Acid rain ... This is a phrase in the modern, especially urban life has become commonplace.Often gardeners complain that after such unpleasant precipitation plants begin to wither, and puddles appear whitish or yellowish coating.
What is it
Science has a definite answer to the question about what is acid rain.This is all well-known types of precipitation, whose water indicator (pH) lower than normal.The norm is considered to pH 7. If the study shows an understatement of this figure in the sediments, they are acidic.In the context of all the gaining momentum of the industrial boom of acid rain, snow, fog and hail are hundreds of times higher than normal levels.
reasons
Again and again, drop acid rain.The reasons lie in the toxic emissions of industrial plants, automobile exhaust, to a much lesser extent - in the decay of natural elements.Atmosphere overflows sulfur and nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride and other compounds which form acid.The result becomes acid rain.
There rainfall and alkali content.They noted the presence of calcium ions or ammonia.They also fit the concept of "acid rain".This is due to the fact that entering the pond or the soil such deposits affect the change in the water-base balance.
What led acidic rainfall
Nothing good oxidation of the natural environment, of course, does not entail.It is harmful acid rain.Causes of death of vegetation after the loss of precipitation lie in the fact that the acids are leached out of the land lots of useful elements, in addition, there is pollution and dangerous metals: aluminum, lead and others.Contaminated sediments can become a cause of mutations and loss of fish in ponds, improper development of vegetation in rivers and lakes.In normal surroundings, they also have a detrimental effect: to a large extent contribute to the destruction of natural coating materials, can become a cause accelerated corrosion of metal structures.
reviewing the common characteristic of this atmospheric phenomenon, we can conclude that the problem of acid rain is one of the most important from the point of view of ecology.
Research
is important to elaborate on the nature of the scheme of chemical contamination.Acid rain - the cause of many disturbances in the environment.There was such slump in the second half of the XIX century, when the British chemist Robert Smith found in pairs and smoke content of hazardous substances, which strongly alter the picture of chemical precipitation.In addition, acid rain - a phenomenon that covers a huge territory, regardless of the source of pollution.The scientist noted and destruction that entailed contaminated sediments: plant diseases, loss of color of the fabric, accelerating the spread of rust and others.
specialists more precise approach to the definition of what is acid rain.After all, in reality it snow, fog, clouds and hail.Dry the shortage of rainfall atmospheric moisture falls as gas and dust.
anthropogenic impact on nature
are dying lake, reduced the number of fish stocks, disappearing forests - everything is terrible consequences of oxidation nature.The soils in the forests is not as sensitive to acidification, as ponds, but the plants very negatively perceived changes in acidity.Similarly aerosol shroud harmful precipitates and leaves the needles, stems impregnate and penetrate the soil.The vegetation gets burns chemical nature, gradually weakening and losing the ability to survive.Soils are losing fertility and growing culture saturated with toxic compounds.
Biological resources
When surveyed lakes in Germany, it was found that in ponds where the water rate is significantly deviated from the norm, the fish disappeared.Only in some lakes were caught isolated instances.
Historical Heritage
invulnerable, seemingly human creatures, too, are affected by acid rain.The ancient Acropolis, located in Greece, is known around the world outline his mighty statues of marble.Age did not spare the natural materials: noble breed destroyed by winds and rains, acid rain further intensify this process.Restoring historical masterpieces, modern masters did not take measures to protect against corrosion of metallic compounds.The result was that the acid rain, iron oxide, can become a cause larger cracks in statues, marble cracks due to the pressure of rust.
Cultural monuments
United Nations has initiated a study of the effect of acid rain on cultural heritage.In the course of these have been proven negative effects on the actions of the rainy beautiful stained cities of Western Europe.Thousands of colored glass at risk to sink into oblivion.They have to please people of the twentieth century for its strength and originality, but the last few decades, clouded by acid rain, threatening to destroy the magnificent stained-glass paintings.Dust, rich in sulfur, ruining antiques leather and paper.Ancient products under the influence of sulfur dioxide lose their ability to resistance to weathering, become brittle and may soon crumble into dust.
Ecological disaster
Acid rain - this is a serious problem for the survival of humanity.Unfortunately, the realities of modern life requires more and more industrial expansion, which increases the amount of toxic emissions into the atmosphere.The population of the world increases the standard of living rises, cars are becoming more, energy consumption exceeds the limit.This alone TPP of the Russian Federation every year, polluting million tonnes anhydride containing sulfur.
acid rain and the ozone hole
ozone hole is not less common and cause a more serious concern.Explaining the essence of this phenomenon, I must say that this is not a real gap atmospheric envelope, and in violation of 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.Accumulation of ozone largely absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun, protecting the planet from the strong radiation.That is why the ozone hole and acid rain - the threat of a normal life on the planet, requiring close attention.
integrity of the ozone layer
beginning of the twentieth century, joins a list of inventions of mankind chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).Their feature was exceptional stability, odorless, non-combustible, no toxic influence.CFCs gradually become widely implemented in the production of various cooling units (from cars to medical facilities), fire extinguishers, aerosol household purposes.
Only at the end of the second half of the twentieth century chemists Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina, it was suggested that the miracle substance, otherwise known as freon, strongly affect the ozone layer.This CFC can "hover" in the air for decades.Gradually rising from the ground, they reach the stratosphere where UV radiation destroys freon compound, releasing chlorine atoms.In this process, the ozone is transformed into oxygen much faster than in the normal environmental conditions.
terrible that required all units of the chlorine atoms to modify hundreds of thousands of molecules of ozone.Additionally, regarded chlorofluorocarbon gases greenhouse and involved in global warming.It is fair to add that the contribution to the destruction of the ozone layer and contributes very nature.Thus, volcanic gases contain up to one hundred compounds, including hydrocarbons.Natural CFCs contribute to the thinning of the ozone-containing active layer over the poles of the planet.
What can be done?
Figuring out the danger of acid rain, is irrelevant.Now on the agenda in every state, in every industrial enterprise must first be measures to ensure the purity of the ambient air.
plant in Russia giants such as "RUSAL" in recent years become a very responsible approach to the issue.They do not spare money for the installation of modern reliable filters and water treatment plants to prevent from entering the atmosphere oxides and heavy metals.
are increasingly being used alternative methods of obtaining energy not entail dangerous consequences.Wind and solar energy (for example, in the home and car) - it is not a fantasy, but the successful practice that helps reduce the amount of harmful emissions.
Expansion of planted forests, clean rivers and lakes, proper recycling of garbage - all effective methods in the fight against pollution.
