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Acid Rain. How does it form? Where is this a problem? What does it do to ecosystems and people?. Acid Deposition formation: Secondary or primary pollutant? Sources for precursors? Transportation? Wet or dry deposition?. Formulas you need to memorize:.
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Acid Rain How does it form? Where is this a problem? What does it do to ecosystems and people?
Acid Deposition formation:Secondary or primary pollutant?Sources for precursors?Transportation? Wet or dry deposition?
Formulas you need to memorize: • SO3 + H2O H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) • NOx + H2O 2HNO3 (nitric acid) • These are two forms (flavors) of acid deposition.
Normal rain CO2 + H2O H2CO3 (carbonic acid) Normal rain is always slightly acidic! THIS IS NOT ACID RAIN!!! THIS IS NOT POLLUTION!!!! Acid rain < pH 5.6
OBSERVATIONS? IS ACID RAIN A BIG PROBLEM IN HOUSTON?WHERE IS ACID RAIN A BIG CONCERN?
Effects on terrestrial systems: Direct damage to leaves and roots Weak trees are susceptible to insects and disease
Acid deposition leaches nutrients from soil and makes toxins (Al3+)more soluble
Effects on Aquatic ecosystems • Loss of biodiversity • Range of tolerance • Jelly-like fish eggs broken down • Acidity denatures enzymes • Acid shock – sudden increase in acidity, often in spring can cause fish kills • Aluminum ions (Al3+) are released from lake bed, suffocating fish • Below pH4.5, lakes devoid of fish
Cultural effects of acid rain Marble and limestone Acid breaks down these basic materials
Many famous buildings are being damaged Taj Mahal Parthenon
Statue of liberty Loss of artistic detail in Acropolis
Human health effects of acid rain • Contributes to bronchitis and asthma
Acid Rain: Check for understanding! • How does acid rain form? • What is the pH of acid rain? • Why is rain normally acidic? • Why is this a bigger problem on the East Coast than here? • Why is acid rain “like AIDS for plants”? • Why are there more significant effects on aquatic systems than on terrestrial systems?
IF YOU’RE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION, YOU’RE PART OF THE PRECIPITATE. Solutions to Air pollution
Pollution prevention (don’t create the primary pollutants in the first place) Pollution clean up (now that they’re in the environment, let’s mitigate the effects) Two strategies
Legal solutions • Emissions trading policy (Cap and Trade): stationary pollution sources can buy, sell and trade the right to pollute. • This policy ONLY exists in the US for SOx right now. • (CO2 cap and trade just started in California last year!)
Technology solution: improved vehicle efficiency • Using less gas = fewer combustion pollutants • Hybrids use friction from breaking to charge electric battery “regenerative breaking” • Computer switches engine from gas to electricity.
Technology solution: burn cleaner coal/coal gasification • Burn low-sulfur coal from Western US • Gasification turns solid coal to gas before it is burned – fewer particulates, SOx
Stream doser • Spot the pipe which adds the limestone solution to the stream!
I=PAT • I = clean air • P = growing • A = options? • T = options? • Which of these can YOU do TODAY?