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Ebiology essay acid and rain
Environmental Biology (BIOL 1060)
East Carolina University
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Evangelene Pitt Professor Petersen Environmental Biology April 6, 2017 Acid Rain and the Environment Acid rain is a horrific blight on the environment, causing widespread destruction to sensitive ecosystems, both human and otherwise. Acid rain, also called acid deposition, “includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms” (EPA). Some of the components of acid rain include carbonic acid, sulfuric acid, nitrous acid, and nitric acid (Wondyfraw 1). Each of these acids are created as certain mixes of sulfur dioxide/trioxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide dissolve in water (Wondyfraw 1). The purpose of this paper will be to research the different causes and environmental effects of acid rain. Historical Background Acid rain was originally discovered by Ducros in 1845 and the studies were further strengthened by the works of an English chemist Robert Angus Smith. Their work “linked the sources (of acid rain) to industrial emissions and included early observations of deleterious environmental effects” (Burns 1). However, our modern understanding of acid rain came from observations made in the 1960s and 1970s by Svante Oden and Gene Likens in Sweden and North America, respectively (Burns 1). These men placed acid rain into the public’s eye, spurring governments and policy makers to take notice (Burns 1). The public attention that acid rain was re- ceiving caused teams of researchers and entities to seek for solutions to reduce the output of key acid rain components, thankfully resulting in lower sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. Unfortunately, other components like ammonia and ammonium were discovered as “contributors to ecosystem acidification” (Burns 1). In today’s world, acid rain doesn’t make the headlines anymore, but that hasn’t deterred scientists from monitoring the acidic deposition that continues to occur (Burns 1). Acid rain has been recognized as an environmental problem, but it still threatens the world enough that it needs to be measured and analyzed. Causes of Acid Rain Unlike certain environmental disasters, acid rain is caused by both human activity and natural sources, like “volcanoes and biological processes that occur on the land, in wetlands, and in the oceans” (Wondyfraw 1). The chemicals themselves are highly dangerous and they reach the clouds in the form of emissions from gas and power stations or even motor vehicles, which they then dispersed through rain over huge areas. (Wondyfraw 1). The Wasatch area in Utah has many sources of sulfuric pollution in the form of large refineries and thousands of cars. The rain in Utah is not very clean and contains many traces of acidic pollutants. “Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted in the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents” (EPA). They become acids as they interact with water (EPA). Although acid rain is caused by both natural sources and human activity, the main source is human activity (EPA). Other sources besides refineries and cars include the “burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity, heavy equipment, and manufacturing industries” (EPA). A whopping “two thirds of sulfur dioxide and one fourth of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere come from electric power generators” (EPA). This would make a lot sense considering humanity’s heavy reliance on electricity for running modern economies and urban areas. clearly identifying the problems, or the causes of acid rain (107). A solution to the problem would require knowledge from a myriad of disciplines like emissions processes, transformation chemistry, transport dynamics, and deposition regimes (Herrick 107). As scientists and researchers pinned down causes to discipline-specific sources, this quickly complicated the problem for “non-specialist decision makers” (Herrick 108). A critical issue in addressing the right problems and enacting the right changes to policy is the role of the key players, such as scientists, researchers, and policy makers (Winstanley 53). Winstanley suggested that “policy relevant questions should be posed to evoke quantitative answers and not be value-laden” (54). This is especially important in helping the scientists and policy makers communicated, because words that are value based cannot inform decisions properly. The connection between scientific research and policy making has been tenuous at best, but the key is building that bridge of communication and understanding, through quantitative results. Another idea is to focus on one source of acid rain and reduce its effects. This systematic approach would take a great deal of time, as it would have to go at the pace of bureaucratic processes of policy change, but it may be the quickest way for any meaningful change. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 reduced pollutants created by electric power plants, which is one piece of the puzzle. History has shown that it certainly is possible to enact real change over time. Works Cited Burns, Douglas et al. “Acid Rain and its Environmental Effects: Recent Scientific Advances.” Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 146, 2016, 1-4. United States. Environmental Protection Agency. “What is Acid Rain?” Accessed 2017. Wondyfraw, M. “Mechanisms and Effects of Acid Rain on Environment.” Journal of Earth Science and Climatic Change, Vol. 5, No. 6, 2014, 1-3. Burtraw, Dallas et al. “Costs and Benefits of Reducing Air Pollutants Related to Acid Rain.” Contemporary Economic Policy, Vol. 16, No. 4, 1998, 379-400. Winstanley, Derek et al. “Acid Rain: Science and Policy Making.” Environmental Science and Policy, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1998, 51-57. Herrick, Charles and Dale Jamieson. “The Social Construction of Acid Rain.” Global Environmental Change, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1995, 105-112.
Ebiology essay acid and rain
Course: Environmental Biology (BIOL 1060)
University: East Carolina University
