Acid Rain: Overview

Since the beginning of human life, we have learned from nature, including fire and electricity. From the Space Age revolution onwards, humans have produced inventions that use a variety of Earth’s Energy resources to make life easier. Well, in most of the cases, energy is derived from coal, oil, and natural gas.

It is not easy for the environment to tolerate the excess use of energy derived from these sources. Similarly, just as there are two sides to every battery, it means a battery has both positive and negative aspects, energy can also have both positive and negative consequences.,

The latest research has discovered that burning fossil fuels causes Acid rain through air pollution. By burning coal and oil to generate electricity that runs appliances like TV, AC, etc., fossil fuels also power our cars, buses, and aeroplanes. Air pollution resulting from the burning of these fuels, they, do not stay in the air forever and can return to earth in the form of acid rain. When this happens, it destroys both plant and animal life. Additionally, the pollution arising from fossil fuel combustion contributes to global warming. Atmospheric particles resulting from this pollution combine with rainfall, transforming it into harmful acids, thereby forming acid rain during precipitation.

Defining Acid Rain

Let’s Understand it Through a Definition

Acid rain is defined as the type of precipitation or rainfall, that includes, Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail, Fog, In Acid Rain contains a high level of acids. It is more acidic than normal rain and is caused by Air pollution. Acid rain is very harmful to human life and can damage the weather chemistry, soil, and life cycle of plants and animals on land.

Before moving forward with the topic of acid rain, let’s first understand some basic terms

pH Scale – basic understanding

The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is. The pH range is from 0 to 14, where a pH of 0 indicates that the substance is highly acidic, a pH of 14 indicates that it is extremely alkaline, and a pH of 7 is considered neutral, neither acidic nor alkaline.

Normally, clean or natural rain has a pH value between 5 to 5.5, which means it is slightly acidic. However, when rain comes into contact with sulfur or nitrogen dioxide produced by power plants and automobiles, it becomes more acidic. The pH range for this acid rain can vary from 4 to 5, with a pH of 4 being 10 times more acidic than a pH of 5. Rad More about the Topic click here

Explanation of what acid rain is and Its Causes

Well from the above definition we understands, Acid rain is a form of precipitation that has High levels of acidity. It results from the release of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere from human activities such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) and industrial processes. When these emissions mix with water vapor in the atmosphere, they form sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which then fall to the ground in the form of acid rain.

As we discussed earlier, the main causes of acid rain are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are created by burning fossil fuels and released into the atmosphere. These pollutants react with H₂o, O₂, and other compounds when they interact with water, oxygen, and other substances. And these acidic chemicals are then transported back to the Earth’s surface through rainfall., Now here for the better understanding, need to know the hydrological cycle, so It will be very easy to understand the basic process of Rainfall,

Causes of Acid Rain

Fossil Fuel Emissions: When fossil fuels such as coal and oil are used in power plants and automobiles, substantial amounts of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere. These emissions contribute to air pollution, which in turn is a major factor in the formation of acid rain. We are aware of the sources of acid rain, and one of the primary sources is air pollution.

Industrial Processes: Some sectors of the economy, such as metal smelting and chemical production, discharge large quantities of acidic gases into the atmosphere. These emissions help to make rainfall more acidic overall. Which leads to Acid rain formation as well.

Agricultural Practises: Ammonia and other nitrogen compounds can be released into the atmosphere when certain pesticides and fertilisers are used in agriculture.

Effects of Acid Rain

Plant damage: Acid rain can harm plants’ leaves, needles, and other components, leaving them more susceptible to illness and other stresses. Additionally, it might cause the soil’s nutrients to be leached which would prevent plant growth.

Water bodies become more toxic and acidic due to Acid Rain, which can harm fish, amphibians and other aquatic life. Aluminum, which can be toxic to fish, can also be leached from rock and soil.

Building and monument corrosion: Acid rain has the potential to corrode building materials like marble and limestone, as well as harm monuments and other cultural artefacts.

Impacts on human health: Air pollution brought on by acid rain can be harmful to human health, especially for those who have respiratory problems.

Here are few Examples, Impacts of Acid Rain

Damage to Plants

The destruction of woods brought on by acid rain in Germany’s Black Forest and the Harz Mountains in the 1980s

Harm to aquatic life

Fish populations in lakes and streams in the northeastern United States and Canada are declining as a result of water acidity brought on by acid rain.

Corrosion of buildings and monuments

The erosion brought on by acidic precipitation that causes damage to structures and monuments composed of limestone or marble, such as the Taj Mahal in India and the Washington Monument in the United States.