ACID RAIN

The contamination of the atmosphere is an effect of industrials and technological

progress, and has negative consequences for individuals, ecosystems, and the
environment in general.
Acid rain constitutes one of the problems observed lately in our planet; there are
three important aspects to consider with respect to acid rain: the process that
causes it, the effects it has on the environment and the possible solutions to this
phenomenon. First of all, the process begins when fossil fuels are burned by coal-
burning power plants, factories and automobiles to provide us the comfort that we
enjoy everyday. As a result, gases such as sulfuric dioxide and nitrogen oxide are
produced. Then, sulfide and nitrogen are absorbed in the air and they are
transported by the wind to different places. Next, these gases are dissolved in rain
and fall in the form of acid precipitations (acid rain). These precipitations can also
occur in the form of snow or a group of little drops of fog, and tiny bits of dry
material that fall on the soil and bodies of water as sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
The problem is that wind transports the polluting substances over long distances
even from one country to another. Consequently, a country which produces a large
quantity of pollutants might not be affected at all, while neighboring countries which
produce only a small amount of pollutants might be severely affected.
This of course, has many ecological effects particularly on lakes, streams,
wetlands, and other aquatic environments.i Acid rain makes waters acidic and
causes them to absorb the aluminum that makes its way from soil into lakes and
streams. This combination makes waters toxic to aquatic animals. According to pH
level of the water droplets, acid rain in some places has been considered to have
the same Ph as battery acid and there has been fog with the same ph as lemon
juice. Besides, acid rain in certain lakes has the same ph of a coca cola, being
these high levels of acidity.
Some species can tolerate acidic waters better than others. However, in an
interconnected ecosystem, what impacts some species eventually impacts many







i
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/acid-rain-overview/


more throughout the food chain and this of course, affects the wildlife dependent
on water resources.
Furthermore, acid rain not only affects aquatic environments, it also has
consequences on the humans; because the lakes and hydrics resources
contaminated could be used by them as a source of life because they use it to do
their diary activities such as feed, hygiene, transportation, and others.

Besides, acid rain contributes significantly with a major problem, global warming,
which has been in recent years a controversial topic in the entire world because
this is a phenomenon in which the temperature in the planet is rising, because all
the gases such as carbon dioxide from the industries and cars; methane, which is
produced in agricultural activities and gases produced by old refrigerators and
spray , these gases produced are trapping too much heat from the sun, creating
the effect of a greenhouse.

On the other hand, some people have been looking for the way to reduce the
effects of the mistreating to the planet, the earth. It can see the idea that propose
the ex-vice-president Al Gore in the video A new concept of the climate crisis in
which he talks about the possible solutions at this problem and say that if we were
organized and responsible, we will achieve the improvement to this problem.
Besides, he says that the human kind need a worldwide solution, a global
mobilization for renewable energy, its conservation and efficiency; but the most
important is a low emissions of gases principally carbon emissions across to
imputed taxes that lead individuals to take conscious of the correct use of the
resources that they have.
Moreover, Al Gore emphasizes that if democratic crisis cant be solved, climate
crisis wont be solved either; consequently, governments all around the world have
the obligation of protecting and conserving the environment; they should
implement laws in which all people have the compromise and conscious of the
protection of the earth.
Besides , Al Gore talks that we have to face the current challenge of the climate
crisis, our generation has the opportunity to rise to a challenge that is worthy of our
best efforts, we ought to approach this with gratitude that we are the generation
that solve the crisis and lay the basis for a bright and optimistic human future.


In short, acid rain is an international problem which affects all the individuals and is
their responsibility to take measurements to control the atmospheric pollution.
Some ways to do it are using natural gas instead of coal and oil, developing solar
system sources, employing renewable energies, decreasing deforestation no more
cutting the rainforest and something maybe more important than other factors as is
less cars working on fossil fuels. Furthermore, agreement pacts on control of
atmospheric pollution have to be signed all around the world. Hopefully, countries
will understand their responsibility and will take care of for the general well being
of human kind, because new generations deserve a better place where they can
live in the conditions they are longing for.