CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulphur 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 acid rain. Sulphur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides dissolve very easily in water and can be carried very far by the wind.
Human activities are the main cause of acid rain. Over the past few decades, humans have
released so many different chemicals into the air that they have changed the mix of gases in the
atmosphere. Power plants release the majority of sulfur dioxide and much of the nitrogen oxides when
they burn fossil fuels, such as coal, to produce electricity. In addition, the exhaust from cars, trucks, and
buses releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide into the air. These pollutants cause acid rain.

The effects of acid rain

Acid rain can be carried great distances in the atmosphere, not just between countries but also
from continent to continent. The acid can also take the form of snow, mists and dry dusts. The dry
dust can cause respiratory illnesses in animals and humans such as asthma.

Acid rain can help speed up the process of erosion. Statues, buildings, vehicles, pipes and cables
can be eroded due to acid rain. Buildings or monuments made of limestone or sandstone suffer
the most, and can be eroded by air pollution as well as acid rain.

Acid rain usually affects water environments the most, because it is not just affected by rain falling
directly on it. Acid rain can run off the land or through the ground and end up in streams, lakes
and seas. Many species can only live in very specific conditions; therefore, even a slight change in
pH level in the water can have consequences. Species can begin to die out or move out of an area.
Certain species of fish lay eggs that can be deformed because of the acidity, leading to health
problems (such as not being able to take in oxygen properly).

Acid rain can also cause toxic substances such as aluminium to be released into the water,
harming more fish and other aquatic animals. In ecosystems such as lakes and rivers, there may be
many different fragile species of plants and animals that all depend on each other to survive. If
one species dies out because of the effects of acid rain, the animals that feed on it to survive will
eventually die out as well, causing a chain reaction. Conversely, if a species dies, the animals it fed
on will begin to grow in number, which will affect other parts of the ecosystem.

As acid rain falls on a forest, it trickles through the leaves of the trees and runs down into the soil
below. Some types of soil can help to neutralise the acid - they have what is called a "buffering
capacity". Other soils are already slightly acidic so these are particularly vulnerable to the effects
of acid rain. Acid rain can affect trees in several different ways. It may:
dissolve and wash away the nutrients and minerals in the soil which help the trees to grow
such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.
cause the release of harmful substances such as aluminium into the soil and waterways
which further affects wildlife.
wear away the waxy protective coating of leaves, damaging them and preventing them
from being able to photosynthesise properly.
A combination of these effects weakens the trees, which means that they can be easily attacked
by diseases and insects or injured by bad weather. It is not just trees that are affected by acid rain,
other plants may also suffer.

In this example:
If the frogs die out because of acid rain, that means the snakes wont be able to eat them
anymore. Therefore, they will have to eat more salamanders, which will affect the salamander
population. If there are fewer salamanders, who feed on dragonflies and mayflies, the population
of these two will increase. Both of them feed on phytoplankton, so the phytoplankton population
will decrease. There will be less phytoplankton for the trout to eat, so the trout population will go
down, ETC.

WAYS TO REDUCE ACID RAIN

By burning less fossil fuels for example, by carpooling and/or using public transport
Researching other ways to produce electricity other than fossil fuels
Taking steps such as fitting cars with catalytic converters which filter out dangerous
chemicals from car exhaust fumes
Using less electricity for example, by switching off lights and appliances when theyre not
being used.