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what measures can we take to reduce the amount of acid rain?
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Acid rain is measured using a scale called "pH." The lower a substance's pH, the more acidic it is. Pure water has a pH of 7.0. Normal rain is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide dissolves into it, so it has a pH of about 5.5. As of the year 2000, the most acidic rain falling in the US has a pH of about 4.3.
Acid rain's pH, and the chemicals that cause acid rain, are monitored by two networks, both supported by EPA. The National Atmospheric Deposition Program measures wet deposition, and its Web site features maps of rainfall pH (follow the link to the isopleth maps) and other important precipitation chemistry measurements.
The Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) measures dry deposition. Its web site features information about the data it collects, the measuring sites, and the kinds of equipment it uses.
http://www.termpaperstop.com/
Acid rain's pH, and the chemicals that cause acid rain, are monitored by two networks, both supported by EPA. The National Atmospheric Deposition Program measures wet deposition, and its Web site features maps of rainfall pH (follow the link to the isopleth maps) and other important precipitation chemistry measurements.
The Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) measures dry deposition. Its web site features information about the data it collects, the measuring sites, and the kinds of equipment it uses.
http://www.termpaperstop.com/
A few people mentioned sulphur above. A reduction in various sulphur compounds reduced acid rain – eg in Scandinavia.
BUT-
These compounds have a high albedo, & are cloud condensation nuclei. It’s not coincidence that some of the coolest years in the last 200 years followed the Tambora volcanic eruption in 1815, where a large volume of SO2 was ejected into the atmosphere. SO2 oxidises to produce H2SO4 – sulphuric acid, & thus acid rain.
Mt Pinatubo 1991 affected the climate -it ejected approx 20 megatons of sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere. Researchers believe that the this eruption was primarily responsible for the 0.8 degree C drop in global average air temp in 1992. The effects peaked in late 1993 as confirmed by satellite data which indicated that the sulphur dioxide plume from Pinatubo caused a several percent increase in the amount of sunlight reflected by the atmosphere back to space causing the planet to cool.
It has even been suggested that we should be adding SO2 into the atmosphere to combat climate change, but even I wouldn't go that far...
There was also some research that showed a spike in global temp of around 1C following 9/11 which suggested that this was because of the reduced air traffic. Less planes, less sulphur. (To be fair, it also means less contrails, less radiative forcing)
I could go on - but as this is (almost) off-topic I won't. Just to be clear though - acid rain is a major problem, but I feel that it is important to understand that solving it by eliminating sulphur in the atmosphere is just going to move the problem - & this is ignoring the fact that elimination is impossible - volcanoes produce more than 2/3 of atmospheric SO2.
Acid rain or global warming? Seems you have to pick one.
Sorry, but at least you’re not the GreenPeace guy who asked me to sign his petition to ban manmade SO2 sources. Bless - I think I broke him!
BUT-
These compounds have a high albedo, & are cloud condensation nuclei. It’s not coincidence that some of the coolest years in the last 200 years followed the Tambora volcanic eruption in 1815, where a large volume of SO2 was ejected into the atmosphere. SO2 oxidises to produce H2SO4 – sulphuric acid, & thus acid rain.
Mt Pinatubo 1991 affected the climate -it ejected approx 20 megatons of sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere. Researchers believe that the this eruption was primarily responsible for the 0.8 degree C drop in global average air temp in 1992. The effects peaked in late 1993 as confirmed by satellite data which indicated that the sulphur dioxide plume from Pinatubo caused a several percent increase in the amount of sunlight reflected by the atmosphere back to space causing the planet to cool.
It has even been suggested that we should be adding SO2 into the atmosphere to combat climate change, but even I wouldn't go that far...
There was also some research that showed a spike in global temp of around 1C following 9/11 which suggested that this was because of the reduced air traffic. Less planes, less sulphur. (To be fair, it also means less contrails, less radiative forcing)
I could go on - but as this is (almost) off-topic I won't. Just to be clear though - acid rain is a major problem, but I feel that it is important to understand that solving it by eliminating sulphur in the atmosphere is just going to move the problem - & this is ignoring the fact that elimination is impossible - volcanoes produce more than 2/3 of atmospheric SO2.
Acid rain or global warming? Seems you have to pick one.
Sorry, but at least you’re not the GreenPeace guy who asked me to sign his petition to ban manmade SO2 sources. Bless - I think I broke him!
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