Acid Rain

- Definition

Precipitation that presents an acid pH because of the presence of acids which are formed by the reaction of the sulphur and the nitrogen with the atmospheric water that form the precipitation, essentially rain.

- Acid rain formations

Sulphur dioxide and nitric oxides are primary contaminants (they are formed directly from the combustion or from the evaporation of coal and derivates from petrol.
The cars that use derivates from petrol release to the air sulphur dioxide and nitric oxides. These gases react with the atmospheric water and because of that they are changed into secondary contaminants (sulfuric acid and acid nitric). The water that is full of these acids will kill everything where it falls.
The human being contributes with 130/150 millions of tons of sulphur dioxide and 60/70 millions of tons of nitric oxides.

- Acid rain can affect:

- Surface waters and aquatic animals;
- Soils;

- Forests and other vegetation;

- Human health;

- Acid rain can also cause damage to certain building materials and historical monuments (e.g. Battle monastery - Portugal)

- Affected areas:

- Most of Europe (particularly Scandinavia);

- Many parts of U.S.A. (states like New York);

- South Western Canada;

- South Eastern coast of China;

- Taiwan.

- Potential problem areas in the future:

- Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand;

- Western South Africa (the country);

- Southern India;

- Sri Lanka;

- West Africa.

- Prevention methods

- Conserve energy;

- Collective transports utilization;

- Use of subway;

- Use less pollutant power;

- Use fuels with less sulphur.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_rain

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