WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ACID RAIN - Acid rain is made up of water droplets that are unusually acidic because of atmospheric pollution, most notably the excessive amounts of sulfur and nitrogen released by cars and industrial processes. Acid rain is also called acid deposition because this term includes other forms of acidic precipitation (such as snow). Acidic deposition occurs in two ways: wet and dry. Wet deposition is any form of precipitation that removes acids from the atmosphere and deposits them on Earth’s surface. Dry deposition polluting particles and gases stick to the ground via dust and smoke in the absence of precipitation. Even though dry, this form of deposition is dangerous as well, because precipitation can eventually wash pollutants into streams, lakes, and rivers. Acid deposition can be caused by natural sources such as volcanoes, but it is mainly caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide during fossil fuel combustion. When these gases are discharged into the atmosphere, they react with the water, oxygen, and other gases already present there to form sulfuric acid, ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid. These acids then disperse over large areas because of wind patterns and fall back to the ground as acid rain or other forms of precipitation. The gases most responsible for acid deposition are a byproduct of electric power generation and the burning of coal.

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What You Need to Know About Acid Rain

The Causes, History, and Effects of Acid Rain

By Amanda Briney

Acid rain is made up of water droplets that are unusually acidic because of atmospheric pollution, most notably the excessive amounts of sulfur and nitrogen released by cars and industrial processes.

Acid rain is also called acid deposition because this term includes other forms of acidic precipitation (such as snow).

Acidic deposition occurs in two ways: wet and dry.

Wet deposition is any form of precipitation that removes acids from the atmosphere and deposits them on Earth’s surface.

Dry deposition polluting particles and gases stick to the ground via dust and smoke in the absence of precipitation.

Even though dry, this form of deposition is dangerous as well, because precipitation can eventually wash pollutants into streams, lakes, and rivers.

Acidity itself is determined based on the pH level (the amount of acidity or alkalinity) of the water droplets.

The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with a lower pH being more acidic, while a high pH is alkaline, and seven is neutral.

Normal rainwater is slightly acidic, with a pH range of 5.3-6.0.

Acid deposition is anything below that range. It is also important to note that the pH scale is logarithmic, and each whole number on the scale represents a 10-fold change.

Today, acid deposition is present in the northeastern United States, southeastern Canada, and much of Europe, including portions of Sweden, Norway, and Germany.

In addition, parts of South Asia (particularly China, Sri Lanka, and southern India) and South Africa are all in danger of being affected by acid deposition in the future.

What Causes Acid Rain?

Acid deposition can be caused by natural sources such as volcanoes, but it is mainly caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide during fossil fuel combustion.

When these gases are discharged into the atmosphere, they react with the water, oxygen, and other gases already present there to form sulfuric acid, ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid.

These acids then disperse over large areas because of wind patterns and fall back to the ground as acid rain or other forms of precipitation.

The gases most responsible for acid deposition are a byproduct of electric power generation and the burning of coal.

As such, man-made acid deposition began becoming a significant issue during the Industrial Revolution and was first discovered by a Scottish chemist Robert Angus Smith in 1852.

In that year, he discovered the relationship between acid rain and atmospheric pollution in Manchester, England.

Although it was discovered in the 1800s, acid deposition did not gain significant public attention until the 1960s, and the term "acid rain" was coined in 1972.

Public attention further increased in the 1970s when the "New York Times" published reports about problems occurring in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire.

Effects of Acid Rain

After studying the Hubbard Brook Forest and other areas, researchers found several important effects of acid deposition on both natural and man-made environments.

Aquatic settings are the most clearly affected by acid deposition, however, because acidic precipitation falls directly into them.

Both dry and wet deposition also runs off from forests, fields, and roads and flows into lakes, rivers, and streams.

As this acidic liquid flow into larger bodies of water, it is diluted.

However, over time, acids can accrue and lower the overall pH of the body of water.

Acid deposition also causes clay soils to release aluminum and magnesium, further lowering the pH in some areas.

If the pH of a lake drops below 4.8, its plants and animals risk death.

It is estimated that around 50,000 lakes in the United States and Canada have a pH below normal (about 5.3 for water).

Several hundred of these have a pH too low to support any aquatic life.

Aside from aquatic bodies, acid deposition can significantly affect forests.

As acid rain falls on trees, it can make them lose their leaves, damage their bark, and stunt their growth.

By damaging these parts of the tree, it makes them vulnerable to disease, extreme weather, and insects.

Acid falling on a forest’s soil is also harmful because it disrupts soil nutrients, kills microorganisms in the soil, and can sometimes cause a calcium deficiency.

Trees at high altitudes are also susceptible to problems induced by acidic cloud cover as the moisture in the clouds blankets them.

Damage to forests by acid rain is seen all over the world, but the most advanced cases are in Eastern Europe.

It’s estimated that in Germany and Poland, half of the forests are damaged, while 30 percent in Switzerland have been affected.

Finally, acid deposition also has an effect on architecture and art because of its ability to corrode certain materials.

As acid lands on buildings (especially those constructed with limestone), it reacts with minerals in the stones, sometimes causing them to disintegrate and wash away.

Acid deposition can also cause concrete to deteriorate, and it can corrode modern buildings, cars, railroad tracks, airplanes, steel bridges, and pipes above and below ground.

What's Being Done?

Because of these problems and the adverse effects of air pollution has on human health, a number of steps are being taken to reduce sulfur and nitrogen emissions.

Most notably, many governments are now requiring energy producers to clean smokestacks with scrubbers that trap pollutants before they are released into the atmosphere and to reduce car emissions with catalytic converters.

Additionally, alternative energy sources are gaining more prominence and funding is being put toward the restoration of ecosystems damaged by acid rain worldwide.

Amanda Briney

Geography Expert

Education

M.A., Geography, California State University - East Bay

B.A., English and Geography, California State University - Sacramento

Introduction

Professional geographer, writer, and scholar

Certificate of Advanced Study in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 

More than 10 years of experience writing about a broad array of geographical topics

Experience

Amanda Briney is a professional geographer and writer who contributed to ThoughtCo for more than 10 years. She wrote countless articles on a wide range of topics such as an introduction to the subject of geography, reviews of ecotourism, discussions about environmental determinism, and the structure of Latin American cities. The scope of her work also includes other formats such as histories, guides, and fact sheets about many parts of the world. An ultimate scholar, Amanda also contributes work to academic venues and the GIS Lounge, an informational portal about geography.

Amanda enjoys all aspects of geography and mapping but is especially interested in examining natural landscapes through spatial analysis. As such, she holds a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from California State University. She also attended Diablo Valley College where she studied air photo interpretation and the formation of the Earth's landscapes.

Education

Amanda Briney received a Master Arts (M.A.) in Geography from California State University–East Bay. She also holds a Bachelor Arts (B.A.) in English and Geography from California State University–Sacramento and earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from California State University.

ThoughtCo and Dotdash

ThoughtCo is a premier reference site focusing on expert-created education content. We are one of the top-10 information sites in the world as rated by comScore, a leading Internet measurement company. Every month, more than 13 million readers seek answers to their questions on ThoughtCo.

For more than 20 years, Dotdash brands have been helping people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired. We are one of the top-20 largest content publishers on the Internet according to comScore, and reach more than 30% of the U.S. population monthly. Our brands collectively have won more than 20 industry awards in the last year alone, and recently Dotdash was named Publisher of the Year by Digiday, a leading industry publication.

https://www.thoughtco.com/acid-rain-definition-1434936

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ACID MINE DRAINAGE - Acid mine drainage mostly occurs where mining is done to extract coal or metals from sulfur-bearing rocks. Silver, gold, copper, zinc, and lead are commonly found in association with metal sulfates, so their extraction can cause acid mine drainage. Rainwater or streams become acidified after they run through the mine’s tailings. In hilly terrain, older coal mines were sometimes built so that gravity would drain out water from inside the mine. Long after those mines are closed, acid mine drainage continues to come out and contaminate waters downstream. In some circumstances, sulfur-bearing rock can be exposed to water in non-mining operations. Drinking water becomes contaminated. Groundwater can be affected, impacting local water wells.

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Acid Mine Drainage

What Is Acid Mine Drainage?

by Frederic Beaudry 

In a nutshell, acid mine drainage is a form of water pollution that happens when rain, runoff, or streams come in contact with rock that is rich in sulfur.

As a result, the water becomes very acidic and damages downstream aquatic ecosystems.

In some regions, it is the most common form of stream and river pollution.

Sulfur-bearing rock, especially one type of mineral called pyrite, is routinely fractured or crushed during coal or metal mining operations, and accumulated in piles of mine tailings.

Pyrite contains iron sulfide which, when in contact with water, dissociates into sulfuric acid and iron.

The sulfuric acid dramatically lowers the pH, and the iron can precipitate and form an orange or red deposit of iron oxide that smothers the bottom of the stream.

Other harmful elements like lead, copper, arsenic, or mercury may also be stripped from the rocks by the acidic water, further contaminating the stream.

Where Does Acid Mine Drainage Happen?

It mostly occurs where mining is done to extract coal or metals from sulfur-bearing rocks.

Silver, gold, copper, zinc, and lead are commonly found in association with metal sulfates, so their extraction can cause acid mine drainage.

Rainwater or streams become acidified after they run through the mine’s tailings.

In hilly terrain, older coal mines were sometimes built so that gravity would drain out water from inside the mine.

Long after those mines are closed, acid mine drainage continues to come out and contaminate waters downstream.

In the coal mining regions of the eastern United States, over 4,000 miles of stream have been impacted by acid mine drainage.

These streams are mostly located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. In the western U.S., on Forest Service land alone there are over 5,000 miles of affected streams. 

In some circumstances, sulfur-bearing rock can be exposed to water in non-mining operations. For example, when construction equipment cuts a path through bedrock to build a road, pyrite can be broken up and exposed to air and water.

Many geologists thus prefer the term acid rock drainage, since mining is not always involved.

Environmental Effects

·      Drinking water becomes contaminated. Groundwater can be affected, impacting local water wells.

·      Waters with a very low pH can support only severely reduced animal and plant diversity. Fish species are some of the first to disappear. In the most acidic streams, only some specialized bacteria survive.

·      Because of how corrosive it is, acidic stream water damages infrastructure such as culverts, bridges, and stormwater pipes.

·     Any recreational potential (e.g., fishing, swimming) and scenic value for streams or rivers affected by acid mine drainage are greatly reduced. 

Solutions

·     Passive treatment of acidic streams can be conducted by routing the water into a purpose-built wetland designed to buffer the low pH.

Yet, these systems require complex engineering, regular maintenance, and are applicable only when certain conditions are present.

·     Active treatment options include isolating or treating the waste rock to avoid contact of water with sulfates.

Once water has been contaminated, options include pushing it through a permeable reactive barrier that neutralizes the acid or routing it through a specialized wastewater treatment plant.

Frederic Beaudry

Introduction

Associate professor of environmental science at Alfred University in New York

Ph.D. in wildlife ecology from the University of Maine

Experience

Dr. Frederic Beaudry is a former writer for ThoughtCo who contributed articles on pollution, global warming, and climate science for three years. He is an associate professor of environmental science at Alfred University in New York. Prior to teaching, he worked as a wildlife biologist, focusing on the ecology and conservation of birds and turtles. Beaudry has authored several scientific papers on land use and conservation and has conducted research examining land use changes and their effects on bird and amphibian communities.

Education

Beaudry has a B.S. in biology from Université du Québec à Rimouski and an M.A. in natural resources from Humboldt State University. He earned a Ph.D. in wildlife ecology at the University of Maine. Beaudry completed postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

ThoughtCo and Dotdash

ThoughtCo is a premier reference site focusing on expert-created education content. We are one of the top-10 information sites in the world as rated by comScore, a leading Internet measurement company. Every month, more than 13 million readers seek answers to their questions on ThoughtCo.

For more than 20 years, Dotdash brands have been helping people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired. We are one of the top-20 largest content publishers on the Internet according to comScore, and reach more than 30% of the U.S. population monthly. Our brands collectively have won more than 20 industry awards in the last year alone, and recently Dotdash was named Publisher of the Year by Digiday, a leading industry publication.

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-acid-mine-drainage-1204134

RESPIRATORY DISEASES AND ACID RAIN - Studies show an increase of chronic conditions, such as asthma and bronchitis, in people who are regularly exposed to acid rain. A damaged respiratory system means decreased oxygen in the blood supply, which eventually damages the heart.

Acid Rain Effects

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Acid rain is rain that contains nitric and sulfuric acid.

Snow and fog can also contain nitric and sulfuric acid, and the dangerous effects are the same whether the acid is falling to the earth by rain or snow, or dancing in the air via fog.

Any precipitation or dust particle that contains abnormal levels of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides is considered acid rain. Acid rain primarily affects the United States, Europe, and China.

Acid rain directly affects the chemical and pH balances in ground water.

The excess aluminum created by acid rain makes aquatic environments such as the sea, lakes, and streams, toxic.

The animals that can withstand the imbalance of the water's natural minerals might survive, but quickly lose their food source as the weaker creatures die off.
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Animals that cannot withstand the chemical imbalances die, fail to reproduce, become deformed due to bone decalcification, or fail to grow normally.

Algae growth is increased by acid rain, and rock scaling microbial and invertebrate herbivores lose habitation and die.

Acid rain leaches calcium out of the soil when it is absorbed by the earth. This directly affects the mineral levels of the soil and the creatures, such as snails, that rely on that calcium for shell growth.

Consequently, snails die off and birds, which eat them for calcium, lay eggs with shells that are weak and brittle and therefore fail to hatch.

Decreased calcium also creates excess aluminum in the soil, preventing trees and other plant life from absorbing water. 
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Weakened plant life cannot tolerate extreme temperatures or fight off insects and disease.
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Those seeking an expensive paint job on 

their car might want to think twice in areas directly affected by acid rain. The excess sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in acid rain damage automobile paint and corrode surfaces.

It is believed that the acid rain causes the damage as it dries on, and evaporates from, the surface. Auto and paint coating manufacturers are trying to develop protective coatings that prevent acid rain corrosion.

Acid rain directly impacts forest ecosystems and their inhabitants. The damage to the forest trees and plants is widespread. Acid rain damages leaves as it falls. Acid rain runoff from the trees and forest floors infiltrates the forest's water supplies; runoff that doesn't enter the water supply is absorbed by the soil.

The consequence of this is just as it is for any soil or water source infected with acid rain: the plants and creatures die off, and the creatures that rely on those plants and smaller creatures lose their food source and die, as well.

Plants and animals are not the only victims of acid rain.

Acid rain is dangerous to humans. The same sulfate and nitrate particles that directly affect the soil and water pH balances can
cause serious damage to the respiratory system if inhaled deeply.

A damaged respiratory system means decreased oxygen in the blood supply, which eventually damages the heart. Studies show an increase of chronic conditions, such as asthma and bronchitis, in people who are regularly exposed to acid rain.

Preventing acid rain is the only way to stop its deadly impact on the environment.

Acid rain is caused by pollution. It is released into the air naturally during a volcanic eruption, but the primary cause of excess nitric and sulfuric acid in the environment is man-made.
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Conserving energy is the number one way humans can prevent acid rain. Using less energy at home decreases the need for power plants.

People also need to get out of their car. Using public transportation, biking or walking to destinations leaves fewer cars on the road, less emissions in the air, and a decreased dependency upon fossil fuels.

Finally, manufacturing plants can reduce the emissions that cause acid rain by using scrubbers to clean and remove the dangerous chemicals from the pipes before they are released into the air.

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