Causes of acidification
1. Natural Sources
volcanic emissions,wildfires and biological processes
2. Man-made sources
the activities include air pollution sources emitting sulfur and nitrogen gases like factories, power generations facilities, and automobiles
The gases i.e. i.e. sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are primarily gases occurring from electric power generation by burning coal and responsible for acid rain.
Chemical reactions of acid rain
Comparison of the concentrations of NO and SO2 in clean and polluted air.
Effects of Acid Rain
• Effects of Acid Rain on Soil
Acid rain highly impacts on soil chemistry and biology, soil needs to maintain an optimum pH level for the continuity of biological activity . When acid rains will result higher soil pH Lack of soil fertility due to the death of microorganisms in soil.
A
A: Lack of soil fertility
• Effects of Acid Rain on aquatic ecosystem
Acid rain makes the water bodies acidic. Streams and lakes normally show clear signs of acidification as these have less prospect of buffering acid inputs than do soils and plants
A B
A: The effects of acid rain can result in fish kills.
B: This figure illustrates the pH level at which key organisms may be lost as their environment becomes more acidic. Not all fish, shellfish, or the insects that they eat can tolerate the same amount of acid.