Effects of acid rain

Forests

Over the years, scientists, foresters and others have seen some forests grow more slowly, without knowing why. Trees in these forests are not growing as fast as usual. Leaves and needles turn brown and fall where it should be green and healthy. Researchers suspect that acid rain in May, due to slower growth in these forests. However, acid rain is not the only cause of these conditions. Other air pollutants, insects, diseases and drought are other causes that are harmful to plants. Also, some areas receive acid rain show considerable damage, while other regions receive approximately the same amount of acid rain, does not appear to be harmed at all. However, after many years of collecting information on the chemistry and biology of forests, researchers have begun to understand how acid rain on forest soils, trees and other plants.

Acid rain forest floor

A shower of spring in the woods and falls within the washing of the leaves from the trees of the forest below. Some of the soil absorbs water. Some streams on the ground and flows into a stream, river or lake. This territory, in May to offset part or all of the acidity of rainwater acidic. The soil's capacity to resist changes in pH is called buffering capacity. A buffer resists changes in pH. Without buffering, the pH of the soil should be changed quickly. Midwestern states like Indiana and Nebraska are the soils that are well regulated. Places in the mountainous northeast, like New York, the Adirondack Mountains, have soils that are less able to buffer acid. Since there are many natural sources of acid forest soils, soils in these areas are more susceptible to the effects of acid rain.

How acid rain Harms Trees

Acid rain does not usually kill trees directly. However, it is more likely to weaken the trees to allow them damage, limiting the nutrients available to them, or poisoning with toxic substances slowly released into the soil. The scientists believe the acidic water dissolves nutrients and minerals in the soil and then washes before trees and other plants can use them to develop. At the same time, acid rain, causes the release of toxic substances such as aluminum in the soil. It is very harmful to trees and plants, even if communication is limited. Toxic substances and wash basins in transporting substances into streams, rivers and lakes. Less of these toxic substances released during the rainfall is cleaner. Even if the territory is well regulated, there may be damage caused by acid rain. In forests of high mountain areas receive more acid acid clouds and fog that often surround them. These clouds and fog are often more acidic than rainfall. When leaves are frequently bathed in this acid fog, their protective waxy layer can be damaged. The loss of the layer of leaf damages and the creation of brown spots. Leaves turn sunlight into food for the development of energy. This process is called photosynthesis. When leaves are damaged, can not produce enough food for the tree of energy to remain healthy. After the trees are weakened, it can be more easily attacked by diseases or insects that ultimately kill them. Weakened trees may also be more easily injured by cold. Acid rain can harm other plants in the same way that affects the trees. Food crops are generally not seriously affected, however, because farmers often add fertilizers to the soil nutrients to replace washed away. They may add, also, be crushed limestone soil. Limestone is a material base and increase the capacity of soils to act as a buffer against acidity.

Water

The effects of acid rain are most clearly in the aquatic environment or water environments such as streams, lakes and marsh. Acid rain flows into streams, lakes and marshes, since the downward pressure on forests, fields, buildings and roads. Acid rain also falls directly on aquatic habitats. Most lakes and rivers have a pH between 6 and 8. However, some lakes are naturally acidic even without the effects of acid rain. Lakes and streams become acidic (pH decreases) when the same water and soil around them can not absorb the acid rain enough to neutralize it. In areas like the northern United States, where the soil is poor buffering, some lakes have pH under 5. One of the most acidic lakes reported is Little Echo Pond in Franklin, New York. Little Echo Pond has a pH 4,2. Lakes and streams in the western United States is not acidic. Due to differences in emissions and winds, the levels of acid deposition is generally lower in the western United States for the eastern U.S..