Title: Acid Rain
1Acid Rain
- How does it form?
- Where is this a problem?
- What does it do to ecosystems and people?
2Acid Deposition formationSecondary or primary
pollutant?Sources for precursors?Transportation?
Wet or dry deposition?
3Formulas you need to memorize
- SO3 H2O ? H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)
- NOx H2O ? 2HNO3 (nitric acid)
- These are two forms (flavors) of acid deposition.
4Normal rain
- CO2 H2O ? H2CO3 (carbonic acid)
- Normal rain is always slightly acidic!
- THIS IS NOT ACID RAIN!!!
- THIS IS NOT POLLUTION!!!!
- Acid rain lt pH 5.6
5OBSERVATIONS? IS ACID RAIN A BIG PROBLEM IN
HOUSTON?WHERE IS ACID RAIN A BIG CONCERN?
6Global acid rain areas of concern
7Add a new page to your flip chart
- Second page acid rain
- Draw the same atmosphere layers, sources,
andtalkie bubbles in blue or black - Add precursors for acid rain in the bubbles in
RED. - Copy the two acid rain equations in the
troposphere in RED. Which equation should you
NOT add in?
8Effects on terrestrial systems
- Direct damage to leaves and roots
- Weak trees are susceptible to insects and disease
9Acid deposition leaches nutrients from soil and
makes toxins (Al3) more soluble
10Effects on Aquatic ecosystems
- Loss of biodiversity
- Range of tolerance
- Jelly-like fish eggs broken down
- Acidity denatures enzymes
- Acid shock sudden increase in acidity, often in
spring can cause fish kills - Aluminum ions (Al3) are released from lake bed,
suffocating fish - Below pH4.5, lakes devoid of fish
11Cultural effects of acid rain
- Acid breaks down these basic materials
12Many famous buildings are being damaged
13- Loss of artistic detail in Acropolis
14Human health effects of acid rain
- Contributes to bronchitis and asthma
15Acid Rain Check for understanding!
- How does acid rain form?
- What is the pH of acid rain?
- Why is rain normally acidic?
- Why is this a bigger problem on the East Coast
than here? - Why is acid rain like AIDS for plants?
- Why are there more significant effects on aquatic
systems than on terrestrial systems?
16Make a classifying tree map
17If youre not part of the solution, youre part
of the precipitate.
- Solutions to Air pollution
181994
191999
202007
21Two strategies
- Pollution prevention (dont create the primary
pollutants in the first place)
- Pollution clean up (now that theyre in the
environment, lets mitigate the effects)
22Legal solutions
- Emissions trading policy (Cap and Trade)
stationary pollution sources can buy, sell and
trade the right to pollute. - This policy ONLY exists in the US for SOx right
now. - (CO2 cap and trade just started in California
2012!)
23Technology Strategies trap pollutants at the
source
24Technology solution improved vehicle efficiency
- Using less gas fewer combustion pollutants
- Hybrids use friction from breaking to charge
electric battery regenerative breaking - Computer switches engine from gas to electricity.
25Chevy Volt 2011 pollution diverted to power
plant
26Technology solution burn cleaner coal/coal
gasification
- Burn low-sulfur coal from Western US
- Gasification turns solid coal to gas before it is
burned fewer particulates, SOx
27Liming a lake (powdered limestone)
28Stream doser
- Spot the pipe which adds the limestone solution
to the stream!
29IPATImpact Population x Affluence x Technology
- I clean air
- P growing
- A options?
- T options?
- Which of these can YOU do TODAY? ?