Madeleine Weitzner Period.

7 Due: 10/4/10

Acid Rain Wiki Research Assignment:

A. Step 11. What is the definition of acid rain? Acid rain is a form of precipitation that is unusually acidic having elevated levels of hydrogen ions yielding a low pH.

2. What are the causes and effects of acid rain? Acid rain is caused by emissions of compounds of ammonium, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur reacting with Dihydrogen oxide molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. 3. How is acid rain measured? Acid rain is measured using the pH scale, the lower a substance's pH, the more acidic it is. Pure water has a pH of 7.0 while acidic rain typically has a pH around 2.0 because of the Carbon dioxide that dissovles in the Dihydrogen oxide forming weaker bonds and a carbonic acid. 4. Name three ways to reduce acid rain. Give a short description of each. Restore the damaged ecosystems- acid deposition can cause problems to the ecosystems changing the chemical make-up of the soil and surrounding environment. There are ways to restore the environment more quickly, limestone or lime, a naturally occurring basic compound, can be added to acidic lakes to cancel out the acidity the process is called liming. Clean up smokestacks and exhaust pipes- the pollution caused by smog emitted into the air causes the Dihydrogen oxide to carry the polluted molecules forming acid rain, cleaning the pipes will reduce the amount of acid rain. Use alternative energy sources- burning nonrenewable resources causes great distress to the environment, by using natural renewable resources we as a society can reduce the out-put of pollution.

Madeleine Weitzner Period.7 Due: 10/4/10 B. Step 2- Three NADP/NTN Sites

Location Latitude Longitude pH Levels (Years) 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 Alamosa (CO00) Niwot Saddle (CO02) Rocky Mountain National Park-Loch Vale (CO89) 37.4414 40.0547 40.2878 -105.8653 -105.5891 -105.6628 N/A 5.0 pH 4.7 pH 5.3 pH 5.0 pH 5.01 pH 5.2 pH 5.4 pH 4.8 pH 5.3 pH 5.21 pH N/A 4.82 pH 5.19 pH 4.83 pH 4.86 pH 5.0 pH 4.98 pH 4.99 pH 5.14 pH 5.0 pH 5.12 pH N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Alamosa

Madeleine Weitzner Period.7 Due: 10/4/10

Niwot Saddle

Rocky Mountain National Park-Loch Vale (CO89)- N/A

Madeleine Weitzner Period.7 Due: 10/4/10

Analyze:
A. How does your state compare to "normal" rainwater pH of 5.5? In Colorado, two of the states rainwater test centers recorded the average as about 4.8 pH annually. Colorados rainwater pH is for the most part below what is considered normal. B. What trends in the data do you see for your state? I noticed that the trends reveal that the rainwater pH stays the same for about two years then jumps up or down and repeats the cycle. C. What are the major contributors of acid rain in your state? In Colorado we have many state and government owned parks, one of them being the Rocky Mountain National Park, the parks ecosystems can become severely damaged from the acid rain. The acid rain is caused from the excess amount of Carbon Dioxide created that the plants are unable to consume, which eventually bonds with the Dihydrogen Oxide causing acid rain from the carbonic acid. Acid rain has primarily impacted high-elevation spruce trees that grow on the ridges of the Appalachian Mountains from Maine to Georgia, including spruce trees in the Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. D. What is your state government doing to reduce and prevent acid rain? Check your states Department of Ecology Web site or other related sited. Colorado is trying to reduce acid rain by decreasing the amount of pollution found in the air. Vehicle emissions tests provide great information on which automobiles create the most waste. E. What can you do to help prevent acid rain in your state? I can help to prevent acid rain by being a conscious consumer and environmentalist, which means not using excess amounts of nonrenewable resources and making an effort to get more oxygen circulating in the air to counterbalance the excess amount of Carbon Dioxide.

Madeleine Weitzner Period.7 Due: 10/4/10