If you order your custom term paper from our custom writing service you will receive a perfectly written assignment on Acid Rain. What we need from you is to provide us with your detailed paper instructions for our experienced writers to follow all of your specific writing requirements. Specify your order details, state the exact number of pages required and our custom writing professionals will deliver the best quality Acid Rain paper right on time.
Out staff of freelance writers includes over 120 experts proficient in Acid Rain, therefore you can rest assured that your assignment will be handled by only top rated specialists. Order your Acid Rain paper at affordable prices!
The Acid Rain Issue
Acid Rain is a serious problem with disastrous effects. Every day this
problem increases. Many believe that this issue is too small to deal with,
Cheap custom writing service can write essays on Acid Rain
but if the acid rain problem is not met with head on, the effects on
people, plants, animals, and the economy will only worsen. In the
following paragraphs you will learn what acid rain is, the effects it has
on human life, animals, the economy, the economic costs, and what is being
done to help to stop this problem. This topic is very important because
acid rain effects everyone everywhere all over the world.I. What is acid
rain?Acid rain is the combination of two chemicals released into the
atmosphere. These chemicals are sulphur dioxide (SO) and nitrogen oxides
(Nox). Natural sources such as volcanoes, sea spray, rotting vegetation
and plankton are all contributors to acid rain, but burning fossil fuels,
such as coal and oil which are referred to as dry emissions are largely to
blame for more than half of the emissions into the world. Nationally, one
hundred and twenty tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are emitted
into the air each day.4A. How is acid rain formed?When the sulfur dioxide
reaches the atmosphere, it oxidizes to first form a sulfate ion. It then
becomes sulfuric acid when it joins with hydrogen atoms in the air and
falls back down to earth, usually in the form of rain, snow, or fog.1
Oxidation occurs the most in clouds and heavily polluted air where other
compounds such as ammonia and ozone help to catalyze the reaction,
converting more sulphur dioxide to sulphuric acid. The following are the
stoichiometric equations for the formation of sulphuric acidS (in coal) +
O ? SO SO + O ? SOSO + HO ? HSO4Nitric oxide and nitric dioxide
are also components of acid rain. Its sources are mainly from power
stations and exhaust fumes. Like sulphur dioxide, these nitrogen dioxides
also rise into the air and are oxidized in the clouds to form nitric acid.
Through this diagram you can better understand how acid rain is formed and
emitted into the earthII. Effects of acid rainAcid rain causes problems
in almost every aspect of the environment. Acid rain can have a
devastating effect on aquatic life, crops, forests, buildings, and also
human life. A. The human environmentAcid rain has a multiplicity of
effects in the human environment. The corrosion of limestone buildings in
towns and cities is one such effect. The acid also eats through the pipes
that channel water to the lakes. Far more insidious are the increasing
incidents of lung cancer, bronchitis, emphysema and asthma attributed to
breathing in the tiny particles of sulphur and other pollutants. Many
people drink water everyday that is laced with these harmful chemicals
without even knowing it.B. The natural environmentMuch of the early
concerns over the effects of acid rain are on the trees. The concern is
centered on the direct contact of the acid rain to the leaves of the
trees. It was estimated that more then sixty five percent of trees are
effected by acid rain.1 The rain scars the leaves, withers ferns and
lichens, accelerates the death of coniferous needles, sterilizes seeds,
and weakens the forest to a state that is vulnerable to disease
infestation. The rate of forest growth in New Hampshire has declined
eighteen percent between 156 and 165. Forests aren't alone in the
devastation. It has also been found that twenty thousand lakes have been
acidified through the changes in the groundwater.1 The soil is receiving
what seems to be an overdose of fertilizer or a large drenching of
vinegar. Unfortunately the damage to the soil may not be reversible or
repairable. On some croplands, tomatoes only grow to half of their full
weight as well as other crop deformities. These problems not only effect
the environment, but they also effect the economy. III. Effects of acid
rain on the economyBecause of acid rain, many fish have died. This reduces
the ability of fish being caught and sold. People who rely on fishing for
their income may find themselves without a job. Owners of farms may be
unable to produce quality crops to be sold. With the continued
deterioration of buildings, the economy will have to spend more money to
repair such problems.A. Economic costs of acid rainIt currently costs the
American automobile industry sixty one million dollars each year to use
acid-resistant paint on new vehicles. In turn, the cost of the vehicle
will increase to compensate for the cost of the resistant paint. This
inflation in automobile cost can prove to be a problem for many that rely
on a car but can not afford the influx. Acid rain is also responsible for
the loss of two billion to four billion dollars worth of wheat, corn,
soybeans, and peanuts. This is devastating for the income of the farmers
as well as the people who purchase these goods. Without these goods being
readily available, the prices will increase and the products could become
hard to get. The National Academy of Science estimates damage from acid
rain to be at least five billion dollars a year in the United States
alone.4IV. Attempts by the economy to control the acid rain problem A. The
Clean Air Act Amendment of 10There have been many propositions and
attempts to reduce the production of acid rain. In order to make this
attempt; the emission of sulfur dioxide must be reduced. One way of doing
this was by passing the Clean Air Act. The 10 Clean Air Acts sulfur
dioxide reduction program will complement health-based sulfur dioxide
pollution limits already in place to protect the public and the
environment from both nearby and distant sources of sulfur dioxide. The
law sets up a market-based system designed to lower sulfur dioxide
pollution levels. Beginning in the year 000, annual releases of sulfur
dioxide will be about forty percent lower than the 180 levels. Reducing
sulfur dioxide releases should cause a major reduction in acid rain. The
reduction is accomplished in two phases.Phase I of the program went into
effect January 1, 15.4 Big coal-burning boilers in one hundred and ten
power plants in twenty-one Midwest, Appalachian, Southeastern and
Northeastern states will have to reduce releases of sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxide omissions.4 As a result of Phase I, acid rain
concentrations have lowered by twenty five percent.4 Today, the average
cost annually experienced in Phase I is about two hundred dollars per
ton.7 In 000, Phase II of the acid rain program goes into effect, further
reducing the sulfur dioxide releases from the big coal-burning power
plants and covering other smaller polluters. Affected sources are
required to install systems that monitor emissions in order to track
progress. The average annual cost for this phase is about one hundred and
eighty five to two hundred and twenty dollars per ton.7To cut down on
nitrogen oxide pollution, EPA will require power plants to reduce their
nitrogen oxide releases, and will require reductions in nitrogen oxide
releases from new cars. Reducing nitrogen oxide releases will reduce both
acid rain and smog formation. Companies that release less than the amount
of regulated emissions can sell pollution credits to other companies.4
Each source must have sufficient credits to cover its annual emissions.
Companies that fail to meet the federal requirements are subject to a two
thousand dollar per ton excess emission fee.4 B. The Air Quality
AccordThis agreement was signed by the United States and Canada to
guarantee cleaner air and a healthier environment for both Canadians and
Americans.5 On August 5, 180, the United States and Canada agreed to
Memorandum of Intent concerning transboundrary air pollution. The
Memorandum of Intent stated that sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions would
be lowered by using previous laws that were established through the Clean
Air Act. Scientists were appointed on both sides to regulate the
progress.This agreement only intensified the debate instead of solving the
problem. The Canadians felt that the United States were not progressing
and following the agreed laws so they denounced the existing agreement.5
After many years of conflict the United States and Canada signed yet
another agreement in 186.5C. The Joint Report of the Special Envoys on
Acid RainIn this report the United States publicly stated that acid rain
was a serious environmental problem and agreed to implement a five year,
five hundred billion dollar technology demonstration program.5 In the end,
it was found that the US was not going to take serious action to control
the acid rain problem. In 10 when President George Bush was elected he
signed the Clean Air Act. This is when Canada and the United States agreed
to once again sign the Air Quality Accord. From then on the accord deemed
success. Even though this accord deemed success the Canadians still
believe that the United States is the major cause of their acid rain
problems.5 Canada also feels they have done more to control the effects of
the acid rain pollution in North America.5D. What is Europe Doing?Europe
has formed the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE).6
The European nations have signed two protocols on sulfur aimed at their
acid rain problems. 1. The 185 Helsinki Protocol on the Reduction of
SulfurThis protocol calls for a significant drop in transboundrary
emissions by all parties that participate.6 Twenty-one ECE countries,
including Canada have accepted this protocol. By 180 they have dropped
emissions by fifty percent.6. The 14 Olso Protocol on Further Reduction
of Sulfur Eighteen countries including Canada have ramified this
protocol.6 The goal of this protocol is to reduce the area where acid rain
exceeds the critical loads according to a formula that minimizes the total
cost of reduction.6 The UN-ECE is also trying to negotiate another
protocol to address acid rain as well as smog and other effects. V. How to
prevent and educate about acid rainA. Acid Rain 000The primary aim of
Acid Rain 000 is to educate young people about the changing nature of
acid rain and the response of environmental systems to these changes. The
participants of this program will be informed of the causes of acid rain
and they will also recognize that the effect of acid disposition is
variable and dependent on the capacity of a particular system to absorb
the pollution. The project targets children of all ages because the
awareness of acid rain is not restricted to any age level. At the primary
school level the children will take part in simple monitoring programs to
record acid rain levels. At the secondary level, children will be able to
analyze the results. Schools from all around the world participate in
this program because the acid rain problem is international. Without
joining a program there are many things that can be done to help reduce
formation of acid rain. They are
Conserve electricity.4
Use automobiles less.4
Collect water/snow samples and test them for pH.4
Contact local environmental groups about their involvement in the acid
rain issue.4
Study historical sites, buildings or monuments in your area and determine
how they are being affected by acid rain.4VI. ConclusionAcid rain can be a
devastating problem to all countries, but with the implementation of the
Clean Air Act, the Accord, and many other reforms that call for the
reduction of sulfur and nitrogen oxide releases, the acid rain problem can
be regulated. With help from everyone being conscious about what they are
doing day to day to contribute to the problem, the issue can turn to be a
problem of the past. Since the passage of the Clean Air Act, acid rain
levels have fallen dramatically across large portions of North America.8
But the decline doesn't mean that the problem is gone. There is still much
that everyone can do to help the problem and to help lower the annual cost
to the economy.If you are interested in learning more about the acid rain
problem you may want to contact the Acid Rain Foundation in Raleigh, North
Carolina, The Department of Environmental Protection in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, or Pennsylvanians for Acid Rain Control in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. These and thousands of other organizations strive to educate
the community about the acid rain problem and would be more than happy to
send you information about what you can do to help.Bibliography
Leslie R. Alm, Scientists and the Acid Rain policy in Canada and the US.
Science, Technology, and Human Values, 17, 4
Acid Rain Bad News About The Good News Business Week, 5 October 1,
5
Anne E. Smith, Jeremy Platt, A. Denny Ellerman, The cost of reducing SO
It's (higher than you think) Public Utilities Fortnightly, 15 May 18,
Acid Rain-A Definition http//www.qlink.queensu.ca
Whats being done? What is Europe and the UN-ECE doing?
http//www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain
Acid Rain The Facts http//www.brixworth.demon.co.uk
Department od Enviormental Protection, Acid Rain In Pennsylvania
http//www.dep.state.pa.us
Chuck, Acid Rain ChuckIII's College Resources
Please note that this sample paper on Acid Rain is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on Acid Rain, we are here to assist you. Your cheap custom college paper on Acid Rain will be written from scratch, so you do not have to worry about its originality.
Order your authentic assignment and you will be amazed at how easy it is to complete a quality custom paper within the shortest time possible!
