Acidic precipitation, also known as acid rain, can include sleet, snow, and fog with high acid content. Chemical emissions like sulfur and nitrogen dioxide increase acidity levels, causing damage to the environment, including freshwater and marine ecosystems, soils, and human-made structures. Heavy industrial use and high vehicle density contribute to high levels of acid rain, with northeastern states in the US exhibiting the highest levels. Acid rain has been studied since the 19th century, with links to severe ecological damage and threats to human and animal existence.
Acidic precipitation is more commonly referred to as acid rain, but it can also mean sleet, snow, fog, or fog with an unusually high acid component. Precipitation is generally considered acidic if the pH is below 5.6, compared to pure distilled water, which has a pH of 7.0. Acid precipitation is considered by many experts to be a potentially devastating phenomenon for the environment, often associated with global warming and high levels of greenhouse gases.
Certain chemical emissions, such as sulfur or nitrogen dioxide, are thought to be primarily responsible for increasing the acidity levels of precipitation. When these chemicals are released into the air, they can mix with water-carrying chemicals and become part of the cloud’s composition. When a cloud releases water in the form of rain, snow or sleet, the absorbed chemicals increase the acid content of the water, resulting in acid precipitation.
High levels of acid rain are linked to areas with heavy industrial use and high vehicle density. Emissions from automobiles, buses and industrial plants are all associated with high levels of acid in precipitation. In the United States, northeastern states typically exhibit the highest levels of acid precipitation, which most experts consider to be a direct result of urban and industrial density throughout the region. According to some studies, average acidity levels for precipitation in the northeastern states can be as high as 4.3 on the pH scale.
The damage caused by acid precipitation has long been studied, but only recently is much attention being paid. Studies of acid rain have been conducted since at least the 19th century, when Scottish scientist Robert Angus Smith published a book on the effects of local industry pollution on the air, land and local agriculture. Since Smith’s time, detailed scientific studies have suggested links between acid rain and severe ecological damage to water sources and soils, as well as to human and animal existence.
Acidic precipitation can be devastating to both freshwater and marine ecosystems. In addition to increasing the acid content of the water, high acid levels can also deteriorate bedrock systems, allowing hard metals stored in the rocks to leach into the water. Many experts attribute the decline in fish numbers to a buildup of mercury in fish habitats, largely due to excretions of the chemical in bedrock.
The high acid content in rain and other forms of precipitation can also destroy the nutrient value of topsoil, starving crops of needed nourishment. Alterations in soil composition can prove deadly for some plant species, such as maples, which depend on low-acid soils to grow. Some studies suggest that the secular sugar and maple syrup market is under serious threat due to the loss of maple trees.
Even human invention risks being damaged by acid precipitation. In urban areas with high levels of acid rain, monuments, historic buildings and artwork exposed to the elements are often threatened by acid rain. Traditional building materials like marble and limestone include a calcium content that is easily damaged by high acidity, while metals like copper and bronze oxidize quickly in acidic conditions, causing stains and discoloration. Famous buildings like the Parthenon, the Lincoln Memorial and the Taj Mahal are all under close scrutiny after showing signs of material erosion from acid rain.
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