ACID RAIN

ACID RAIN

1. Effects

   • Trees & vegetation
     • Removes bark making them more vulnerable to disease, weather and insects
     • Dissolves nutrients and mineral in the soil
     • Unlocks toxic substances which are normal trapped in the soil
   • Buildings & stone
     • Reacts with the limestone and sandstone weathering it to form a powder
       • Washed away forming weaknesses
     • St. Pauls Cathedral
       • Portland limestone
       • Weathered 1.5cm per year
   • Lakes
     • Kills fish eggs
     • Aluminium released from soil and particles in the lake is concentrated enough to kill fish
       • Birds eat ill fish
         • Disrupts the food chain - animals starve

2. Management

   • Acid Rain Programme
     • Emission trading in USA
       • Allowances according to needs & costs
   • Clean Coal Technology
     • Scrubbers - coal is sprayed with or burnt with limestone which absorbs the sulphur
     • Washing the coal causes the coal to float leaving sulphur behind

3. In the UK

   • Increasing nuclear and renewable energy sources
   • Cleaner fuels and car engines
   • Reduce sulphur emission by 85% and nitrogen emissions by 49%

4. SO2 & NOX are released by burning fossil fuels

   • These chemicals mix with precipitation, mist and clouds to form a wet deposit