ACID RAIN
Acid rain is rain consisting of water droplets that are unusually acidic because of atmospheric pollution like sulphur and nitrogen released by cars and industrial processes.
Acidic deposition occurs in nature by two ways:
- Wet deposition is any form of precipitation that removes acids from the atmosphere and deposits them on the Earth’s surface.
- Dry deposition polluting particles and gases stick to the ground via dust and smoke in the absence of precipitation. This form of deposition is dangerous however because precipitation can eventually wash pollutants into streams, lakes, and rivers
Acid deposition can occur via natural sources like volcanoes but it is mainly caused by the release of sulphur 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 sulphuric acid, ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid.
Effect of Acid Rain
- The sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide gases cause respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic bronchitis, etc.
- Tiny Particles cause difficulty in breathing for humans and animals & also lead to permanent lung damage.
- Acid Rain dissolves all the nutrients and the useful minerals for the tree to grow Weakens the process of photosynthesis.
- Acid Rain leaches potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc essential elements from the top of soil
- Acid Rain increases the acidity of lakes & rivers, which is directly effect the aquatic ecosystem.
- Acid rain effects TAJ MAHAL
- White starts to go yellow
- Precious and semi-precious stones of the Tajmahal weathered away due to acid rain.
- The sulfuric and nitric acids in the rain cause the calcite to dissolve and make gypsum form. Gypsum causes the area of affected stone to turn black and when the gypsum falls off it reveals crumbling stone.
Acid rain is slowly destroying our
planet. It is our responsibility to make sure that we protect the earth for
future generations to enjoy. We should stop polluting.
