dioxide These pollutants include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.and nitrogen oxide.

These pollutants react with the water These pollutants react with the water droplets in the air and make sulfuric droplets in the air and make sulfuric acid and nitric acid.acid and nitric acid.

These acids then fall to the ground as These acids then fall to the ground as acidic rain and snowacidic rain and snow

Effects of Acid RainEffects of Acid Rain1. Harms vegetation1. Harms vegetation

Damages leaves of plants, Damages leaves of plants, Less nutrients in the soilLess nutrients in the soil Increased harmful elements (Al) in soilIncreased harmful elements (Al) in soil Plants do not have enough nutrients to grow Plants do not have enough nutrients to grow

and make foodand make food Trees are weakened and are not as able to Trees are weakened and are not as able to

withstand insects, disease and harsh weather.withstand insects, disease and harsh weather.

2. Water ecosystems are disturbed2. Water ecosystems are disturbed Makes rivers, lakes more acidic Makes rivers, lakes more acidic Water contains more Al from soil run-off Water contains more Al from soil run-off Water organisms begin to die (ex: insects are Water organisms begin to die (ex: insects are

sensitive and die which leads to the death of sensitive and die which leads to the death of fish and amphibians)fish and amphibians)

Life cycles disrupted – some organisms can Life cycles disrupted – some organisms can no longer breed no longer breed

3. Deteriorates buildings and historical 3. Deteriorates buildings and historical monumentsmonuments Acid “eats” away at Acid “eats” away at

the structures the structures

4. 4. Damages human healthDamages human health Causes more lead to be Causes more lead to be

released from water pipes released from water pipes – increased lead affects – increased lead affects the central nervous system the central nervous system and causes delay in and causes delay in mental developmentmental development

Still unknown effectsStill unknown effects

5. 5. Financial ImpactFinancial Impact Estimated that the Estimated that the

effects of acid rain effects of acid rain cause 5 billion cause 5 billion dollars of damage a dollars of damage a year in the eastern year in the eastern US.US.

The greatest Acid Rain problems are in…The greatest Acid Rain problems are in…

Mid Atlantic StatesMid Atlantic States

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA!WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA!

WHY does this area have acid rain?WHY does this area have acid rain?

Almost half of all emissions in the US are from Almost half of all emissions in the US are from the Ohio River valley, Tennessee and the Ohio River valley, Tennessee and Missouri – coal, steel, industryMissouri – coal, steel, industry

Winds carry these gases in a northeast Winds carry these gases in a northeast directiondirection

Noon in Donara PA in 1948Noon in Donara PA in 1948

How bad is the problem?How bad is the problem? The average pH of Pennsylvania rainfall is The average pH of Pennsylvania rainfall is

between 4.1 and 4.3. That is between 4.1 and 4.3. That is 20x20x more more acidic than normal rain. acidic than normal rain.

The lowest pH for rain in PA was 3.5The lowest pH for rain in PA was 3.5

We live in one of the worst areas --- We live in one of the worst areas --- Pennsylvania receives one of the highest Pennsylvania receives one of the highest concentrations of acid precipitation in the concentrations of acid precipitation in the US and the world. US and the world.

One good thing…One good thing… PA has a lot of limestone. This is a natural PA has a lot of limestone. This is a natural

way for acid rain to be buffered before way for acid rain to be buffered before entering the ground water, soil, lakes and entering the ground water, soil, lakes and streams.streams.

This lessens the impact of acid rain in this This lessens the impact of acid rain in this area and prevents us from seeing some of area and prevents us from seeing some of the most severe effects the most severe effects

What is being done?What is being done?

The Clean Air Acts of the 1990’s require a The Clean Air Acts of the 1990’s require a reduction in the amount of pollutants from reduction in the amount of pollutants from industry. This acts are still being industry. This acts are still being implemented in phases. implemented in phases.

Conservation is stressed – conserve Conservation is stressed – conserve electricity to reduce the amount of coal electricity to reduce the amount of coal burned. Use cars less to reduce pollutionburned. Use cars less to reduce pollution

Is it working?Is it working?

The measures are working – the pH is The measures are working – the pH is making slow changes – moving a little making slow changes – moving a little towards neutral.towards neutral.

Has been a 22% reduction in the amount Has been a 22% reduction in the amount of sulfur dioxide released from power of sulfur dioxide released from power plants. plants.

As more measures are enforced expected As more measures are enforced expected to keep getting better. to keep getting better.

Ways you can helpWays you can help

Use less fossil fuels!Use less fossil fuels! Reduce pollution – drive lessReduce pollution – drive less Conserve electricity – unplug appliances, turn Conserve electricity – unplug appliances, turn

off lights, reduce heating/cooling of homeoff lights, reduce heating/cooling of home Buy products made/grown locally – reduces Buy products made/grown locally – reduces

pollutions by shipping them inpollutions by shipping them in

Use alternative energy sourcesUse alternative energy sources

CHALLENGECHALLENGE

You and your partners are to design a You and your partners are to design a controlled experiment to determine if controlled experiment to determine if acid rain will affect the germination of acid rain will affect the germination of

common seeds over the next few common seeds over the next few weeksweeks. .

Your experiment must have the 4 parts of Your experiment must have the 4 parts of an experiment:an experiment: Control groupControl group Experimental groupExperimental group Independent variableIndependent variable Dependent variableDependent variable

Supplies you may use include:Supplies you may use include: SeedsSeeds Petri dishesPetri dishes WaterWater VinegarVinegar Baking sodaBaking soda pH paper (to measure pH)pH paper (to measure pH) Paper towelsPaper towels Markers, rulers, tape etc……..Markers, rulers, tape etc……..

Brainstorm with your partner and write the Brainstorm with your partner and write the 4 parts of your experiment.4 parts of your experiment.

Have your experimental design checked Have your experimental design checked before beginning to set up your before beginning to set up your experimentexperiment

Set up your experiment!Set up your experiment!