Acid rain is any form of precipitation with high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. Acid Rain occurs from small/dry material that comes from fog. These small particles settle on earth and raises the levels of sulfuric and nitric acids. Rotting vegetation and erupting volcanoes release some chemicals that can cause acid rain, but most acid rain falls because of human interactions with the burning of fossil fuels. Coal burning is the biggest factor;power plants, factories, and automobiles also emmitt acids that contribute to Acid Rain, when released into the atmosphere. These chemical gases react with water, oxygen, and other substances that form solutions of sulfuric and nitric acid. Winds can spread these acidic solutions across the atmosphere up to over hundreds of miles. When acid rain reaches Earth, it runs across the surface in runoff water, it then enters water systems, and sinks into the soil. Acid rain has many ecological effects, but the greatest impact it has is on lakes and streams. Acid rain makes waters acidic and causes them to absorb the aluminum that makes its way from soil into lakes and streams. Some species can tolerate acidic waters better than others. However, eventually this will end up affecting the whole entire food chain, including non-aquatic species.
Knowing that acid rain can run into water systems and destroy aquatic environments is very concerning. If society as a whole limited our role in the emissions of greenhouse gasses, we can lower the amount of acid rain. Because of acid rain, lakes and streams are highly affected, that makes one wonder if acidic water is causing a decrease in aquatic biodiversity? I think in order to reduce these kinds of things from happening, we should start with regulations that limit the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted per month by humans.
Source:
Society, N. G. (2016, September). Acid Rain Facts, Acid Rain Information, Acid Rain Pictures, Acid Rain
Effects – National Geographic. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/acid-rain-overview/
I see your point about possibly imposing regulations on greenhouse gasses emitted by humans, I think that would be an appropriate response to reduce the occurrences of acid rain. But regulations will likely only be created if Acid rain directly affects people. Does acid rain have an immediate negative affect on humans?
I like the connection you drew to biodiversity and the evidently harmful effects acidic rain must be having on it. Would there be any way to add a basic chemical to the water at the mouth of streams and other bodies of water to balance it out before it reaches a biological “hotspot”?
Your idea about regulations to reduce emissions is a very interesting idea to help prevent an increase in acid rain. The real question is how can we prevent the acid rain that is already present in the environment from destroying the ecosystem.