1. Acid Rain (Ch 18)

2. Also called Precipitation
Can be rain, fog, snow, hail etc.
Any form of precipitation

3. Causes Pollutants in the atmosphere Mainly: Sulphur Dioxide
Nitrous Oxide

4. Sulphur dioxide
Mainly from coal burning power plants

5. Sulphur Dioxide
Also come naturally from volcanic eruptions

6. Nitrous Oxide Comes from industrial processes
Combustion from gasoline engines
(cars and trucks)

7. pH scale (potential Hydrogen)

8. PH scale Most rain has some natural acid in it
Average rainfall is 5.6 on the pH scale and most aquatic organisms have adapted to this pH level

9. Effects
Damages forests

10. Effects Damages roots Nutrients can’t be taken up properly
Browning of foliage
Crown die back

11. Crown die-back

12. Effects
Erodes statues and monuments
Especially made of limestone

13. Effects
Lowers pH in lakes and rivers
Kills aquatic
organisms

14. Effects
Can cause pipes in water supplies to erode releasing metals into water
Can release toxic metals from rocks into water supplies

15. Effects
The pollution in the atmosphere causes respiratory problems in the young and elderly

16. Solutions Quit polluting the atmosphere
Find alternative energy sources (solar/wind)
Clean coal before burning it
Dumping limestone in lakes temporarily raises the pH
International solutions required
Scrubbers and filters in smokestacks

17. Canada/USA Cross border pollution
Much of the acid rain in Canada comes from pollution in the United states
It follows prevailing winds

18. Why is the rain so acidic in the areas shown?