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Climate in cities
Basics |
Unit 3:
Acid rain
Water is necessary for life on the Earth and therefore its quality is of great importance. When the pH of precipitation is below 5.6 we call it acid rain.The emissions of two air pollutants, NOx and SO2 are main reasons of the acid rain formation. While in Europe and North America those emissions have a decreasing trend, they tend to increase in Asia.
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Acid rain affects the whole natural environment through the chain of processes and relations. Polluted precipitation goes to surface waters and groundwaters. While reaching soil it activates aluminium and leaches out the nutrients. Therefore, the trees die, but they are also affected directly by the acid precipitation. Polluted waters make significant danger for the biodiversity. Areas endangered by acid rains are located mainly in Europe, United States and China, in the vicinity of highly urbanised and industrialised areas. However, the long-range transpprt of air pollution can cause acid rain also in the areas placed far away from the air pollution sources. |
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