Topic > Acid Rain - 1998

INTRODUCTIONThe term acid rain refers to the process of deposition or precipitation of hydrogen ions with a pH value less than 5.0, in the atmosphere. These acidic substances are produced by pollutants present on the earth present in the air. These acidic precipitates will pour out in the form of water droplets together with normal rainwater whose pH is between 5.0 and 5.6, creating dangerous effects on living organisms on earth. HISTORY The cause of acid rain is mainly due to industrial pollutants. Acid rain was first reported during the industrial revolution in England in 1852. A Scottish chemist named Robert Angus Smith discovered the same thing. [Briney A, 2001]However the term "Acid Rain" was coined by the scientist in 1972 in his book "Air and Rain: The Beginnings of Chemical Climatology". Since then, awareness of acid rain has begun to increase rapidly among SU people. Nowadays, even a small child learns about acid rain and makes him understand the importance of preserving the environment from pollution. FORMATION OF ACID RAIN The air is polluted by both natural and artificial sources. The main causes of acid rain are sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. These oxides released through pollutants are deposited in the atmosphere. They then combine with moisture from the atmosphere to form acid rain. The acid rain thus collected in the cloud is released together with the raindrops of normal water thus forming acid rain [JNB Bell, 1981]. Falling rainwater will obviously contain the most harmful sulfuric acid and nitric acid. The effects created by this acid rain are unimaginable. They simply burn living things alive within seconds, creating permanent destruction for the earth. CAUSES As seen above, the main issue... middle of paper... should be careful not to become the root cause. for the day when the whole world is drenched in acid rain. Nature is precious. Every individual must realize this fact and start their own action to create a green and clean environment in the future, as always prevention is better than cure! Works Cited Briney A, The Causes, History and Effects of Acid Rain, 2001J.NB Bell, An update on acid Rain: A UK Viewpoint, 1981Lane CA, Acid Rain –Overview and Abstracts, 2003Epa, available at http:// www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/surface_water.html, accessed 13 August 2010Wolosz T, Effects of Acid Rain, SUNY Plattsburgh States College, New York, 2005Trotman G, Acid Rain – A review of the phenomenon in CEE and Europe , 1983Kneese A, Measuring the Benefits of Clean Air and Water, 1984BrimbleCombe P, Acid Rain –Deposition to Recovery, 2007