6.4 Acid Deposition

Significant Ideas

• • Acid deposition can impact living systems and the built environment.

  • The pollution management of acid deposition often involves cross-border issues.

Knowledge and Understanding

• 1. The combustion of fossil fuels produces sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen as primary pollutants. These gases may be converted into secondary pollutants of dry deposition (i.e. ash and dry particles) or wet deposition (i.e. rain and snow).

  2. The possible effects of acid deposition on soil, water and living organisms include:

     1. • direct effect—for example, acid on aquatic organisms and coniferous forests

        • indirect toxic effect—for example, increased solubility of metal (such as aluminum ions) on fish

        • indirect nutrient effect—for example, leaching of plant nutrients.

  3. The impacts of acid deposition may be limited to areas downwind of major industrial regions but these areas may not be in the same country as the source of emissions.

  4. Pollution management strategies for acid deposition include:

     1. • altering human activity—for example, through reducing use, or using alternatives to, fossil fuels; international agreements and national governments may work to reduce pollutant production through lobbying

        • regulating and monitoring the release of pollutants—for example, through the use of scrubbers or catalytic converters that may remove sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen from coal-burning power plants and cars.

  5. Clean-up and restoration measures may include spreading ground limestone in acidified lakes or recolonization of damaged systems—but the scope of these measures is limited.

Applications and Skills

1. Evaluate pollution management strategies for acid deposition.

Guidance

• The use of chemical symbols or chemical formulae is not required.

• Possible case studies of intergovernmental situations involving acid deposition to consider include the USA Midwest and Eastern Canada interaction, as well as the impact of industrial Britain, Germany and Poland on Sweden.

Key Vocabulary

• XYZ

Textbook Reading and/or Activities

Click HERE for a pdf of chapter 4.

• Pages x-xx

  • Challenge Yourself (p.x)

  • Worked Example (p.x-xx)

  • Exercises (p.x)

Notes

i-Biology Notes (Not available)

A detailed set of notes, created by Stephen Taylor, examining U1 - U8 and A1 - A4.

i-Biology Study Questions (Not available)

A series of questions, created by Stephen Taylor, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice.

Bioknowledgy Notes (Not available)

A detailed set of notes, created by Chris Paine, examining all of the IB learning expectations.

Bioknowledgy Study Questions (Not available)

A series of questions, created by Chris Paine, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice.

Learning Activities

Acid Rain

This article, published by the Norwegian Environment Agency, on May.11, 2015, examines the environmental impacts of transboundary air pollution. Follow up questions included.

Lab - Acid Deposition

This lab activity, prepared by Carolina Sciences, will help you better understand the causes and effects of acid deposition.

Virtual Lab - Where is Acid Rain Worst?

This virtual lab, prepared by McGraw-Hill, will help you better understand the regional effects of acid precipitation.

Supplemental Reading