You have probably seen on television, lived or heard about the phenomenon of acid rain. It is a phenomenon that is closely related to environmental pollution. This is formed from a series of gases that we are emitting into the atmosphere together with an aggravating factor that causes damage to nature and human beings.
In this article, we are going to explain what it is and what the consequences of acid rain are.
What is acid rain?
This type of precipitation is related to air pollution since it is formed by the action of air humidity with sulphur dioxide, sulphur trioxide and other nitrogen oxides that are present in the atmosphere. These gases are increasing in concentration with human activities. Otherwise, acid rain would occur on exceptional occasions such as smoke emitted during a volcanic eruption.
These gases are derived from products such as oil, some waste, smoke emitted by factories, vehicle traffic, etc.. This phenomenon has become a problem for the planet since its frequency is increasing more and more. It causes damage to natural elements as well as artificial human infrastructure.
Main causes
In order to know why it has negative effects on these elements, both natural and artificial, we must know the causes and formation of acid rain. As it is related to environmental pollution, we can say that the causes that form it directly are human activities. Activities such as the operation of factories, heating in public places and homes, electricity production plants, vehicles, etc.
It is common to think that when we talk about the consequences of acid rain, we look the other way of thinking that we are not the cause of such a phenomenon. It is true that it is not the same for industries to release emissions into the atmosphere as for a particular person. But it is also true that there are billions of more people than there are industries in the world.
This makes us rethink whether these effects are really produced by the action of everything as a whole. It must be borne in mind that this phenomenon contains carbon dioxide and can be as much snow, ice and fog. In the case of fog is known as acid fog and can also be dangerous to health if you breathe.
All this in itself makes the water a little acidic. The pH of rainwater is usually 5.6, but acid rain usually has a pH of 5 or even 3 if it is very acidic. In order for it to form, the water contained in the air comes into contact with the mixture of gases mentioned above. It is these gases that, together with the water, produce sulphuric acid, which is what makes the rain become more acidic. Two other acids are also formed such as sulphurous and nitric acids. When this more acidic waterfalls, it begins to damage the environment where it is found.
What are the consequences of acid rain?
Now let's take a closer look at what happens when acid rain starts to fall. It falls on land, water, forests, buildings, vehicles, people, etc. With this, we can already say that it deteriorates the environment in general.
The pollutants that are expelled by burning the oil derivatives not only pollute the area where they are generated but they are able to travel long distances in the wind up to thousands of kilometres. Before it combines with moisture, it becomes acid and falls in the form of precipitation. Although it is called acid rain, these precipitations can take the form of snow, hail or fog. All this indicates that the formation of acid rain can occur in one part of the world and yet fall somewhere else.
The fact that a country that does not pollute has to suffer the consequences of another that does is what that country does not have to allow. More than anything, because these are the consequences of acid rain and what countries that are not to blame for the emissions of others will suffer:
- Acidification of both terrestrial and maritime waters. This causes serious damage to all aquatic and terrestrial life. Both flora and fauna are affected and the water ceases to be drinkable until the rivers are regenerated.
- It causes serious damage to vegetation, all forest areas and jungles. Some chemical components of acid rain mix with others in the soil and end up impoverishing it in nutrients. The consequence of this is that many plants can die and the animals that feed on them can die.
- It destroys the life of the microorganisms that fix nitrogen, so there will be more environmental nitrogen.
- It damages all artificial surfaces with a long-term corrosive effect on wood, stone and plastics. Many statues and monuments have been damaged by frequent acid rain.
- Rain acids also cause an increase in the greenhouse effect.
Possible solutions
In the face of all these consequences of acid rain, some solutions are being attempted, such as they are:
- To reduce as much as possible the levels of sulphur and nitrogen in the emissions from factories, heating, vehicles, etc. With renewable energies and new technologies, this can be reduced.
- Improve public transport to reduce private vehicle use.
- Reduce household electricity consumption.
- Don't use so many chemicals in crops.
- Plant trees.
- Educate the population to adopt better, less polluting lifestyles that reduce the population of companies and industries.
I hope that with all this information you can learn more about the consequences of acid rain and what you must do to reduce it.