Which country causes the most acid rain?
Acid rain is responsible for severe environmental destruction across the world and occurs most commonly in the North Eastern United States, Eastern Europe and increasingly in parts of China and India.
What gas is the biggest contributor to acid rain?
Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) released into the air by fossil-fuel power plants, vehicles and oil refineries are the biggest cause of acid rain today, according to the EPA. Two thirds of sulfur dioxide and one fourth of nitrogen oxide found in the atmosphere come from electric power generators.
What pollutant gases causes acid rain?
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain.
What pollutants most commonly cause acid rain?
Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents. The SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids.
Who gave the name of acid rain?
The phrase acid rain was first used in 1852 by Scottish chemist Robert Angus Smith during his investigation of rainwater chemistry near industrial cities in England and Scotland.
Which is the country most affected by acid rain?
Large number of factories and power plants in the North-eastern section of the U.S.A. Factories and estimated large numbers of cars affected the South-eastern section of Canada. British and European factories heavily affect Central Europe and Scandinavia. Massive amounts of factories in Asia mostly affect China and India by acid rain.
What causes acid rain in Sweden and Scandinavia?
This is why the pollution in one country can lead to acid rain in another country. For example, the acid rain in Sweden and Scandinavia is caused by the air pollution in Great Britain. Also, Canada’s acid rain isn’t caused by its air pollution, but by air pollution coming from the United States of America.
Which is the largest acid rain producer in South America?
Being the world 3rd producer of iron and 9th producer of steel, combined with a lot of car gas emissions, are all the facts that made Brazil the largest acid rain producer in the South America. The effects of acid rain can be seen in the major metropolitan areas, but also in the neighboring countries like Uruguay.
Where does acid rain originate in the atmosphere?
Although acid-rain gases may originate in urban areas, they are often carried for hundreds of miles in the atmosphere by winds into rural areas. That is why forests and lakes in the countryside can be harmed by acid rain that originates in cities. The environment can generally adapt to a certain amount of acid rain.