Does lightning affect rainwater?
Does lightning affect rainwater?
Nitrogen in the atmosphere can be transformed into a plant-usable form, a process called nitrogen fixation, by lightning. The nitrates fall to the ground in raindrops and seep into the soil in a form that can be absorbed by plants. Lightning does add nitrogen to the soil, as nitrates dissolve in precipitation.
Why is lightning bad for the environment?
Lightning damage is also likely to increase because of its role in igniting forest fires, where dry vegetation, also caused by rising temperatures, creates more ‘fuel’ for fires, so even a small climate change may have huge consequences.
What causes acidic rain?
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. In addition, the exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide into the air. These pollutants cause acid rain.
What naturally causes acid rain?
Acidic precipitation can be caused by natural (volcanoes) and man-made activities, such as from cars and in the generation of electricity. The burning of fossil fuels (coal and oil) by power-production companies and industries releases sulfur into the air that combines with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide (SO2).
What are the main constituent of acid rain?
Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents. The SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground.
What are 3 ways that we can all reduce the risk of acid rain?
Conserve Energy
- Turn off lights, computers, televisions, video games, and other electrical equipment when you’re not using them.
- Encourage your parents to buy equipment that uses less electricity, including lights, air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, and washing machines.
- Try to limit the use of air conditioning.
Did cap-and-trade reduce sulfur dioxide and acid rain problems in the US?
The US sulphur dioxide cap-and-trade programme, aimed at the acid rain problem, has been hailed as a great success in almost all areas. The stated purpose of the Acid Rain Program was to reduce total annual SO2 emissions in the US by ten million tons relative to 1980, when total US emissions were about 26 million tons.
Where did the vast reduction in the SO2 abatement costs in the acid rain program come from?
The Acid Rain Program called for a two million ton reduction in NOx emissions below 1980 levels by 2000. A significant portion of these reductions have been achieved by coal-fired utility boilers that have installed low-NOx burner technologies.
What are the three major phases of acid rain?
The program did not begin immediately, but was implemented in two stages: Phase I (starting January 1, 1995) and Phase II (starting January 1, 2000). The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 set as its primary goal the reduction of annual SO2 emissions by 10 million tons below 1980 levels of about 18.9 million tons.
How has the acid rain program been successful?
Since its inception in 1995, the ARP has earned widespread acclaim due to dramatic reductions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants, extensive environmental and human health benefits, and far lower-than-expected costs.
What is the purpose of the EPA’s Acid Rain Program?
Congress established the world’s first cap-and-trade system by creating the Acid Rain Program (ARP) during its 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act. The purpose of the ARP was to reduce acid rain deposition by decreasing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from power plants to 50 percent below 1980 levels by 2010.
How does Acid Rain affect humans?
While acid rain cannot harm humans directly, the sulfur dioxide that creates it can cause health problems. Specifically, sulfur dioxide particles in the air can encourage chronic lung problems, like asthma and bronchitis.