Acid Rain 3
Acid rain is caused by extra amounts of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Natural sources of sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides do exist, but are balanced by nature. Normal rain reacts with alkaline chemicals from the region's bedrock that are in the air, soils, lakes, and streams. This neutralizes the rain. However, if rain is more highly acidic, then the natural neutralizing chemicals can eventually become depleted. This is what is happening with more than 90% of the sulphur and 95% of the nitrogen emissions coming from humans. Approximately 40% of the nitrogen oxides come from transportation, about 25% from thermoelectric generating stations, and the balance from other industrial, commercial, and residential combustion processes. These pollutants come from the use of coal in the production of electricity, from smelting, and from the internal combustion engines in most cars. Once released into the atmosphere, they are converted into such pollutants as nitric acid and sulfuric acid, both dissolving easily in water. This results in acidic water droplets that can be carried
This effects the lakes by changing the pH balance. As the water pH approaches 6, crustaceans, insects, and plankton begin to disappear. When the pH is slightly above 5, major changes start to happen, less desirable species of mosses and plankton may begin to flourish, whereas others will lessen in numbers and die off. Below pH of 5, the water is to acidic for many fish, the bottom is covered with undecayed material, and the shores may be dominated by mosses. The amount of ozone in the stratosphere at any one time is subject to natural variation caused by sunspots, volcanic activity and atmospheric patterns. For example in areas of volcanic out gassing the ozone is decreases.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Rain Acid, Canada Northern, Green House, Antarctica Arctic, House Effect, nitrogen oxides, green house, house effect, acid rain, green house effect, harmful uv radiation, uv radiation, harmful uv, plankton begin,
Approximate Word count = 738
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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