Acid rainAcid rain

Dagmar SvobodováDagmar Svobodová

Luboš ŽákLuboš Žák

What is Acid Rain?What is Acid Rain?

it is a result of air pollutionit is a result of air pollution

sulphur dioxide and nitrogen sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water in oxides react with water in clouds and form sulphuric clouds and form sulphuric and nitric acid which cause and nitric acid which cause that the rain is acidicthat the rain is acidic

power stations, factories and power stations, factories and cars all burn fuels and cars all burn fuels and therefore they all produce therefore they all produce polluting gasespolluting gases

How acidic is acid rain?How acidic is acid rain?

acidity is measured using a acidity is measured using a scale called the pH scale. scale called the pH scale. This scale goes from 0 to 14. This scale goes from 0 to 14. 0 is the most acidic and 14 0 is the most acidic and 14 is the most alkalineis the most alkaline

unpolluted rain would have unpolluted rain would have a pH value of between 5 and a pH value of between 5 and 6. When the air becomes 6. When the air becomes more polluted with nitrogen more polluted with nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide oxides and sulphur dioxide the acidity can increase to a the acidity can increase to a pH value of 4pH value of 4

The Properties of Acid RainThe Properties of Acid Rain

the acid rain can be carried great distances the acid rain can be carried great distances in the atmosphere in the atmosphere

it can take the form of snow, mists and dry it can take the form of snow, mists and dry dusts dusts

it can have a serious effect on soil, trees, it can have a serious effect on soil, trees, buildings and waterbuildings and water

Effects on ForestsEffects on Forests

- dissolves and washes away the - dissolves and washes away the nutrients and minerals in the soil nutrients and minerals in the soil which help the trees to growwhich help the trees to grow

- causes the release of harmful causes the release of harmful substances such as aluminium into substances such as aluminium into the soilthe soil

- wears away the waxy protective wears away the waxy protective coating of leaves, damaging them coating of leaves, damaging them and preventing them from being able and preventing them from being able

to photosynthesise properlyto photosynthesise properly

Acid rainAcid rain

Effects on Lakes and RiversEffects on Lakes and Rivers

- as the acidity of a lake as the acidity of a lake increases, the water increases, the water becomes clearer and the becomes clearer and the numbers of fish and other numbers of fish and other water animals decrease water animals decrease

- the acidity of the water the acidity of the water does not just affect does not just affect species directly, it also species directly, it also causes toxic substances causes toxic substances like aluminium to be like aluminium to be released into the water released into the water from the soil, harming from the soil, harming fish and other aquatic fish and other aquatic animalsanimals

Where is it coming from?Where is it coming from?

air pollution is produced in every country that air pollution is produced in every country that burns fossil fuelsburns fossil fuels

the worst European polluters are Germany, the worst European polluters are Germany, UK, Poland and Spain, each of them producing UK, Poland and Spain, each of them producing over million tons of sulphur emissions in 1994.over million tons of sulphur emissions in 1994.

governments are now beginning to admit that governments are now beginning to admit that acid rain is serious enviromental problem and acid rain is serious enviromental problem and many countries are now taking steps to many countries are now taking steps to reduce the amount of sulphur and nitrogen reduce the amount of sulphur and nitrogen emissions.emissions.

What can be done?What can be done?

Reduce emissionsReduce emissions - burning fossil fuels is still one of the cheapest burning fossil fuels is still one of the cheapest

ways to produce electricity so people are now ways to produce electricity so people are now researching new ways to burn fuel which researching new ways to burn fuel which don't produce so much pollutiondon't produce so much pollution

- sulphur can also be 'washed' out of smoke by sulphur can also be 'washed' out of smoke by spraying a mixture of water and powdered spraying a mixture of water and powdered limestone into the smokestacklimestone into the smokestack

- cars are now fitted with catalytic converters cars are now fitted with catalytic converters which remove three dangerous chemicals which remove three dangerous chemicals from exhaust gases from exhaust gases

Find alternive sources of Find alternive sources of energyenergy

scientists are researching scientists are researching different ways to produce energydifferent ways to produce energy

hydroelectric and nuclear powerhydroelectric and nuclear power

solar energy or windmills solar energy or windmills

What Can We Do?What Can We Do?

we can lower the we can lower the pollution by using pollution by using public transportpublic transport

we can make an effort we can make an effort to save energy by to save energy by switching off lights switching off lights when they are not when they are not being used (when less being used (when less electricity is being electricity is being used pollution from used pollution from power plants power plants decreases)decreases)

Thanks for Your AttentionThanks for Your Attention