acid rain and noise pollution

Acid Rain

Mainly caused by 2 major gases - NOx and SOx

SO2 (Acid Rain)

Comes from burning coal for electricity, metal factories and smelting, diesel burning vehicles

NOx (Acid Rain)

Comes from regular vehicles with unleaded gas, generators, coal burning power plants

Normal Rain

pH is about 5.6

Limiting Acid Rain

Higher CAFE standards - Better public transportation - Renewable energy sources - More efficient electricity usage

Clean Air Act 1990

Since the addition to the Clean Air Act in 1990, acid deposition has almost disappeared

Acid Rain Formation Process

NOx and SO2 react with O2 and H2O in the atmosphere forming nitric acid (HNO3) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

Acid Dissociation Process

Sulfuric acid and nitric acid dissociate in the presence of water into sulfate ions (SO4 2-), nitrate ions (NO3-), and hydrogen ions (H+)

Acid Rain Effect on Environment

Acidic rain water (higher H+ concentration) decreases soil and water pH and can limit tree growth downwind from major SO2 and NOx sources

Acidity

Lower pH means more H+ ions

Soil Nutrient Loss

H+ ions leech nutrients like Calcium and Potassium from soil

Toxic Metals

H+ ions react with metals like Aluminum and Mercury making them more soluble in the environment

Environmental Damage

Slowly kills plants and animals

pH Tolerance

pH changes cause organisms to exist outside optimal range leading to population decline

Effects of pH Changes

Toxicity of metals and disrupted blood osmolarity (Na+/Cl- balance changes)

Indicator Species

Species used as identifiers of changing conditions of an ecosystem (soil, water, etc.)

Indicator Species Examples

High whitemoss/algae indicates pH greater than 6.0 - High crustacean populations indicate pH greater than 6.0 - Frogs and amphibians are sensitive to pH due to breathing through skin

Limestone

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) reacts with H+ and acts as a natural base to neutralize acidic soils and waters

Limestone Bedrock

Natural buffering of acid rain

Reducing Acid Rain

Decrease SO2 and NOx emissions - Use scrubbers and fluidized bed combustion - Increase renewable energy use

Urban Noise Pollution

Noise that causes physiological stress or hearing loss - Construction - Transportation - Industry activity - Domestic activity - Recreational

Noise Pollution Effects on Land

Disrupts animal communication, migration patterns, and damages hearing - Causes physiological stress - Affects mating and predator-prey relationships

Noise Pollution Effects on Aquatics

Ship engines, sonar, seismic drilling - Causes hearing loss, communication disruption, mating issues, predator-prey problems

Seismic Surveying

Using air blasts to ocean floor to find oil - Seismic waves travel farther than expected

Light Pollution

Affects circadian rhythms, mating habits, navigation, and recreation for humans

Light Pollution Effects

Animals use stars and magnetic fields to travel - Drawn to bright lights and become confused - Affects sea turtles, birds, insects