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Acid rain can affect the earth in many different ways. Below you can see how soil, trees, lakes, buildings and people are affected when acid rain falls on the earth.
Soil
Acid rain can damage soil by destroying many vital substances and washing away the nutrients. Soils naturally contain small amounts of poisonous minerals such as Mercury and aluminum. Normally these minerals do not cause serious problems, but when acid rain falls on the ground and the acidity of the soil increases, chemical reactions occur allowing the poisonous minerals to be taken up by the plant roots. The trees and plants are then damaged and any animals eating them will absorb the poisons, which will stay in their bodies.
Trees
The acid takes important minerals away from the leaves and the soil. Without these minerals, trees and plants cannot grow properly. Damaged trees lose their leaves, have stunted growth and damaged bark. This makes it easier for fungi and insects to attack the tree, and as a result the tree may die.
Acid rain not only damages soil but can also affect the trees directly. Pollutants can block or damage the little pores on the leaves through which the plant takes in the air it needs to survive.
The tree on the right is normal, while the tree on the left is less dense. This is an effect of acid rain.
Lakes and water
As the lake becomes more acidic the fish find it more difficult to reproduce successfully. It is not only the acid in the water that kills them, but also poisonous minerals like aluminum that are washed out of the surrounding ground into the water. The birds that eat the fish also begin to suffer as the harmful minerals build up inside
their bodies.
Buildings
When sulphur pollutants fall on to buildings made from limestone and sandstone they react with minerals in the stone to form a powdery substance that can be washed away by rain. Famous buildings like the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Taj Mahal in India and St. Paul's Cathedral in London have all been damaged by this sort of air pollution.
Acid rain can also damage stained glass windows in churches, railway lines and steel bridges. The acid rain slowly eats away them all. Building materials crumble away, metals are corroded, the colour of paint is spoiled, leather is weakened and crusts form on the surface of glass.
Taj Mahal in India
Health
When we breath in air pollution, the very fine particulates can easily enter our lungs, where they can cause breathing problems, and over time even lead to cancer. Drinking water is contaminated with chemicals released by acid rain. Aluminium and lead in water can be poisonous at high levels.
What else can I help you with?
What has acid rain do to the black forest?
Kiled trees do to photothisenise that is taking in the acid rain for water which is killing the plants
The effects of acid rain?
Acid rain can damage the environment and poison plants and animals. Acid rain can be any where from mild to very high in toxicity
How does acid rain effect plant?
the plant's will change its color
Which is more sensitive to acid rain trees or fish?
Fish are more sensitive to acid rain than trees. Acid rain can lower the pH levels of water bodies, making it more acidic and harmful to aquatic life like fish. Trees can also be affected by acid rain, but fish are generally more vulnerable due to their direct exposure to water contaminated with acidic compounds.
Why is acid rain a major biological concern?
Acid rain damages both living and nonliving things. Acid rain has been implicated in the destruction of pine trees, particularly in Germany.
Does acid rain have no effect on trees?
Acid rain can damage the leaves on trees and can kill them.
Why is acid rain terrible?
because it ruins the environment by damaging building and plants like trees.
Acid rain caused plants and trees to do what?
Acid precipitation falling on land washes away certain mineral ions, such as calcium and magnesium ions, that ordinarily help buffer the soil solution and are essential nutrients for plant growth. Since these nutrients are washed away, the plants and trees suffer and face a fate of death.[Acid rain caused plants and trees to die.]
What are two harmful effects of acid rain?
Acid rain can damage trees and forests by leaching nutrients from the soil and weakening the trees' ability to withstand other stressors. Acid rain can harm aquatic ecosystems by making lakes and rivers more acidic, which can lead to the death of fish and other aquatic organisms.
Which plant can be used in a science experiment to show the affects of acid rain?
In fact, all plants can be used to test the effects of acid rain. A smaller and leafier plant would be recommended. However, since acid corrodes almost any plant, most are equally effective in testing results.
What are the long term and short term effects of acid rain?
Short term effects of acid rain include damage to plants, aquatic life, and infrastructure. Long term effects may include soil acidification, reduced biodiversity, and corrosion of buildings and monuments. Acid rain can also contribute to respiratory problems in humans and animals.
What are two effects of acid rain?
Two effects of acid rain are damage to vegetation, including trees and crops, and the acidification of bodies of water, which can harm aquatic life. Acid rain can also accelerate the deterioration of buildings and monuments made of limestone or marble.
