ACID RAIN

DEFINATION

Acid rain is rain consisting of water droplets that are unusually acidic because of atmospheric pollution most notably the excessive amounts of sulphur and nitrogen released by cars and industrial processes.

Acid rain is also called acid deposition because this term includes other forms of acidic precipitation such as snow.

CAUSES OF ACID RAIN• Burning coal. Oil and

natural gas in power stations makes electricity, giving off sulphur dioxide gas.

• Burning petrol and oil in vehicle engines gives off nitrogen oxides as gases.

• These gases mix with water vapour and rainwater in the atmosphere producing weak solutions of sulphuric and nitric acids – which fall as acid rain.

EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN

Acid rain is an extremely destructive form of pollution, and the environment suffers from its effects. Forests, trees, lakes, animals, and plants suffer from acid rain. TreesThe needles and leaves of the trees turn brown and fall off. Trees can also suffer from stunted growth; and have damaged bark and leaves, which makes them vulnerable to weather, disease, and insects.

PLANT LIFE Natural vegetation and crops are

affected by acid rain. The roots are damaged by acidic

rainfall, causing the growth of the plant to be stunted, or even in its death.

Nutrients present in the soil, are destroyed by the acidity.

Useful micro organisms which release nutrients from decaying organic matter, into the soil are killed off, resulting in less nutrients being available for the plants.

AQUATIC LIFE The action of acid rain causes harmful

elements like mercury and aluminium to be leached from the soil and rocks and it is then carried into the lakes where aquatic life may be affected.

Warning signs have been posted at several lakes, telling about the dangers of eating fish which may have been poisoned by mercury.

Just as the soil has a natural ability to neutralise the acidity of rain water, within a certain limit, so also lakes and other water bodies can to a certain extent nullify the effects of acid rain.

ANIMALS & BIRDS

If a lower life form is killed, other species that depended on it will also be affected.

Every animal up the food chain will be affected. Animals and birds, like waterfowl or beavers, which depended on

the water for food sources or as a habitat, also begin to die. Due to the effects of acid rain, animals which depended on plants

for their food also begin to suffer..

HUMAN BEINGS 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 respiratory problems.

Many can find it difficult to breathe, especially people who have asthma. Asthma, along with dry coughs, headaches, and throat irritations can be caused by the sulphur dioxides and nitrogen oxides from acid rain.

BUILDINGS & SCULPTURES

Acid rain dissolves the stonework and mortar of buildings (especially those made out of sandstone or limestone). It reacts with the minerals in the stone to form a powdery substance that can be washed away by rain.

SOLUTIONS• 1. Sulphur dioxide can be removed from power stations

chimneys but this process is expensive.• 2. Reduce the amount of electricity we use - turn tv’s off at the mains, don’t leave on standby.- turn off lights when a room is not in use.• 3. Use renewable energy like wind power, solar panels, tidal

power, HEP schemes and geothermal energy.• 4. Fit catalytic converters to vehicle exhausts which remove

the nitrogen oxides.• 5. Limit the number of vehicles on the roads and increase

public transport.

MADE BY: VISHRANT PARIKH (13131097)

F.Y. BBA SECTION: B

ACHAL SHAH (13131079)

MAUSAMI PATEL (13131054)