Sources of acid rain. Acid precipitation: causes of formation

Acid phrases have become commonplace in modern life, especially in urban life. Summer residents often complain that after such unpleasant precipitation, plants begin to wither, and a whitish or yellowish coating appears in puddles.

What is it

Science has a definite answer to the question of what acid rain is. These are all known whose water levels are below normal. The norm is considered to be pH 7. If the study shows an underestimation of this figure in precipitation, it is considered acidic. In the context of an ever-growing industrial boom, the acidity of rain, snow, fog and hail is hundreds of times higher than normal.

Reasons

Acid rain falls again and again. The reasons lie in toxic emissions from industrial facilities, car exhaust gases, and, to a much lesser extent, in the decay of natural elements. The atmosphere is filled with sulfur and nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride and other acid-forming compounds. The result is acid rain.

There are precipitations with alkaline content. They contain calcium or ammonia ions. The concept of “acid rain” also applies to them. This is explained by the fact that, when such precipitation gets into a reservoir or soil, it affects the change in the water-alkaline balance.

What does acid precipitation cause?

No good oxidation surrounding nature, of course, does not entail. Acid rain is extremely harmful. The reasons for the death of vegetation after such precipitation lie in the fact that many useful elements are leached from the earth by acids, in addition, there is contamination with dangerous metals: aluminum, lead and others. Contaminated sediments cause mutations and death of fish in water bodies, and improper development of vegetation in rivers and lakes. They also have a detrimental effect on the normal environment: they significantly contribute to the destruction of natural facing materials and cause accelerated corrosion of metal structures.

Having become familiar with general characteristic Given this atmospheric phenomenon, we can conclude that the problem of acid rain is one of the most pressing from an environmental point of view.

Scientific research

It is important to take a closer look at the scheme of chemical pollution of nature. Acid rain is the cause of many environmental disturbances. This characteristic of precipitation appeared in the second half of the 19th century, when the British chemist R. Smith discovered the content of vapor and smoke hazardous substances, which greatly change the chemical picture of precipitation. In addition, acid rain is a phenomenon that spreads over vast areas, regardless of the source of pollution. The scientist also noted the destruction that contaminated sediments entailed: plant diseases, loss of color in tissues, accelerated spread of rust, and others.

Experts are more precise in defining what acid rain is. After all, in reality it is snow, fog, clouds and hail. Dry precipitation with a lack of atmospheric moisture falls in the form of dust and gas.

to nature

Lakes are dying, the number of fish schools is decreasing, forests are disappearing - all these are terrible consequences of the acidification of nature. Soils in forests do not react as sharply to acidification as water bodies, but plants react very negatively to all changes in acidity. Like an aerosol, harmful precipitation envelops foliage and pine needles, saturates trunks, and penetrates the soil. Vegetation receives chemical burns, gradually weakening and losing the ability to survive. Soils lose fertility and saturate growing crops with toxic compounds.

Biological resources

When a study of lakes in Germany was carried out, it was found that in reservoirs where the water indicator deviated significantly from the norm, the fish disappeared. Only in some lakes were single specimens caught.

Historical heritage

Seemingly invulnerable human creations also suffer from acid precipitation. The ancient Acropolis, located in Greece, is famous throughout the world for the outlines of its mighty marble statues. Centuries do not spare natural materials: noble rock is destroyed by winds and rains, the formation of acid rain further intensifies this process. When restoring historical masterpieces, modern masters did not take protective measures metal connections from rust. The result is that acid rain, oxidizing iron, causes large cracks in statues, marble cracks due to the pressure of rust.

Cultural monuments

The United Nations has initiated research into the impact of acid precipitation on objects cultural heritage. During them, the negative effects of rain on the most beautiful stained glass windows of cities were proven Western Europe. Thousands of colored glasses are at risk of falling into oblivion. Until the 20th century, they delighted people with their durability and uniqueness, but recent decades, marred by acid rain, threaten to destroy the magnificent stained glass paintings. Sulfur-rich dust destroys antique leather and paper items. Ancient products under the influence lose their ability to resist atmospheric phenomena, become fragile and may soon crumble into dust.

Ecological disaster

Acid rain is serious problem for the survival of humanity. Unfortunately, the reality modern life require more and more expansion industrial production, which increases the volume of toxic The population of the planet is increasing, the standard of living is rising, there are more and more cars, energy consumption is going through the roof. At the same time, only thermal power plants Russian Federation Every year they pollute the environment with millions of tons of anhydride containing sulfur.

Acid rain and ozone holes

Ozone holes are just as common and a more serious concern. Explaining the essence of this phenomenon, it must be said that this is not a real rupture of the atmospheric shell, but a disturbance in the thickness of the ozone layer, which is located approximately 8-15 km from the Earth and extends into the stratosphere up to 50 km. The accumulation of ozone largely absorbs harmful solar ultraviolet radiation, protecting the planet from extreme radiation. This is why ozone holes and acid rain are threats normal life planets that require the closest attention.

Integrity of the ozone layer

The beginning of the twentieth century added chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to the list of human inventions. Their features were exceptional stability, lack of odor, non-flammability, and lack of toxic influence. CFCs gradually began to be widely introduced into the production of various cooling units (from cars to medical complexes), fire extinguishers, and household aerosols.

Only towards the end of the second half of the twentieth century, chemists Sherwood Roland and Mario Molina suggested that these miracle substances, otherwise called freons, have a strong effect on ozone layer. At the same time, CFCs can “hover” in the air for decades. Gradually rising from the ground, they reach the stratosphere, where ultraviolet radiation destroys freon compounds, releasing chlorine atoms. As a result of this process, ozone is converted into oxygen much faster than under normal natural conditions.

The scary thing is that it only takes a few chlorine atoms to modify hundreds of thousands of ozone molecules. In addition, chlorofluorocarbons are considered to be gases that create greenhouse effect and those involved in the process global warming. To be fair, it is worth adding that nature itself also contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer. Thus, volcanic gases contain up to one hundred compounds, including carbons. Natural freons contribute to the active thinning of the ozone-containing layer above the poles of our planet.

What can you do?

Finding out what the dangers of acid rain are is no longer relevant. Now, measures to ensure the cleanliness of the surrounding air should be on the agenda in every state, at every industrial enterprise.

In Russia, giant factories such as RUSAL, in recent years began to approach very responsibly this issue. They spare no expense in installing modern, reliable filters and treatment facilities that prevent oxides and heavy metals from entering the atmosphere.

Increasingly, alternative methods of obtaining energy are being used that do not entail dangerous consequences. Wind and solar energy (for example, in everyday life and for cars) is no longer science fiction, but a successful practice that helps reduce the volume of harmful emissions.

Expansion of forest plantations, cleaning of rivers and lakes, proper recycling of waste - all this effective methods in the fight against pollution environment.

Even as a child, I heard that acid rain is extremely dangerous for the environment, but at that time I did not think anything of it. great value. I thought it was a normal type of rain. Only as you get older do you realize that acid rain is the result of air pollution.

What is acid rain?

Acid rain consists of water droplets that are unusually acidic due to air pollution, primarily containing excessive amounts of sulfur and nitrogen released by cars and industrial plants. Acid rain is also called acid deposition, as this term includes other forms of acid precipitation such as snow.

Causes of acid rain

Human activity is the main cause of acid rain. Over the past few decades, people have released so many different chemicals that they changed the mixture of gases in the atmosphere. Power plants emit most of the sulfur dioxide and most of the nitrogen oxides when they burn fossil fuels.

Why is acid precipitation dangerous?

Acid rain is dangerous for all living and nonliving things, they entail:

• Consequences for the air. Some components of acid pollution are sulfates, nitrates, ozone and hydrocarbon compounds.

• Implications for architecture. Acidic particles also deposit on buildings and statues, causing corrosion.

• Implications for materials. Acid rain destroys all materials and fabrics.

• Consequences for people. Some of the most serious effects of acid rain on people are breathing problems.

• Consequences for trees and soils. Nutrients from the soil are neutralized. And the trees are destined to die, deprived of vital nutrients.

• Implications for lakes and aquatic ecosystems. Acid rain leads to a sharp change in the pH of water bodies.

Acid rain - terrible phenomenon, which should never be underestimated. If possible, protect your head with an umbrella or hat - this is a minimum precaution.

IN lately Quite often you can hear about acid rain. It occurs when nature, air and water interact with various pollutants. Such precipitation gives rise to a number of negative consequences:

• diseases in humans;
• death of agricultural plants;
• reduction of forest areas.

Acid rain occurs due to industrial emissions chemical compounds, combustion of petroleum products and other fuels. These substances pollute the atmosphere. Ammonia, sulfur, nitrogen and other substances then react with the moisture, causing the rain to become acidic.

For the first time in human history acid rain was recorded in 1872, and by the twentieth century this phenomenon had become very common. Acid rain causes the most damage to the United States and European countries. In addition, ecologists have developed special card, which identifies the areas most susceptible to dangerous acid rain.

Causes of acid rain

The causes of toxic rain are man-made and natural. As a result of the development of industry and technology, plants, factories and various enterprises began to emit huge amounts of nitrogen and sulfur oxides into the air. So, when sulfur enters the atmosphere, it interacts with water vapor and forms sulfuric acid. The same thing happens with nitrogen dioxide; nitric acid is formed and falls out along with precipitation.

Another source of air pollution is exhaust gases from motor vehicles. Getting into the air harmful substances oxidize and fall to the ground in the form of acid rain. Nitrogen and sulfur are released into the atmosphere as a result of the combustion of peat and coal at thermal power plants. Huge amounts of sulfur oxide enter the air during metal processing. Nitrogen compounds are released during the production of building materials.

Some of the sulfur in the atmosphere is natural origin For example, after a volcanic eruption, sulfur dioxide is released. Nitrogen-containing substances can be released into the air as a result of the activity of certain soil microbes and lightning discharges.

Consequences of acid rain

There are many consequences of acid rain. People caught in such rain can ruin their health. Given atmospheric phenomenon causes allergies, asthma, cancer. Rain also pollutes rivers and lakes, making the water unfit for consumption. All residents of water areas are in danger; huge populations of fish may die.

Acid rain, falling on the ground, pollutes the soil. This depletes the fertility of the land and the number of harvests decreases. Because precipitation fall over large areas, they negatively affect trees, which contributes to their drying out. As a result of influence chemical elements, metabolic processes in trees change, and root development is inhibited. Plants become sensitive to temperature changes. After any acid rain, trees can suddenly shed their leaves.

One of the less dangerous consequences of toxic precipitation is the destruction of stone monuments and architectural objects. All this can lead to the collapse of public buildings and homes of a large number of people.

The problem of acid rain needs to be seriously considered. This phenomenon directly depends on human activities, and therefore the amount of emissions that pollute the atmosphere should be significantly reduced. When air pollution is reduced to a minimum, the planet will be less susceptible to harmful precipitation such as acid rain.

Solving the environmental problem of acid rain

The problem of acid rain plagues the planet global character. In this regard, it can only be solved if we combine the efforts of a huge number of people. One of the main methods to solve this problem is to reduce harmful industrial emissions into water and air. All enterprises must use cleaning filters and facilities. The most long-term, expensive, but also the most promising solution to the problem is the creation of environmentally friendly enterprises in the future. All modern technologies should be used taking into account the assessment of the impact of activities on the environment.

They cause a lot of harm to the atmosphere modern views transport. It is unlikely that people will give up cars anytime soon. However, today new environmentally friendly technologies are being introduced vehicles. These are hybrids and electric cars. Cars such as Tesla have already gained recognition in different countries peace. They operate on special batteries. Electric scooters are also gradually gaining popularity. In addition, we should not forget about traditional electric transport: trams, trolleybuses, metro, electric trains.

We should not forget that air pollution is caused by people themselves. You don’t need to think that someone else is to blame for this problem, and it doesn’t depend on you specifically. This is not entirely true. Of course, one person is not capable of releasing toxic and chemicals into the atmosphere in large quantities. However, regular use of passenger cars leads to the fact that you regularly release exhaust gases into the atmosphere, and this subsequently becomes the cause of acid rain.

Unfortunately, not all people are aware of such an environmental problem as acid rain. Today, there are many films, articles in magazines and books about this problem, so everyone can easily fill this gap, recognize the problem and begin to act to solve it.

Everyone knows what water is. There is a huge amount of it on Earth - one and a half billion cubic kilometers.

If you imagine Leningrad region the bottom of a giant glass and try to contain all the water of the Earth in it, then its height should be greater than the distance from the Earth to the Moon. It would seem that there is so much water that there should always be enough of it. But the trouble is that all oceans have salty water. We, and almost all living things, need fresh water. But there isn't much of it. That's why we desalinate water.

IN fresh water there are many rivers and lakes soluble substances, including poisonous ones, it may contain pathogenic microbes, so you cannot use it, much less drink it, without additional cleaning. When it's raining, drops of water (or snowflakes, when it's snowing) captured from the air harmful impurities that got into it from the pipes of some factory.

As a result, harmful, so-called acid rain falls in some places on Earth. Neither plants nor animals like it.

The beneficial drops of rain have always brought joy to people, but now in many areas of the planet, rain has turned into a serious danger.

Acid precipitation (rain, fog, snow) is precipitation whose acidity is higher than normal. A measure of acidity is the pH value (hydrogen index). The pH scale goes from 02 (extremely acidic), through 7 (neutral) to 14 (alkaline), with the neutral point ( clean water) has pH=7. Rainwater V clean air has pH=5.6. The lower the pH value, the higher the acidity. If the acidity of the water is below 5.5, then the precipitation is considered acidic. In vast areas industrially developed countries Around the world there is precipitation, the acidity of which exceeds normal by 10 - 1000 times (pH = 5-2.5).

Chemical analysis of acid precipitation shows the presence of sulfuric (H 2 SO 4) and nitric (HNO 3) acids. The presence of sulfur and nitrogen in these formulas indicates that the problem is associated with the release of these elements into the atmosphere. When fuel is burned, sulfur dioxide enters the air, and atmospheric nitrogen also reacts with atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen oxides are formed.

These gaseous products (sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide) react with atmospheric water to form acids (nitric and sulfuric).

IN aquatic ecosystems acid precipitation causes the death of fish and other aquatic life. Acidification of water in rivers and lakes seriously affects land animals, since many animals and birds are part of food chains, starting in aquatic ecosystems.

Along with the death of lakes, forest degradation also becomes apparent. Acids destroy the protective waxy coating of leaves, making plants more vulnerable to insects, fungi and other pathogenic microorganisms. During drought, more moisture evaporates through damaged leaves.

The leaching of nutrients from the soil and the release of toxic elements contribute to the slowdown of tree growth and death. One can imagine what happens to wild animal species when forests die.

If destroyed forest ecosystem, then soil erosion begins, clogging of water bodies, flooding and deterioration of water supplies become catastrophic.

As a result of acidification in the soil, nutrients vital to plants are dissolved; These substances are carried by rain into groundwater. At the same time, heavy metals are leached from the soil, which are then absorbed by plants, causing serious damage to them. Using such plants for food, a person also receives an increased dose of heavy metals with them.

When the soil fauna degrades, yields decrease, the quality of agricultural products deteriorates, and this, as we know, entails a deterioration in public health.

Under the influence of acids from rocks and minerals, aluminum is released, as well as mercury and lead. which then end up in surface and groundwater. Aluminum can cause Alzheimer's disease, a type of premature aging. Heavy metals found in natural waters, negatively affect the kidneys, liver, central nervous system, causing various cancers. Genetic consequences heavy metal poisoning can take 20 years or more to appear not only in those who consume dirty water, but also among their descendants.

Acid rain corrodes metals, paints, synthetic compounds, and destroys architectural monuments.

Acid rain is most common in industrialized countries with highly developed energy systems. Over the course of a year, thermal power plants in Russia emit about 18 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, and in addition, thanks to western air transport, sulfur compounds come from Ukraine and Western Europe.

To combat acid rain, efforts must be directed toward reducing emissions of acid-forming substances from coal-fired power plants. And for this you need:

using low-sulfur coal or removing sulfur from it

installation of filters for purification of gaseous products

use of alternative energy sources

Most people remain indifferent to the problem of acid rain. Are you going to wait indifferently for the destruction of the biosphere or are you going to take action?

Acid rain is one of the main threats of our time, resulting from economic activity person.

We have already touched on this topic in our material - ACID RAIN IS THE ENEMY OF ALL LIVING THINGS. In this article we will present several precise definitions given to this phenomenon in respected dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Acid rain is...

Dictionary COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

Acid rain, a term used to describe the deposition of chemical pollutants in the form of both particulate matter and acid rain, hail, snow or fog. Automobiles, industrial production processes, combustion of fossil fuels power stations create pollution mainly in the form of emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons that react with water and sunlight, forming weak sulfur or nitric acid, ammonium salts, as well as other mineral acids. All this is deposited on the ground, often at a great distance from the source of the release, causing corrosion, tree death, unwanted acidification of water and soil, and therefore a threat to human health. The degree of acidity is usually measured using the pH scale, a logarithmic system for measuring the concentration of hydrogen ions. The amplitude of values ​​is from 0 (maximum acidity) to 14 (maximum alkalinity). pH value = 5.6 corresponds to pure water.

Countries of the world. Dictionary. 1998

Peoples and cultures. Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia

Acid rain, chemical pollution of water resources, flora and fauna caused by the emission of exhaust gases as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels. The acidity of rain, snow and fog increases due to the absorption of exhaust gases, mainly sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted by power plants, factories and by road transport. Cauldrons cause damage to human health, causing bronchial diseases, destroying limestone buildings, and increasing the acidity of lakes and rivers, which is fatal to fish, animals, vegetation, and forests. Acidic waters are also dangerous because they contain harmful metals, such as cadmium and mercury, which are usually retained in the soil. The alarm about the effects of KD was first raised in Sweden in the 1960s; from them, of course, it means that part of the forests of Europe, globally, suffered. Central, as well as S., E. and N.-E. USA and Japan. In 1984, pl. countries signed a protocol to the Geneva Convention on the Control of Air Pollution (1979), agreeing to reduce sulfur emissions, although the worst air polluters - the UK, the USA, Poland and Spain - did not sign on to this document. Significant reductions in sulfur emissions require the reconstruction or closure of coal-fired power plants. Reducing nitrogen oxide levels can be achieved by reducing the life and speed of passenger car and truck engines and equipping them with catalytic converters that remove most of this gas (and the hydrocarbons that contribute to education department) from car exhausts; since 1992, the installation of catalytic converters has been mandatory in European countries; in the US they have been widely used to control air pollution since the 1970s.

Peoples and cultures. Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia. - M.: Infra-M. Edited by R. Hoggart. 2002

ACID RAIN (acid rain), characterized by an increased content of acids (mainly sulfuric acid); pH value<4,5. Образуются при взаимодействии атмосферной влаги с транспортно-промышленными выбросами (главным образом серы диоксид, а также азота оксиды и др.). Вредно действуют на здоровье людей, растительный и животный мир, сооружения и конструкции; закисляют почвы и водоемы. Распространены в промышленных районах США, стран Западной Европы, России и др. Кислотные загрязнения могут содержаться в других атмосферных осадках (снег, град и т.п.).

Modern encyclopedia. 2000

Ecological dictionary

Acid rain is rain caused by atmospheric pollution with sulfur dioxide (SO 2). They have a biocidal effect, in particular, the death of fish (for example, in the waters of Scandinavia due to the transfer of gas emissions in the industrial cities of England).

Ecological Dictionary. - Alma-Ata: “Science”. B.A. Bykov. 1983

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia

Acid rain is one of the types of intense environmental pollution, which is the precipitation of drops of sulfuric and nitric acids with rain, resulting from the reaction of sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted into the air by industrial enterprises and transport with water droplets in the atmosphere. Acid droplets can be carried long distances by air currents before falling as acid rain. Acid rain causes great damage to forests, water bodies, crops, buildings, etc., and also adversely affects human health. Acid rain is heaviest in and near the world's most industrialized areas. In 1984, in the Black Forest (Germany), about half of the trees in the forests were damaged by acid rain. Significant damage to forests has also been observed in the northeastern states of the United States and Eastern Canada. To overcome the adverse effects of acid rain, national and international standards are being set to reduce nitrogen and sulfur emissions into the atmosphere.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Edited by Professor A.P. Gorkin. 2006

As we can see from the above definitions, acid rain is not a local problem of individual industrial areas of our planet. The damage caused by such rains is global in nature and requires appropriate global solutions. To be more precise - active global solutions, since such damage is often irreparable / irreparable.