1. Human Impact on Ecosystems: Acidification SVN3E

2. Acid precipitation Rain and snow is naturally slightly acidic with a pH of approximately 5.6.

3. Oxides and Acids The water vapour in the atmosphere is reacting with the naturally-occurring carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid.

4. Oxides and Acids Other naturally-occurring non-metal oxides include carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides and also react with water to produce acids. These can be produced by processes such as forest fires.

5. Effects Freshwater fish and many plants are adapted to a slightly acidic environment, although chemicals in soils such as lime (calcium oxide) help neutralize acid precipitation.

6. Made-made Sources of Oxides Human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, create an excess of non- metal oxides and an excess of acids in precipitation.

7. Effects We notice the effects of acid rain eroding buildings and statues: 1908 1969

8. Effects Beneath the surface of the lake, the acid precipitation is killing fish.

9. Leaching Acid precipitation also leaches (removes) nutrients from soil (e.g. the calcium plants need to build cell walls).

10. Leaching And it releases from rocks more toxic elements such as aluminum.

11. Dealing with Acidification To try to reduce the amount of non-metal oxides released, we can use scrubbers (filtration systems on smokestacks).

12. Dealing with Acidification We can also neutralize acidic soil and water with alkaline chemicals. Lake liming

13. Fossil Fuels We can also reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.