In acid lakes there are increased concentrations of aluminium in ion form, which is highly toxic to many organisms. Acidification and its causes. Acid rain is any form of precipitation that is extremely acidic, acid rain essay, causing harmful effects on the environment. Scientists also agree that the fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, when burnt are a major cause of Acid Rain. Although, acid rain essay only offers only a short-term solution at the expense of solving the broader challenges of SO2 and NOx emissions and risks to human health, nevertheless, it helps to restore and allow the survival of the marine life by improving chronically acidified waters.
Long and Short Essay on Acid Rain in English
Back in fifties, there were observations of lakes in Scandinavia losing their fish populations. Anglers and naturalists noticed that fish stocks in many lakes of southern Scandinavia were diminishing. Freshwater acidification had rapidly worsened over a few decades. Although acid rain and the acidification are a not new problem that has received considerable attention for many years, it was not until s that scientists were able to link these effects to any specific cause. Later it was found to be acid rain essay pollution. Acidification is not a regional phenomenon. In Scotland, studies show that the acidification began around the middle of the last centuries and the process has accelerated in the last three decades.
In southern Norway, It has reported that 87 lakes had a pH below 5. Damaged forests were becoming widespread in West Germany. As these examples show, acidification is an international problem. Pollutants may be carried with acid rain essay over distances, from points hundreds or thousands of miles away. Some countries are net importers of pollution, and others are exporters. The effects of acidification are varies, not only pollution of lakes and forests as previously mentioned, but also effects on fauna and flora, soil, groundwater and direct or indirect harm on human health, acid rain essay, and all things are influenced by acid rain essay quality through hydrological pathway Thunberg, The aim of this report is to discuss causes and effects of acidification that has been concerned until now, and present possible short-term and long-term solution to acid deposition effects on water quality 1.
Acidification and its causes. Airborne pollution can influence the environment both directly and indirectly. Primary pollutant is Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These direct effects are often peak in the vicinity of the emission sources. Industrial society discharges suphur dioxide and nitrogen that form sulphuric acid and nitric acid, which may acid rain essay carried with the winds over long distances before descending in rain or snow. Indirect effects often occur as acidified soil and water far away from the sources of emission Thunberg, There are gas-phase reactions, which produce acidity in the atomosphere.
Sulphur dioxide acid rain essay nitrogen oxides form suophuric and nitric acids on coming into contact with water. The rates of dry deposition velocity may depend on the nature of the land surfaces. Rates of wet deposition depend on the precipitation rate, the washout ratio of dissolved pollutant per unit mass of cloud water or rain divided by the concentration of the same pollutant per unit mass of air Wellburn, A low pH value means a high level of acidification. Water in neutral condition has a pH of 7 Thunberg, acid rain essay, Sulphur and Nitrogen Cycles are presented below Figure 1 and 2. Figure 1.
Sulphur Cycle Source: ICU Figure 2. Nitrogen Cycle Source: ICU 1, acid rain essay. Sulphur in gaseous form, sulphur dioxide SO2is mainly formed in the combustion of oil and coal. The rapid increase in emission of pollutants came after the war followed by consumption of fuel and oil. It was reported that approximately 20 million tons of sulphur are now emitted every year in Europe. There is also a great deal of airborne pollution in North America, where about 12 million tons of sulphur is released every year. Sulphur can be formed by naturally by eruption of vulcanoes, from seas and oceans and certain processes in the soil.
However, 90 per cent of the emissions of sulphur to the atmosphere are derived from industrialised parts of Europe and North America. This is ten times the level that can be considered natural Thunberg, acid rain essay, Nitrogen oxides are formed in all types of combustion, most of the NOX are formed by the reaction of nitrogen gas in the combustion air with oxygen, acid rain essay. When the mixture of nitrogen gas and oxygen is heated, they interrelate to form NOX. The higher the combustion temperature, the more NOX will be formed. The largest source of NOX emission is road traffic, acid rain essay.
These emissions are reported to have doubled during the s, approximately 22 million tons of NO2 are released every year in Europe. Certain types of fertilizer are another source of nitrogen pollution. Nitrate leaching intensified the acidification of the soil, which release unwanted substances such as aluminium Thunberg, The environmental effects of acidification 2. The initial victims of acidification are nutrient-deficient lakes in areas where the soil has a poor buffering ability Thunberg, It is reported that many lakes in the Rocky Mountain have little alkalinity to buffer increase in acid deposition, however loss of alkalinity has been observed caused by high concentration of acid deposition due to the emission in the Rocky Mountain region Turk et al, acid rain essay, Figure 3.
Acidified lake: A deep blue colour of a lake is a sign of acidification. Source: ARIC In severely acidified lake, the fish will have vanished entirely, acid rain essay, bog moss will have spread out over the lake floor, and only few plant and animal species will remain. The first victims of acidification are crayfish, acid rain essay, snails and mussels, certain types of zoo- and phytoplankton, and some species of mayfly. Usually, certain types of bog moss and insects those are resistant to acidification remains. This is not only low pH value that takes a heavy toll of fauna and flora. In acid lakes there are increased concentrations of aluminium in ion form, which is highly toxic to many organisms.
The level of other heavy metals also rises such as cadmium, zinc, and lead. Those heavy metals including aluminium flow into lakes from the acidified soils of the surroundings. The relationship of prey and predators will also change, for instance certain insects on which they usually prey begin to thrive when their predators are disappeared Thunberg, The plant releases hydrogen ions as it uptake nutrients, acid rain essay. Though the growth itself is acidifying, there is no net acidification where growth and decay are about equal. However, the cycle is broken by harvesting, the acidifying process will take over. Soil acidification may have biological effects in the respects through lowering of the pH value, an increase in the levels of aluminium and other toxic compounds and a loss of plant nutrients due to increased leaching, consequently may lower drainage water pH Acid rain essay, Moreover, Long-term increase in nitrogen supply may be responsible for alterations in root and shoot growth of plants Carrol et al, Figure 5.
Soil pH range source ANRA 2. Forest growth change drainage water pathways to stream, and increase stream water acidity. Extensive clear cutting can also accelerate the acidification of surface water. Applying acidifying fertilizer also helps to acidify soil and water Thunberg, Twelve years studies of acidification-induced chemical changes in soils of Norway spruce and Scot pine in southern Sweden reveals that pH in mineral soil decreased on average 0, acid rain essay. It is said that these changes in forest soil are mainly due to the extensive deposition of acidifying substances sulphur and nitrogen compounds acid rain essay the latter part of the 20th century J�nsson et al, In addition, atmospheric pollution directly damages forest itself.
Since the early s, acid rain essay, West Germany has experienced a rapid and widespread decline in the health of its forest trees; especially sensitive species were affected by exposure to low levels of pollutants Ling et al, The more permeable the soil, the more water dribbles down. Normally acid rain will become less acid as it penetrates through the ground. However, where the acid rain essay becomes acidified and has less ability to neutralize, the effect will be decrease until it finally ceases. It is unlikely that acid groundwater will be harmful to human health, however toxic heavy metals, such as aluminium and cadmium may appear at elevated level where highly acidic.
These metals are harmful for human health Thunberg, Solutions Solutions to the problems of acidification fall into two groups, which are cure and prevention. Remedial measures can be applied where the problems actually arise i. soils and surface waters. Preventive measures can be applied at source i. at point of emission of the sulphur and nitrogen oxides. The latter are expensive and the least acceptable to industry, however they are in fact more effective, more sustainable, and more immediately required Park, Causal treatment by reducing aciditying emissions is the primary goal in a long-term as preventive acid rain essay, however outcomes acid rain essay this approach are still uncertain and recovery may be slow.
Indicative treatment, involving the addition of acid rain essay agent such as powdered limestone to affected environment is the only realistic remedy in the short-term, acid rain essay, and has become a widespread practice in Europe Thunberg, This requires not simply the elimination of symptoms of damage i. restocking fish in acidified lakes, planting new trees ; it also involves restoration of natural chemical balances to ensure that damage does not reappear. Some materials in nature have ability to buffer, or neutralize, or offset acid input.
Lime and limestone are the most accepted of a range of chemicals that can be used to buffer acidic materials. Lime has been added normally by spraying from helicopter to catchments, acid rain essay and forests to alleviate damage and improve conditions for environment Park, With regard to the lakes and streams, this raises pH value of the water and decrease in the levels of heavy metals. After the liming many species quickly return to their former habitat Thunberg, This approach acid rain essay been most widely investigated in Sweden Park, This measure had been made in UK as well. This monitoring reveals that chemistry in treated streams changed significantly as mean annual pH increased from The abundance of Acid-sensive taxa in limed streams increased after treatment.
Liming has also been used as a means of restoring acidified soils. This improves the productivity of croplands and forests. However, liming can cause negative impacts on stream, such as fine CaCO3 deposited on the stream banthos. Moreover, it is not practical for many lakes and acid rain essay, for some streams it is no help at all.
essays
Back in fifties, there were observations of lakes in Scandinavia losing their fish populations. Anglers and naturalists noticed that fish stocks in many lakes of southern Scandinavia were diminishing. Freshwater acidification had rapidly worsened over a few decades. Although acid rain and the acidification are a not new problem that has received considerable attention for many years, it was not until s that scientists were able to link these effects to any specific cause. Later it was found to be atmospheric pollution. Acidification is not a regional phenomenon. In Scotland, studies show that the acidification began around the middle of the last centuries and the process has accelerated in the last three decades.
In southern Norway, It has reported that 87 lakes had a pH below 5. Damaged forests were becoming widespread in West Germany. As these examples show, acidification is an international problem. Pollutants may be carried with winds over distances, from points hundreds or thousands of miles away. Some countries are net importers of pollution, and others are exporters. The effects of acidification are varies, not only pollution of lakes and forests as previously mentioned, but also effects on fauna and flora, soil, groundwater and direct or indirect harm on human health, and all things are influenced by water quality through hydrological pathway Thunberg, The aim of this report is to discuss causes and effects of acidification that has been concerned until now, and present possible short-term and long-term solution to acid deposition effects on water quality 1.
Acidification and its causes. Airborne pollution can influence the environment both directly and indirectly. Primary pollutant is Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These direct effects are often peak in the vicinity of the emission sources. Industrial society discharges suphur dioxide and nitrogen that form sulphuric acid and nitric acid, which may be carried with the winds over long distances before descending in rain or snow. Indirect effects often occur as acidified soil and water far away from the sources of emission Thunberg, There are gas-phase reactions, which produce acidity in the atomosphere. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides form suophuric and nitric acids on coming into contact with water.
The rates of dry deposition velocity may depend on the nature of the land surfaces. Rates of wet deposition depend on the precipitation rate, the washout ratio of dissolved pollutant per unit mass of cloud water or rain divided by the concentration of the same pollutant per unit mass of air Wellburn, A low pH value means a high level of acidification. Water in neutral condition has a pH of 7 Thunberg, Sulphur and Nitrogen Cycles are presented below Figure 1 and 2. Figure 1. Sulphur Cycle Source: ICU Figure 2. Nitrogen Cycle Source: ICU 1. Sulphur in gaseous form, sulphur dioxide SO2 , is mainly formed in the combustion of oil and coal.
The rapid increase in emission of pollutants came after the war followed by consumption of fuel and oil. It was reported that approximately 20 million tons of sulphur are now emitted every year in Europe. There is also a great deal of airborne pollution in North America, where about 12 million tons of sulphur is released every year. Sulphur can be formed by naturally by eruption of vulcanoes, from seas and oceans and certain processes in the soil. However, 90 per cent of the emissions of sulphur to the atmosphere are derived from industrialised parts of Europe and North America. This is ten times the level that can be considered natural Thunberg, Nitrogen oxides are formed in all types of combustion, most of the NOX are formed by the reaction of nitrogen gas in the combustion air with oxygen.
When the mixture of nitrogen gas and oxygen is heated, they interrelate to form NOX. The higher the combustion temperature, the more NOX will be formed. The largest source of NOX emission is road traffic. These emissions are reported to have doubled during the s, approximately 22 million tons of NO2 are released every year in Europe. Certain types of fertilizer are another source of nitrogen pollution. Nitrate leaching intensified the acidification of the soil, which release unwanted substances such as aluminium Thunberg, The environmental effects of acidification 2.
The initial victims of acidification are nutrient-deficient lakes in areas where the soil has a poor buffering ability Thunberg, It is reported that many lakes in the Rocky Mountain have little alkalinity to buffer increase in acid deposition, however loss of alkalinity has been observed caused by high concentration of acid deposition due to the emission in the Rocky Mountain region Turk et al, Figure 3. Acidified lake: A deep blue colour of a lake is a sign of acidification. Source: ARIC In severely acidified lake, the fish will have vanished entirely, bog moss will have spread out over the lake floor, and only few plant and animal species will remain. The first victims of acidification are crayfish, snails and mussels, certain types of zoo- and phytoplankton, and some species of mayfly.
As we know, there are numerous attempts to clean the air, but the atmosphere is still a long way from being clean. If man becomes more careful about environment, the occurrence of Acid Rain can be minimised. But if we are not resolute in our attempts to reduce atmospheric pollution, we may eventually cause grave damage to all our natural resources, which would lead to the extinction of life on the Planet Earth. Basically, Acid Rain occurs when hazardous gases such as carbon dioxide CO2 , sulphur dioxide SO2 and nitrogen oxide NOX react with rain. Exhaust fumes and open-air burning release carbon dioxide CO2 into the atmosphere. Eventually, they form acid rain. Mostly, Acid Rain occurs as a result of rising levels of pollution.
Acid Rain is thus quite common in large towns and cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and New Delhi, etc. This is due to the rapid industrialization and urbanization in these areas. However, acid rain and its effects are not confined or limited to these areas only; as the air blows it takes the hazardous chemicals along with it to far off places. Scientists also agree that the fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, when burnt are a major cause of Acid Rain. Thus, industries which use fossil fuels like the automobile industries, paper industries and chemical industries should minimize the emission of harmful gases, which will in return reduce the percentage of acid in the rain.
Most of the factories are required to be equipped with Scrubbers now. Despite being very expensive to maintain, they remove maximum amount of sulphur dioxide after the coal is burnt. In scrubbers, poisonous gases are sprayed with a mixture of water and lime; limewater, which make a substance known as Sludge. Another solution to lake acidity is liming. Lime is very alkaline, so when poured into lakes, it clears out the acidity. The only problem with liming is that it is expensive and only a temporary solution.
Another solution is something called a catalytic converter, which is required for all cars, buses, autos and other road transport. The converter is mounted on the exhaust pipe forcing all exhaust to pass through it. The catalytic converter converts the gases like nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, and unburned hydrocarbons into a cleaner air. Acid Rain includes rain, snow, hail, fog, or dew that is high in acid pollutants, especially sulphuric and nitric acid. Acid Rain is caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which reacts with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. The problem of Acid Rain has not only increased with rapid growth in population and industrialisation, but has also become more alarming.
In fact, the use of the smokestacks tall chimneys on a factory, ship, etc to reduce local pollution has contributed to the spread of Acid Rain by releasing gases into regional atmospheric circulation. Large amount of acid deposits are witnessed in the Canada, United States and most of the parts of Europe, including portions of Sweden, Norway, and Germany, currently. In addition, some amount of acid deposits are found in parts of South Asia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Southern parts of India like Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai.
When this acid flows through the ground, it affects a large number of plants, animals and aquatic life. The water from drain flows into the water sources like rivers and canals which is then mixed up into sea water; thereby affecting the aquatic habitats. Dry deposition : When the acidic pollutants merge into dust or smoke and fall to the ground as dry particles, these stick to the ground and other surfaces such as buildings, cars, houses, trees and monuments. Majority of the acidic pollutants in the atmosphere spread through dry deposition. The major causes of acid rain are Natural and Human-Instigated causes. However, Acid Rain is basically caused due to the combustion of fossil fuels which results in emissions of sulphur dioxide SO2 and nitrogen oxide NOx in the atmosphere.
Natural Sources : The main nature causing agents for acid rain are volcanic eruptions. Volcanoes emit a large amount of lava, producing harmful gases which create higher than normal amount of Acid Rain. Acid rain is a something that causes problems to our environment. The effect of acid rain are more seen in the water. In some lakes acid rain causes the fish to die. Acid rain is a problem that we are facing, but we are ignoring the problem. Acid rain is any form of precipitation that is extremely acidic, causing harmful effects on the environment. The unusual acidity of acid rain is caused by the high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids in the atmosphere, generated mostly by human activities but also by natural activities.
This document will describe the process of acid rain from creation to the effects it has on the environment. Chemical Sources In the formation of acid rain, natural and human-made sources are known to play a…. Acid rain is a rain that is more acidic has more hydrogen ions compared to normal rain and it has serious negative effects to nature and people. It is a mixture of wet and dry depositon that contain high amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids see Figure 1. These gases come from electric generation, factories, forest fires, burning fossil fuels and acid rain forms when these gases react with water, oxygen and air. Wet deposition happens when acid chemicals fall to the ground in a rain or snow….
Acid rain is found all over the world as a result of the release of chemicals from burned fossil fuels, which has sources from nature and human-made. These chemicals are blamed for the causing environmental deterioration and detrimental effects to human health. The Environmental Protection Agency has enacted laws and regulations to prevent and reduce the effects of acid rain including the Clean Air Act of and the Acid Rain Program. Other technologies and initiatives have been created to…. It was assumed that humans have harnessed and utilized different natural resources for their individual benefits from the onset of civilization to the present day.
In turn, acid rain…. Acid, below-normal pH, causes many problems in our world today—from drinks to teeth, from pollution of industry to natural disasters. Acid is a chemical substance that can subdue alkalis, can dissolve specific metals and can turn them into salt, such as calcium, turns red on blue litmus paper, is corrosive or sour-tasting when it comes to liquid, generates pain in wounds, and turns colorless when placed in phenolphthalein which is used as a basic to acid indicator "Definition of acid in…. Home Flashcards Create Flashcards Essays Essay Topics Writing Tool. Essays Essays FlashCards. Browse Essays. Sign in. Flashcard Dashboard Essay Dashboard Essay Settings Sign Out.
No comments:
Post a Comment