Acid Rain

Description

Cambridge IGCSE Biology (Section 4: Ecology and the environment) Mind Map on Acid Rain, created by Aisling Tuffy on 02/12/2013.
Aisling Tuffy
Mind Map by Aisling Tuffy, updated more than 1 year ago
Aisling Tuffy
Created by Aisling Tuffy over 10 years ago
28
0

Resource summary

Acid Rain
  1. Gases (Sulphuric dioxide, Nitrates and Carbon dioxide) are emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels - coal and oil-fired power stations and transport.
    1. Gases are released into the atmosphere
      1. They dissolve into water in cloud forming acids (Sulphuric acid, Nitric acid and Carbonic acid (H2CO3)
        1. Acids fall to the ground in precipitation
          1. This can fall as wet deposition - snow sleet and mist OR as dry deposition - gases, dusts and smog
            1. Dry deposition affects the environment directly and can produce smog and damage buildings by eroding away limestone and marble. Deposition on farmland and forestry affects plant growth and reduces crop yields. it can also cause breathing problems in humans and has been linked to asthma
              1. Wet deposition shares the direct effects of dry deposition and has a acidifying effect on lakes, rivers and streams. This is particularly dangerous as most aquatic life cannot survive in pH of less than 4.5. It also leaches toxic materials (Cd and Al) which has a direct effect on the respiratory systems of fish, causing their gills to clog up. The prescence of toxic metals in water supplies presents a health problem to all animal life including humans.
            2. They can enter waterways and kill fish and plants
              1. Acids kill/damage crops, forests and erode buildings
              2. Solutions
                1. Desulphurisation plants are fitted to power stations, which reduce the amount of SO2 in escaping smoke.
                  1. Catalytic converters in cars help to remove both NOX and SO2 from car exhaust fumes.
                    1. Cut back on the use of fossil-fuels
                      1. By reducing our dependency on cars
                        1. By only using as much electricity as we need
                      Show full summary Hide full summary

                      Similar

                      GCSE Biology B2 (OCR)
                      Usman Rauf
                      Biology Unit 2 - DNA, meiosis, mitosis, cell cycle
                      DauntlessAlpha
                      Cells And Cell Techniques - Flashcards (AQA AS-Level Biology)
                      Henry Kitchen
                      Cell Structure
                      megan.radcliffe16
                      Exchange surfaces and breathing
                      megan.radcliffe16
                      Biology B1.1 - Genes
                      raffia.khalid99
                      IB Biology Topic 4 Genetics (SL)
                      R S
                      Biology Unit 1a - GCSE - AQA
                      RosettaStoneDecoded
                      Plant and animal cells
                      Tyra Peters
                      Plant Structure and Photosynthesis
                      mckenziedev
                      AS Biology Unit 1
                      lilli.atkin