How does acid rain happen?
How does acid rain happen?
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain.
Where does acid rain happen?
Places significantly impacted by acid rain around the globe include most of eastern Europe from Poland northward into Scandinavia, the eastern third of the United States, and southeastern Canada. Other affected areas include the southeastern coast of China and Taiwan.
When did acid rain start?
1950s
How does coal make acid rain?
When coal is burned the sulfur combines with oxygen and the sulfur oxides are released to the atmosphere. This reacts with water molecules in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid, a strong mineral acid. This makes rain acidic.
Is acid wet or dry?
A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts: wet and dry. Wet deposition – refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. As this acidic water flows over and through the ground, it affects a variety of plants and animals.
What is acid rain 6th grade?
Acid rain is rain that has been made acidic by certain pollutants in the air. Acid rain is a type of acid deposition, which can appear in many forms. Wet deposition is rain, sleet, snow, or fog that has become more acidic than normal.
Who discovered acid rain?
Gene E. Likens discovered acid rain in North America when working with colleagues at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. said Likens. The pH of these first samples averaged about 4.1 and was often much lower, up to 100 times more acidic than unpolluted rain.
What can serve a buffer of acid rain?
Lakes that have a limestone bed have a natural buffering ability to neutralize acid rain.
Who coined the term acid rain?
Robert Angus Smith
What is the leading cause of acid shock every spring?
During the spring snowmelt, runoff containing large amounts of acidic particles accumulated over the winter can flow into a lake or river, causing acid shock to aquatic inhabitants.
How does acid rain impact 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. Acid rain falling directly on trees and crops can harm them.
What is spring acid shock and what causes it?
Quick Reference A sudden increase in the level of acidity of surface waters (lakes, streams, and rivers) in mid‐latitude areas, caused by the melting in spring of snow that has accumulated through the winter, and stored dry fallout of acidic precipitation.