Acid Fall – The Acidity of Such Things Is Normal Essay Example

In Norway some lakes have a PH level of 4.5 which is 20 times more acidic than normal (Baines 19).

Half of acid rain that ends up in lakes and streams get there through dry particles in the air, while the other half enters the water in wet form like rain, snow, sleet, hail, dew, and fog. Also when acid rain hits the ground it can run into streams and lakes(Lucas Acid 19). Acid rain is devastating for plants and animals in certain areas like New York and Norway. In Adirondack mountains in New York acid rain has caused 180 pounds to have no more trout or birds which were once plentiful of trout and birds(Labastille 653).

In Norway thousands of trout stocks have been lost forever due to acid rain(Rivers 1). Another environmental problem caused by acid rain is the rainforest depletion. The main reason that acid rain effects the rainforest is it ruins the soil that the trees grow in. The indirect effects of acid rain on forests are caused by the loss of soil nutrients(Forests 2). In very acidic conditions aluminum becomes soluble and is released from the soil. At high enough concentrations aluminum is toxic and damages tree roots(Forests 2). Three places that acid rain effects forests the most are Czechoslovakia, Norway, and Germany. In the hills of Czechoslovakia acid rain damage is so severe that whole areas once forested are now treeless moorland(Baines 20).

Germany forestry scientists estimated that one third of the Black Forest in Germany has been damaged by acid rain(Forests 2). The main nutrients that acid rain displaces are calcium and magnesium. Acid rain has effects on humans and animals

to. Acid rain effects all animals that live near a lake or pond that is effected by acid rain(Labastille660). Animals are effected by acid rain by when a animal eats a plant that acid rain has effected. The acid in the plants dont hurt the animal right away but it accumulates in its tissue. The main way acid rain effects humans are humans eat the tissue that is effected by acid rain and can have serious effects.

Two of the most deadly substances that acid rain causes to release from the ground are mercury and aluminum. Mercury can cause brain damage in unborn children and nerve disorders, brain damage, and death in adults. Acid rain also has a strong effect on historical sculptures and buildings. Acid rain has caused buildings and sculptures to wear away in the last 20 years more than they had worn away in the previous 2000 years(Wearing History 2). Some areas have acid rain effects worse than others. It matters how often it rains there and the content of the acid in the rain. The stone decorations of some historical buildings have been dissolved by acid rain so much that they are not recognizable(Baines 20).

There are three main things we can do to lower the amount of acid rain. The first thing we can do is liming. Liming only cures the acidity in lakes by neutralizing the acid. Another way we are trying to lower the acid rain amount is the physical cleaning of coal. This is when they wash the parts of the coal that contains the most sulfur. Another way we can stop acid rain is by cutting the sulfur

and nitrogen amounts put into our air. The main ways we do this is cutting the amounts of cars that are on the road, and having coal plants burn less coal and the coal they burned be cleaned. In conclusion we must continue to follow these solutions or acid rain will become more serious. If acid rain becomes more serious it will effect all our natural resources twice as much as it already effects them. Acid rain will be just another problem caused by pollution that will destroy our earth if we dont do something about it.

Bibliography

1. Regan, James L. The Acid Rain Controversy Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh Press 1988. 363.73 R
2. Baines, John. Conserving The Atmosphere Austin, Texas: Steckvaughn, 1990. 363.7392 B
3. Lucas, Eileen. Water : A Resource in Crisis Chicago, IL: Childrens Press, 1991 363.73 L
4. Dolan, Edward. Our Poisoned Sky New York: Cobblehill Books, 1991 363.7392 D