Atmospheric Issues

SCI/275
March 31, 2013
Linda Bowen

Atmospheric Issues Atmospheric issues occur when a form of pollution interferes with the natural balance of the major gases and compromise the atmosphere having a variety of effects. These forms of pollution can be confused with indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution is something that contaminates the air inside a building. Carbon monoxide, cleaning products, bacteria, and nitrogen dioxide are just a few examples or indoor air pollution. A few examples of atmospheric pollutants would be methane, dust, ozone, and microorganisms. Acid rain can be a result of atmospheric pollution. Acid Rain is a combination of both wet and dry deposition that comes from the atmosphere that contains a higher than normal amount of sulfuric and nitric acids. The precursors of acid rain come from man-made sources, like emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels, and natural sources, like decaying vegetation and volcanoes (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012.) In America approximately 2/3 of the pollution that comes from the burning of fossil fuels are released into the air from the electric power that our generation relies so much on. When these gases mix with the gases that are already in the atmosphere, oxygen, water, and other chemicals multiple forms of acidic compounds are created and that results in a mild form of nitric acid and sulfuric acid (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012.) Fog, snow, and acid rain are referred to as wet deposition. This occurs if the acid chemicals or compounds are blown into an area where the weather is wet causing the acids to come down in fog, mist, snow, or rain. This acidic water has direct effects on many different animals and plants as it travels over the ground. Dry deposition occurs in places where the weather is dry. The acidic chemicals mix with smoke or dust and end up on the ground generally sticking to where it falls on homes, trees, cars, the ground, or even buildings. When it rains the acidic chemicals are washed away and combine with runoff water resulting in an even more acidic mixture (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012.) The effects of any form of acid rain does damage to the environment. Streams and lakes become polluted with acid which ultimately contributes to the ongoing damage of sensitive forest soils or trees that are at a high elevation. The decay of statues, buildings, sculptures, and things outside is accelerated because of exposure to the various forms of acid rain. Acid rain also contributes to the harm of the public’s health because of the sulfates and nitrates that it brings to the ground level of the earth (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012.) The reduction of acid rain is possible and there are multiple ways to do this and the reduction of acid deposition is important to the preservation of natural in general and to slow the damage of man-made structures. Understanding the causes and effects that acid rain is a critical step in reducing the amount of chemicals that cause acid rain into the atmosphere. A majority of the electricity that powers the modern day life that we live in today is generated from the burning of fossil fuels and this generally takes place at power plants. These places are a large contributor to the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that produce acid rain. Using coal instead of other forms of fossil fuels and cleaning up the smokestacks and exhaust pipes can reduce the levels of sulfur dioxide released into the ari because it contains less. Washing the coal with “scrubbers” before using it helps to chemically remove the sulfur dioxide gasses from leaving the smokestacks when they are burned (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012.) Other ways to help reduce acid rain are using alternative energy sources, restoring damaged environments, and taking actions as individuals. Alternative energy sources include nuclear power, wind energy, solar energy, and hydropower. The United States commonly uses nuclear and hydropower more than the other forms of alternative energy because neither solar or wind energy has been developed enough for such large scale use (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012.) Alternative energy forms can also be very expensive to produce. Restoring damaged environments can be tricky because it can take numerous years for the ecosystem surrounding the environment that was damaged by acid rain to recover but it is important that humans make the effort. Individuals can do things like turning off their computers, appliances, or lights when they are not in use. Use more energy efficient appliances, insulate homes and buildings, carpool whenever possible, and by becoming educated (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012.)

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). What Is Acid Rain?. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what/index.html