ACID RAIN

TheInvisibleThreat

WhatexactlyisAcidRain?
-Acid Rain is any form of
precipitation with a
abnormally acidic pH level.

-A pH scale measures the

acidity or base of a
solution.
1-6 is acidic
8-14 is basic
7 is neutral

- Acid rain isn't green.

Howisacidraincaused?
Chemicals like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are
emited from...
Power plants
Factories
Automobiles
Volcanoes
When these chemicals are released into the air, they
pollute the rain clouds and cause the rain water to
become acidic.

DamageToBuildings
- Acid rain affects buildings in two ways acidation and
dissolution.
- The sulfuric and nitric acids in the rain causes the calcite
to dissolve and makes gypsum form.
- Gypsum causes the area of affected stone to turn black
and when the gypsum falls off it reveals crumbling stone.
-Most buildings, from the Taj Mahal India to the Empire
State Building have been afected by acid rain.
-

Formsofacidrain
Wet deposition
Rain
Snow
Ice
Hail
Sleet
Fog
Mist
Dry desposition
Dust
Soot
Smoke

Whereisacidrainhappening?
Places where there are lots of factories or
power plants.
Metropolitan areas where many cars are
driven.
Some of the most affected countries of all
are the United States, Canada, Europe, and
China.

AcidRainAndTheEcosystem

- It can cause the soil of an area to contain mercury which

takes up all the nutrients in the soil.
- The acids in the soil and the rocks can be leeched to
lakes and rivers initially killing aquatic life.
- It can cause the waxy layer on the leaves of trees and
plants which causes them to be more vulnerable to
infection and insects.

Isanyonedoinganythingtostopacidrain?
Clean Air Act Amendment limits the amount of
smoke factories can emit
Hybrid cars being driven
Low-sulfur coal being burned
Sulfur scrubbers and fluidized combustion
systems in power plants.

Acid rain has decreased over the years, but still

needs more work to be completely eliminated.

AcidRain'sAffectOnAnimals
- It doesn't always affect humans and animals
directly.
- It can cause pollutants in the air that cause
asthma or bronchitis.
- It can cause the pH scale in a lake or river to
become acidic.
- Once the pH reaches past 5.0 some fish start to
die, but once it passes below 4.0 all of the fish are
dead.

Prevent acid rain by...

Car pooling
Walking
Biking
Public transportation
Non-polluting cars
Using less energy
Conserving paper
Recycling