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Source-This post is based on the article “Acid rain has its origins in fossil fuels” published in “The Hindu” on 29th January 2024.
Why in the News?
This article explores the origins of acid rain, its impact on the environment, and the measures implemented to mitigate its effects.
What is acid rain and how does it form?
1) Acid rain is rain with high levels of acidic substances like sulfuric acid or nitric acid.
2) It forms when emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) released from burning fossil fuels, industries, and human activities mix with water vapor and chemicals in the air.
3) These acidic pollutants combine with water droplets in the atmosphere and then fall to the ground as rain, snow, fog, or dry particles.
4) The pH of acid rain is usually between 4.2 and 4.4.
What are the effects of acid rain on environment?
1) Damage to vegetation: Acid rain leaches nutrients, weakens plants, reduces water absorption, and stunts growth. It led to reduced crop yields and plant fatalities..
2) Harm to aquatic ecosystems: Acid rain lowers the pH of water bodies. It harms aquatic life by damaging gills, reducing reproduction, and altering food availability.
3) Soil degradation: Acid rain can disrupt soil chemistry by leaching away essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium, which are crucial for plant growth. It can also release toxic metals such as aluminum from the soil, further damaging plants and aquatic life.
What efforts are taken to minimize the effects of acid rain?
1) Coal power plants have reduced the sulfur dioxide (SO2) content in their atmospheric emissions by more than 90% using flue-gas desulfurization.
2) Governments across the globe are also working together to reduce acid rain. For example, in Asia, the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) operates to address this issue.
What is Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)?
| Aspect | Details |
| About | It is an intergovernmental initiative among East Asian countries to monitor and deal with acid deposition, which includes acid rain. |
| Established in | 2001 |
| Aim | To collect data on the deposition of acid substances, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, in the atmosphere and their subsequent impact on the environment, particularly ecosystems and water bodies. |
| Secretariat | UN Environment Programme Asia Pacific |
| Network center | The Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) in Japan |
| Members | Currently, 13 East Asian countries are involved in EANET |
UPSC Syllabus- Environment/Science & Technology
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