According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, which considers him the "father of acid rain," the word acid rain was invented in 1852 by Scottish chemist Robert Angus Smith. Smith decided on the word while studying rainwater chemistry near industrial towns in England and Scotland. He wrote the book "Air and Rain: The Beginnings of a Chemical Climatology" about his findings in 1872.
In the 1950s, scientists began studying the phenomenon in the United States, and in the 1960s and early 1970s, acid rain became recognized as a regional environmental issue affecting Western Europe and Eastern North America.
In the 1950s, scientists began studying the phenomenon in the United States, and in the 1960s and early 1970s, acid rain became recognized as a regional environmental issue affecting Western Europe and Eastern North America.
what causes acid rain ?
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins with the release of compounds such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into air. These substances can rise very high up into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants called acid rain. Sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen dissolve very easily in water, and can be carried by the wind very far. As a result, the two compounds may travel long distances where they become part of the rain , sleet, snow, and fog we experience on some days.
Human activity is the principal cause of acid rain. In the last few decades human beings have introduced so many different chemicals into the environment that they have altered the natural gas mix. The majority of sulfur dioxide and much of the nitrogen oxides are released by power plants when they burn fossil fuels , such as coal, for electricity production. The exhaust from vehicles, trucks , and buses also releases airborne nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. Those pollutants are causing acid rain.
Nature is dependent on balance, and although some rain is naturally acidic with a pH level of around 5.0, it has been made worse by human activities. Normal precipitation — such as rain , sleet, or snow — reacts with alkaline or non-acidic chemicals found in air , soil, groundwater, lakes , and streams. Typically such reactions neutralize natural acids. However, if precipitation becomes too acidic, it may not be possible for those materials to neutralize all acids. Over time, acid rain can wash away those neutralizing materials. It may result in damage to crops , trees, lakes , rivers and animals.
solutions:
There are different ways to protect the rain from manmade acid. According to the EPA the control of pollution from vehicles and buildings is an significant step. This can be done by restricting the use of fossil fuels and concentrating on more sustainable sources of energy , such as solar and wind.
Everyone can also do their part by cutting back on their vehicle use. According to the EPA, making use of public transport, walking, riding a bike or carpooling is a good start. People can also the their use of electricity, which is produced widely with fossil fuels, or switch to a solar program. Many electricity companies offer their customers solar packages which require no installation and low costs.
Everyone can also do their part by cutting back on their vehicle use. According to the EPA, making use of public transport, walking, riding a bike or carpooling is a good start. People can also the their use of electricity, which is produced widely with fossil fuels, or switch to a solar program. Many electricity companies offer their customers solar packages which require no installation and low costs.