Acid Rain
Noah Youngren
Acid rain is a form of air pollution. Acid is in all rain. Acid rain is rain, snow, sleet, hail and fog that has a greater acidic content than normal. It is caused by burning of oil, coal and natural gas. When they are burned they emit sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which undergo a chemical change when they rise into the atmosphere and are exposed to sunlight and moisture. They dissolve into solutions of sulfuric and nitric acid and return to earth in rain and other forms of precipitation.
Acid rain is worse in the northeast because the prevailing western wind makes Maine the nation’s “tailpipe”. Acid rain destroys lakes and streams and kills fish by raising the acid level in the water. It destroys forests by causing defoliation and corrodes monuments and buildings.
A way to reduce air pollution is to use a car that does not run on fossil fuels or an efficient hybrid car that runs on electricity and fossil fuels. Another way to reduce air pollution is to ride your bike to work (or school) or take public transportation. Yet another way is to conserve energy where ever you go.
