Physics project
ACID RAIN
Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of
precipitation with acid components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the
ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog
or even dust that is acidic. It has a pH of 4.2 to 4.4
CAUSES OF ACID RAIN
Acid rain occurs when sulfur (IV) oxide or any nitrogen oxides are emitted into the
atmosphere and transported by wind or air currents. The SO 2 and NOx react with
water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These then
mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground. While a small
portion of the SO2 and NOX that cause acid rain is from natural sources such as
volcanoes, most of it comes from the burning of fossil fuels.
FORMS OF ACID DEPOSITION
Acid deposition can exist in two forms. Wet deposition which is commonly known
as Acid rain, and Dry deposition.
• Wet deposition: Wet acid deposition refers to the transport of acids to,
and deposition on, surfaces such as trees, buildings, and the ground
after the acids (SO2 and NOx) have been dissolved in an aqueous
medium such as water. Wet deposition can fall in the form of rain,
snow, fog or hail.
• Dry Deposition: acidic particles and gases can also deposit from the
atmosphere in the absence of moisture as dry deposition. The acidic
particles and gases may deposit to surfaces (water bodies,
vegetation, buildings) quickly or may react during atmospheric
transport to form larger particles that can be harmful to human
health. When the accumulated acids are washed off a surface by the
next rain, this acidic water flows over and through the ground, and
can harm plants and wildlife, such as insects and fish. The amount of
acidity in the atmosphere that deposits to earth through dry
deposition depends on the amount of rainfall an area receives. For
example, in desert areas the ratio of dry to wet deposition is higher
than an area that receives several inches of rain each year.
pH OF ACID RAIN
Acidity and alkalinity are measured using a pH scale for which 7.0 is neutral.
The lower a substance's pH the more acidic it is; the higher a substance's
pH the more alkaline it is. Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6; it is slightly
acidic because carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves into it forming weak carbonic
acid. Acid rain usually has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4.
Greenhouse effect
Greenhouse effect is the natural warming of the earth that results when
gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun that would otherwise
escape into space. The process was identified by scientists in the 1800s.
Sunlight, with the natural greenhouse effect process, makes the earth habitable. While
around 30 percent of the solar energy—the light and heat from the sun—that reaches
our world is reflected back into space, the rest is either absorbed by the atmosphere or
the earth’s surface. This process, which is constantly happening around the globe,
warms the planet. This heat is then radiated back up in the form of invisible infrared
radiation. While some of this infrared light continues on into space, the vast majority
gets absorbed by atmospheric gases, known as greenhouse gases, causing further
warming.
But higher concentrations of greenhouse gases, and carbon dioxide (CO2) in
particular, are causing extra heat to be trapped and average global temperatures to
rise. For most of the past 800,000 years—much longer than human civilization has
existed—the concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere was roughly between 200 and
280 parts per million. (In other words, there were 200 to 280 molecules of the gases
per million molecules of air.) But in the past century, that concentration has jumped. In
2013, driven up largely by the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, CO2 in the
earth’s atmosphere surpassed 400 parts per million—a concentration not seen on the
planet for millions of years. As of 2023, it has reached more than 420 parts per million,
which is 50 percent higher than preindustrial levels.
What are greenhouse gases?
Earth’s greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and warm the planet. The main
gases responsible for the greenhouse effect include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, and water vapor. In addition to these natural compounds, synthetic fluorinated
gases also function as greenhouse gases. Different greenhouse gases have different
chemical properties and are removed from the atmosphere, over time, by various
processes. Carbon dioxide, for example, is absorbed by “carbon sinks” such as forests,
soil, and the ocean. Fluorinated gases are only destroyed by sunlight in the far upper
atmosphere.
Global Warming
Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earth's average surface temperature
over the past century primarily due to the greenhouse gases released as people burn
fossil fuels. It is the long-term heating of Earth's surface observed since the pre-
industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel
burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth's atmosphere.
Causes of climate Change
Generating power: Generating electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels causes a
large chunk of global emissions. Most electricity is still generated by burning coal, oil,
or gas, which produces carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide – powerful greenhouse gases
that blanket the Earth and trap the sun’s heat. Globally, a bit more than a quarter of
electricity comes from wind, solar and other renewable sources which, as opposed to
fossil fuels, emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.
Manufacturing goods: Manufacturing and industry produce emissions, mostly from
burning fossil fuels to produce energy for making things like cement, iron, steel,
electronics, plastics, clothes, and other goods. Mining and other industrial processes
also release gases, as does the construction industry. Machines used in the
manufacturing process often run on coal, oil, or gas; and some materials, like plastics,
are made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels. The manufacturing industry is one
of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Cutting down forests: Cutting down forests to create farms or pastures, or for other
reasons, causes emissions, since trees, when they are cut, release the carbon they
have been storing. Each year approximately 12 million hectares of forest are
destroyed. Since forests absorb carbon dioxide, destroying them also limits nature’s
ability to keep emissions out of the atmosphere. Deforestation, together with
agriculture and other land use changes, is responsible for roughly a quarter of global
greenhouse gas emissions.
Using transportation: Most cars, trucks, ships, and planes run on fossil fuels.
That makes transportation a major contributor of greenhouse gases,
especially carbon-dioxide emissions. Road vehicles account for the largest
part, due to the combustion of petroleum-based products, like gasoline, in
internal combustion engines. But emissions from ships and planes continue
to grow. Transport accounts for nearly one quarter of global energy-related
carbon-dioxide emissions. And trends point to a significant increase in
energy use for transport over the coming years.
Effects of global warming
As greenhouse gas concentrations rise, so does the global surface
temperature. The last decade, 2011-2020, is the warmest on record. Since
the 1980s, each decade has been warmer than the previous one. Nearly all
land areas are seeing more hot days and heat waves. Higher temperatures
increase heat-related illnesses and make working outdoors more difficult.
Wildfires start more easily and spread more rapidly when conditions are
hotter. Temperatures in the Arctic have warmed at least twice as fast as the
global average.
Oil Spillage
Oil spillage can be deffined as the release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons
into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human
[Link] term is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released
into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land.
Causes of Oil Spillages
Spills can be caused by:
1. people making mistakes or being careless.
2. equipment breaking down.
3. natural disasters such as hurricanes.
4. deliberate acts by terrorists, countries at war, vandals, or illegal dumpers.
Effects of oil spillages
Oil floats on saltwater (the ocean) and usually floats on freshwater (rivers
and lakes). Very heavy oil can sometimes sink in freshwater, but this
happens very rarely. Oil usually spreads out rapidly across the water
surface to form a thin layer that we call an oil slick. As the oil continues
spreading, the layer becomes thinner and thinner, finally becoming a very
thin layer called a sheen, which often looks like a rainbow.
Depending on the circumstances, oil spills can be very harmful to marine
birds and mammals and also can harm fish and shellfish. You may have
seen dramatic pictures of oiled birds and sea otters that have been affected
by oil spills. Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such
as sea otters, and the water-repelling abilities of a bird's feathers, thus
exposing these creatures to the harsh elements. Many birds and animals
also ingest (swallow) oil when they try to clean themselves, which can
poison them. Depending on just where and when a spill happens, from a few
up to hundreds or thousands of birds and mammals can be killed or injured.