Transcript Think! Think!! Think!!! What do you think happened to these trees?

Think! Think!! Think!!!
What do you think happened to these trees?
Acid Rain
Acid Rain –
Rain that
has a pH
lower
than 5.
Where does it come from?
• About half of our electricity is
generated by burning coal in power
plants. When coal is burned, it releases
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
They react with water in the air to
produce nitrous acid and sulfuric acids.
The acid falls as rain.
Where does it come from?
What effect does acid rain have on an
ecosystem?
• No direct effect on people
• Can kill aquatic animals like frogs,
fish, clams and snails and disrupt the
food web
• Ruins the quality of the soil by
washing away nutrients and releasing
toxic metals like aluminum and
mercury
What effect does acid rain have on an
ecosystem?
• Leaves and needles of plants and trees die and fall
off, stopping photosynthesis
What effect does acid rain have on an
ecosystem?
• Acid rain creates an acidic haze (fog) over an
ecosystem blocking out sunlight needed for
photosynthesis
Where does acid rain occur?
What has been done to stop it?
• 1990 amendment to the Clean Air Act – required power
plants to reduce the emissions of sulfur and nitrous oxides.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STOP IT?
• Conserve energy by turning off lights, computers,
televisions, video games, and others when you're not using
them.
• Buy equipment and appliances that uses less electricity
• Walk, bike or carpool
The Effect of Acid Rain on Seed Germination
• Germination – the process by which plants
emerge from seeds and begin to grow.
This is your ticket out of here!
•Name three ways
that acid rain effects
an aquatic
ecosystem.