Causes of acid rain

Acid rain may seem like a phenomenon of the past, but it is still a problem in many parts of the world, destroying entire ecosystems and damaging buildings and other structures. But what causes acid rain to begin with? Here’s what you need to know about acid rain and what you can do to help stop it. In North America and Europe, acid rain is mostly perceived as a problem of the past. If you haven’t experienced it yourself, you may still have heard about the time when acid rain was one of the most pressing environmental problems of the day. In this article, you can read all about the causes and effects of acid rain and why it remains an urgent topic. What Is Acid Rain? The acid levels of rain are measured on the pH-scale. (Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / PublicDomainPictures) Acid rain generally refers to any form of precipitation that contains high levels of acid. Another more comprehensive term is “acid deposition,” which describes the different ways in which acidic particles may reach earth. There are two main types of acid deposition: • Wet Deposition: Wet deposition occurs when sulfuric and nitric acid that is formed in the atmosphere comes down with rain, snow, sleet, hail, or fog. • Dry Deposition: Dry deposition occurs when acidic particles and gases that can be found clinging to surfaces are washed down from these surfaces (buildings, for instance) by rain into the ground. How is Acid Deposition Measured? Different authoritative sources offer disparate information on the exac...

Acid rain may not be the hot-button issue that it once was, at least in the U.S. The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments helped greatly lower the levels of pollutants that turn rain more acidic. But acid rain still falls across the globe. And some of the gasses that cause acid rain also hasten climate change. What Is Acid Rain? It’s when water and oxygen in normal precipitation mix with compounds such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. The chemical reaction turns clean rain -- which is naturally acidic -- dangerously so. Scientists measure acidity on the pH scale from 0 to 14. Water with a pH of 7 is neutral. Battery acid is most acidic with a pH of 0. Liquid drain cleaner falls on the other end of the scale, called basic, with a pH of 14. Clean rain normally falls about 5.6 on the pH scale; acid rain falls below 4.5 pH. Acid rain comes in two forms: Wet. The compounds turn into acids in the atmosphere and fall down as rain, sleet, snow, fog, or hail. Dry. This is when compounds produce acids and float down to the ground as dust and gas. Future rains can spread them even more. You can also breathe it in. What Causes Acid Rain? Much of the acids originate from power plants that burn coal, oil, and other fossil fuel to generate electricity, as well as from exhaust from gasoline-powered vehicles. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can travel high into the atmosphere. When the emissions combine with precipitation, they turn into harmful sulfuric and nitric acid...

This article discusses the causes of acid rain, as follows; 1). Fuel Combustion (as one of the Causes of Acid Rain) Although acid rain is not formed by combustion reaction (but rather by dissolution), combustion reactions play a major role in the formation of acid rain. The combustion of all types of carbon-rich fuels can cause acid rain. Namely, fuels that produce acid rain include; petroleum, coal, natural gas, and biofuel . This is because carbonaceous fuels contain at least one of the three elements; carbon, nitrogen and sulfur, whose gaseous oxides are anhydrous and react with water in the atmosphere to form what is known as acid rain. These anhydrous gases; the most common being carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are emitted from fuel-based systems into the atmosphere and may reduce air quality , and facilitate global warming within their environs [ Acid rain can therefore be linked to all possible outlets of fuel combustion byproducts; including power plants , gasoline vehicles, portable electric generators , biorefineries , and other waste-to-energy facilities. Although nuclear fuel combustion does not produce any significant emissions, the process of mining this fuel usually involves combustion of fossil fuels, which emit acidic gases. It also shares links to other environmental impacts of fossil fuel combustion like climate change and pollution . 2). Unsustainable Waste Management When waste is not managed optimally, it can res...

Acid rain is a term used to describe the phenomenon of acid precipitation, which refers to the falling of acidified rain, snow, sleet, hail, or fog. The term acid rain is commonly used to describe the environmental problem caused by the release of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere. These pollutants, when combined with water vapor, form sulfuric and nitric acids, which fall to the earth as acid precipitation. In this article, we will discuss the causes of acid rain and its impact on the environment. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Causes of Acid Rain 1. Combustion of fossil fuels The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is the primary source of acid rain. When these fuels are burned, they release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. These pollutants can travel long distances, sometimes across state or national borders, before returning to the earth as acid precipitation. 2. Industrial processes Another major source of acid rain is industrial processes. Industries such as power plants, cement production, and metal smelting release large amounts of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. These pollutants can also travel long distances before returning to the earth as acid precipitation. 4. Natural sources While human activity is the primary cause of acid rain, there are also natural sources of acid precipitation. For example, volcanic eruptions can release sulfur dioxide and other pollutan...