ACID RAIN
Shri H. Thubru,
Assistant Soil Conservation Officer.
How acid is rain?
Because raindrops contain dissolved carbon dioxide, all rainwater is slightly acidic. However, acid rain is created when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide discharged into the air react with water vapour to form droplets of sulphuric acid and nitric acid. About a tenth of sulphur dioxide emissions are caused naturally by volcanic activities, forest fires, and the decay of organic matters. But the largest volume of sulphur dioxide released is from the burning of coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas in power stations, factories, offices, homes, and automobiles.
Acid rain may be wet or dry. Dry deposits occur when the gases together with solid particles of sulphate, nitrate from the air are blown by the wind and fall on the land. These pollutants stick to the surface, attacking stones work and metals and damaging plants especially when they combine with rain to become concentrated liquids. Wet deposits occur when the pollutants remain in the atmosphere for some days and react with water vapour to form acid rain, snow, mist, or dew. All types are equally harmful.
Its impact on the land:Today's industrialized society is literally poisoning the earth with acid rain. When it permeates the soil, plant nutrients are dissolved and washed away. As a result, trees, plants and crops die and the soil become impoverished. Acid ground hose down dissolved metals such as aluminium from the soil, this water then percolates into rivers and lakes. As the level of acidity rises, animal, insect and plant life vanished. Acid rain now distressed large areas of the industrialized world where it caused poisoning of waters, dying of vegetation and wildlife and damaging buildings. Although many complex factors are involved in the production of acid rain, scientists today believed that two major contributors are industrial pollutants and fumes from automobiles exhaust pipes.
Preventive measures:
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The sulphur content in fuel can be reduced before burning in furnace.
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Lower temperature by planting more trees and fruit trees.
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The filters can restrict pollution from power plants, chimneys, and automobile exhaust pipes.