acid rain
Pollution from above
Acid rain is precipitation—rain, snow, or fog—that has absorbed pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, making it unusually acidic.
It damages forests, erodes stone buildings and monuments, and kills fish in lakes.
The term emerged in environmental discourse in the 1970s and 1980s as industrial emissions became a major concern: Acid rain from Midwestern power plants was killing lakes in the Adirondacks.
Substances released into air
- sulfur dioxideSO₂ gas compound
- nitrogen oxidesCombustion byproducts harming air quality
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
- coal burningCombusting fossilized carbon fuel
power plants · factories · smelters · combustion · industrial pollution · smokestack · vehicle exhaust · refineries
Federal pollution standards law
- scrubbersEquipment removing pollutants
- desulfurizationRemoving sulfur from substances
- cap and tradeLimits plus tradable allowances
- environmental lawStatutes protecting natural systems
pollution control · international agreements · remediation · EPA · environmental policy
Widespread tree death phenomenon
- fish killsMass aquatic animal deaths
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
- chlorosisChlorophyll deficiency in plants
- aquatic ecosystemsWater-based biological communities
habitat destruction · eutrophication · dead zones · coral bleaching
Gradual wearing away
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- rustIron oxide coating
- paint damageHarm to colored finish
emissions
Substances released into air
- sulfur dioxideSO₂ gas compound
- nitrogen oxidesCombustion byproducts harming air quality
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
coal burning · power plants · factories · smelters · combustion · industrial pollution · smokestack · vehicle exhaust · refineries · chemical plants
Clean Air Act
Federal pollution standards law
- scrubbersEquipment removing pollutants
- desulfurizationRemoving sulfur from substances
- cap and tradeLimits plus tradable allowances
environmental law · pollution control · international agreements · remediation · EPA · environmental policy
forest decline
Widespread tree death phenomenon
- fish killsMass aquatic animal deaths
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
- chlorosisChlorophyll deficiency in plants
aquatic ecosystems · habitat destruction · eutrophication · dead zones · coral bleaching
erosion
Gradual wearing away
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- rustIron oxide coating
snowfall
Precipitation of frozen crystals
- environmental harmair pollution, water pollution, pollution, oil spills, deforestation
- Environmental problemsair pollution, water pollution, climate change, global warming, habitat loss
- pollutionair pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, smog, toxic waste
- Eco-crisesclimate change, global warming, oil spill, deforestation, biodiversity loss
- Acid Rainacidification, sulfur dioxide, SO2, nitrogen oxides, pH levels
- eco-disastersclimate collapse, oil spill, ocean warming, coral bleaching, biodiversity loss