Green Energy Wake-Up Calls: Acid Rain, Smog, and Global Warming
Posted by: Sarah Green / Category: Climate ChangeSmog
The particles and gases from auto exhaust pipes can create photochemical smog. This form of smog is very often found in hot, dry and bright cities like Athens in Greece, Cairo in Egypt and Mexico City. The automobile exhaust pipes pump out gases like nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and ozone that react together in the sunlight. The result is a smoggy haze over the city.
Los Angeles in California, USA, has suffered badly during the past from smog. The smog was due partly to the exhaust fumes from millions of automobiles, but also from the local geography. The town lies by the coast and is enclosed by mountains. In certain weather conditions, the smoggy air would be trapped over the city, and air quality would fall gradually until atmospheric conditions changed and the smoggy air was replaced by cleaner air. A hazy layer can still be seen over LA, but the level of pollutants has fallen dramatically due to new rules and improved pollution control on cars.
Acid rain
Coal-fired power stations release sulphur dioxide, especially those burning lignite coal. This gas, along with nitrous oxides from vehicle exhausts, reacts with water in the air to form weak acids. These acids create acid rain — rain that’s got a lower pH than standard. Acid rain erodes and damages the outside of buildings and statues, particularly than made from limestone.
Acid rain falling on conifer forests in mountainous areas of Scandinavia, North America and central Europe has been the cause of long—term damages to the trees. The soils become more acid and this leads to damaging compounds,eg aluminium, to be released. The first indications of damage are a tree’s needles becoming brown and full branches dying. Increased astringency in the soil damages trees ‘ roots, and this decreases their power to take up water and nutrients. The trees become more vulnerable to frost and illness. Eventually, they die.
Lakes are also exposed. The acidic rainwater drains off soils into the lake, leading it to become more acid. Aluminum in the water causes the gills of fish to provide more mucus, and this prevents them from getting sufficient oxygen from the water. In extraordinary cases, all life in the water may die.
Global warming
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is described as a ‘greenhouse ‘ gas, because it traps heat in the atmosphere. The presence of some greenhouse gases keeps the Earth at a temperature of approximately 15C, which permits life to survive. A recent increase in the usage of fossil fuels has caused the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to extend, too. More carbon dioxide implies that more heat is surrounded, and this has caused the average world temperature to rise. This is named global warming.
The exposed solar power consequences of global warming are uncertain, but it is likely the augmenting temperatures will interrupt climates around the world, causing some regions to have lower rainfall and other regions to have more. The warmer temperatures will cause ice caps and glaciers to melt, which, combined with the enlargement of water in seas, will cause sea levels to rise, flooding low lying areas which are heavily populated. Extreme weather events like droughts and typhoons could also get more common.
Sarah Green is an environmental campaigner, activist, and robust disciple of home made energy. In her free time, she reports on DIY alternate energy plans and kits.
