Acid Precipitation

Name:
Acid Precipitation
Detailed information:
(acid rain).Any form of precipitation (wet deposition) having a pH of 5.6 or less, the most important deleterious components being the sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, either emitted as stack gases in highly industrialized areas or resulting from volcanic activity. The most sensitive sections of the U.S. are the East and the extreme Northwest; southeastern Canada is also affected. Acid precipitation is not only destructive to fish and other freshwater life, but also kills certain species of trees (especially spruce) and corrodes metal and cement structures. Industrial use of coal is largely responsible for the incidence of acid rain, especially in the Northeast.See Dry Deposition.