USGS: Science for a Changing World. (2019, March 2) Water as Acid Rain. https://www.usgs
In the northeastern part of the United States there are many industries and vehicles. This is causing acid rain to go as low as a pH of 4, which is quite acidic for rain water. When the acid rain interacts with the soil, it drains the aluminum which is beneficial for the plants and wildlife but it also drains minerals and nutrients that trees require for development. Acid rain can be traveled from urban to rural areas by the winds, that’s the reason why countrysides’ forests and lakes are affected by the acidity. Most environments adjust to some acid rain, the soils are able to stabilize some of the acidity. In some parts of the U.S., limestone does not evolve therefore acid rain can have negative impacts in the soil. When this rain settles on habitats, animals and fish struggle with accommodating and reproducing; plants as well get damaged by acid precipitation. Since in the Northeast of the United States there are many cities, high population density, and industrial plants, it is an area with the lowest pH levels. This air pollution and acid precipitation is concerning because it can cause buildings and sculpture, from years back in history, to deteriorate.
As humans we are responsible for the appearance of acid rain. We cause it by polluting the air, working in factories, etc. We should be doing something to better, if not vanish acid rain. This is causing not only damage to our ecosystems but structures and buildings that have been made in history as a symbolic or cultural value. It is unfair for us to easily just ignore the fact that these structures will be deteriorating maybe even gone by the next few years. This is affecting the northeastern part of the United States, and yet I haven’t seen any progress on fixing this conflict. This will have consequences on the environment; there could be a decrease of trees growth and plant production.
This is an informative article, and I agree with your sentiments. Was there a new development that just happened recently in the article. It seems like it is more of a report… just wondering why it is in the news in 2019, rather than a recent development.
I agree with your statement about this needing to be fixed. Why aren’t there any solutions being reported? The problem is just getting worse.
I think that acid rain isn’t being taken seriously enough as a consequence of our environmental destruction. What groups are trying to solve this issue and how?