Acid Rain and Geology
Acid rain is a term that refers to a mixture of dry and wet deposited materials that falls in precipitation from the atmosphere, containing "higher then normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids" (Environmental Protection Agency). Some of the "precursors, or chemical forerunners" of acid rain are from natural sources like volcanoes and rotting vegetation; other precursors are from man-made sources like nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The man-made emissions result for the most part from the burning of fossil fuels, like coal and oil for electrical production, according to the EPA.
Wet Deposition: In the United States, about two-thirds of all the SO2 and one-quarter of all the NOX results from the burning of coal and oil. Acid rain is created when these gases -- released through the smokestacks of the coal and oil-fired plants -- mix with water and oxygen and other chemical typically found in the air, and rain down on the land, water and forests.
Dry Deposition: Acid rain can be formed in very dry climates when acidic chemicals are mixed in with smoke or dust and fall to the ground, sticking to the ground, trees, buildings and cars, the EPA explains. When rain does fall, the water that runs off becomes even more acidic.
Acid rain creates unnatural amounts of acidification in lakes and rivers and damages trees at higher elevations, the EPA explains. The results tends to accelerate the "decay of building materials and paints" -- and acid rain is unhealthy for trees and humans.
The Literature on Acid Rain and Geology
Acid rain has been impacting the land, forests and waters of some regions of the planet since as early as 1852, according to author S.V.S. Rana in his book, Environmental Pollution: Health and Toxicology. The impact of acid rain isn't entirely determined by the level of acid in the rain, but also on the "nature of the environment itself," Rana writes on page 25. In terms of geology, areas that are underlain by granite or quartatic bedrock...
Acid Rain Should Acid Rain Be Made a Political Issue? After studying several researches on how acid rain can cause economic losses, I chose a thesis proposal. I collected information from researches conducted in different countries and analyzed data using Microsoft Excel. Acid rain is a problem that does not respect political barriers, thus, making it a global issue. The world's population is currently around 7 billion and is still dramatically increasing. This increase
In the United States this strategy is handled by that United States Geographical Survey. The survey has a color coded plan for handling such threats this includes: Green-No immediate threat, Yellow-Watch; Orange- Warning and Red- Eruption in progress. There are certain measures that are taken at each threat level. Conclusion Indeed there are active volcanoes around the world that make many people vulnerable. In most cases scientist can now predict when
Many limestone statues and building surfaces have suffered severe damage due to acid rain. Acid-based cleaning chemicals can also etch the limestone. Limestone should only be cleaned with a neutral or a mild alkaline-based cleaner. Limestone is also used as a frontage on skyscrapers as a thin pate for covering the solid blocks. Limestone is also used in products such as quicklime and slated lime. It sis used for cement
Anthropological Analysis; The Water Resources of New York This paper is an illustration of the supply problems of water resources of long island, New York. It has 5 sources. The human being has certainly come a significantly long way in terms of exceptionally evolutionary development and advancement within all sectors and components constituting the geographical as well as intangible parameters of contemporary society. Though there have been various, monumentally significant outcomes and
However, the rapid pace of urbanization in Asian, African and Latin American countries has served to stimulate "several studies of water problems in megacities, secondary cities, peri-urban areas, and squatter settlements." (Muir, 2007) That the management of water is emphasized on the state level in the United States is stated to come as little surprise in a country characterized by a federal system of government. This is because "Constitutional authority
Mountain Mining Mining is the process by which minerals of various different kinds are taken out of the earth. As a general practice, a hole is dug into the ground, from where the minerals are harvested. These may be metals like gold or silver or copper, or they may be coal and salt and other like minerals, and they can be diamonds and other precious stones as well. It must be
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now