ACID DEPOSITION Gavin Gadoury Zachary Forbes ISSUE Air

ACID DEPOSITION Gavin Gadoury Zachary. Forbes

ISSUE Air pollution has caused one of the biggest environmental issues on earth – acid deposition. Wet deposition: when any form of precipitation removes acids from the atmosphere and delivers it to the Earth’s surface Dry deposition: when particles and gases stick to the ground, plants, or other surfaces Most common form of acid deposition is known as acid rain. Acid rain results in a number of environmental issues including: § § § Clogging plant leave pores (forest loss) Stone Corrosion Soil Acidification Altering the balance of lakes and streams Fish deaths

CAUSES Acid rain is caused by an abundance of air pollution Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide is emitted into the air and reacts with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acid This acid collects and builds in clouds until it falls to the earth’s surface in the various forms of precipitation Natural causes § Nitrogen oxide is produced by lightning strikes § Sulfur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions § Ammonia is produced from livestock and their waste Human causes § Coal generators § Factories § Motor vehicles

CAUSES (CONT. ) Common pollutants involved in the production of acid rain § Ammonia § Cadmium § Carbon dioxide § Lead § Sulfur dioxide § Nitrogen dioxide § Arsenic

WHERE IS IT? Acid rain occurs to some extent all around the world Places significantly impacted by acid rain: § Eastern Europe (from Poland northward into Scandinavia) § The Eastern third of the United States § Southeastern Canada § Southeastern coast of China and Taiwan

HOW IT CAN BE CONTROLLED Kyoto Protocol § § Trading emissions Carbon Taxes (New Zealand) Climate Change Levy (UK) Low Emission Zone (UK, Sweden) Alternative energy sources Low-Sulfur Coal

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