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Mark Ewoldsen, Ph.D. Advanced Placement Environmental Science Teacher La Cañada High School

Acid Rain. Mark Ewoldsen, Ph.D. Advanced Placement Environmental Science Teacher La Cañada High School. Background Information. Atmosphere. Earth’s Atmosphere. Compared to the size of the Earth (12000 km) The atmosphere is very thin (120 km).

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Mark Ewoldsen, Ph.D. Advanced Placement Environmental Science Teacher La Cañada High School

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  1. Acid Rain Mark Ewoldsen, Ph.D. Advanced Placement Environmental Science Teacher La Cañada High School

  2. Background Information

  3. Atmosphere

  4. Earth’s Atmosphere Compared to the size of the Earth (12000 km) The atmosphere is very thin (120 km) http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/earth/pinatuboimages.htm

  5. If theEarthis compared to this Orange the Earth’s atmosphere would be thinner than the layer of pesticide on this Orange’s surface

  6. Two Atmosphere Layers • Stratosphere is above Troposphere • Ozone Layer blocks UV radiation • Troposphere is where we live • Weather & Global Warming • 72% of all air is below the cruising altitude of commercial airliners (33000 ft)

  7. Measuring Acid Rain • Acid rain is measured using a "pH" scale. • The lower the pH, the more acidic • Pure water has a pH of 7.0 • Normal rain is slightly acidic and has a pH of about 5.6 because of H2CO3 • Rainfall with a pH less than 5.6 is acid rain • As of the year 2010, the most acidic rain falling in the US has a pH of about 4.3.

  8. Two Forms… Wet Refers to acid rain, fog, sleet, cloud vapor and snow. • Dry • Refers to acidic gases and particles.

  9. Compounds Two main contributers to acid deposition: • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) * 66% of all sulfur dioxides and 25% of all nitrogen oxides comes from electric power generation that produces energy by burning fossil fuels.

  10. When gas pollutants e.g. sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxidedissolve in rain water, various acids are formed. CO2 + H2O  H2CO3 (carbonic acid) SO2 + H2O  H2SO3 (sulphorous acid) NO2 + H2O  HNO2 (nitrous acid) + HNO3 (nitric acid)

  11. Secondary Pollutants H2SO4 HNO2 sulfuric acid nitric acid Primary Pollutants SO2 NO2 acidic precipitation vegetation direct toxicity indirect health effects water Fossil fuels Power plants Industrial emissions Auto emissions soils leaching of minerals sediments leaching aluminum

  12. “Wet” Acid Rain Acidic water flows over and through the ground Affects a variety of plants and animals.

  13. “Dry” Acid Rain • Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles. • About half of the acidity in theatmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition. • The wind blows these acidic particles and gases onto/into buildings, cars, homes, and trees. http://svr1-pek.unep.net/soechina/images/acid.jpg

  14. Nutrients • Acidic water • dissolves the nutrients and helpful minerals in the soil • washes nutrients away before plants can use them to grow. • Acid rain also causes the release of substances, such as aluminum, that are toxic to plants

  15. Effects on Wildlife • Generally, the young of most species are more sensitive to environmental conditions than adults. • At pH 5, most fish eggs cannot hatch. • At lower pH levels, some adult fish die. • Some acid lakes have no fish.

  16. Effects on Wildlife • Both low pH and increased aluminum levels are directly toxic to fish. • Chronic stress that leads to lower • body weight • smaller size

  17. Acid Rain and Forests • Acid rain does not usually kill trees directly • Weakens trees • Damaging leaves • Limiting nutrients available • Toxic substances slowly released from the soil.

  18. Mongolia Germany

  19. Great Smoky Mountains, NC

  20. 1984 1986 http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/amaps2/ Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1985

  21. 1985 1987 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1986

  22. 1986 1988 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1987

  23. 1987 1989 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1988

  24. 1988 1990 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1989

  25. 1989 1991 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1990

  26. 1990 1992 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1991

  27. 1991 1993 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1992

  28. 1992 1994 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1993

  29. 1993 1995 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1994

  30. 1994 1996 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1995

  31. 1995 1997 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1996

  32. 1996 1998 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1997

  33. 1997 1999 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1998

  34. 1998 2000 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 1999

  35. 1999 2001 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 2000

  36. 2000 2002 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 2001

  37. 2001 2003 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 2002

  38. 2002 2004 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 2003

  39. 2003 2005 Sulfate Ion Concentrations 1985-2004 2004

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