pH on the down low

Acid Rain impacts:

Computing

It has similarly been shown that NOx, even though it is not usually considered to have as much of an effect as SO2, can have impacts on indoor areas as well. With it corroding computer systems because of its reaction with Copper, Zinc and Aluminium (Oesch, 1997).

Forest Biomass

Tree Rings patterns showing growth over time

Acid rain has devastating effects on natural ecosystems as well. Forest biomass has been declining in response to increases in acid rain. Calcium and Magnesium has been lost from the soil which is needed for plant development as a result of the leeching from the acid rain, and draining of the mineral rich water (Likens,1996).

So its not just deforestation we should be worried about! Trees will continue to decline and be suffer from illnesses because of the acidification they experience if we do not cut back on our emissions!

Freshwater ecosystems

Finally, freshwater ecosystems are found to be struggling with their increased acidity as an effect of acid rain. A lot of research has been performed on the acidification of lakes in the UK because there is concern that the damage upon the ecology may be irreversible (Monteith, 2013) . Using lake cores, diatom analysis has been used to infer pH values over the years in these lakes. The aim of this has been to attempt to estimate a pH value prior to the impacts of acid rain from anthropogenic emissions, and use it as a target to restore the lakes to their natural conditions(Battarbee,2008).

Dying fish as a result of acid rain

It has been observed in the cores that there has been a significant decline in the concentration of Sulfur from mid-1990s onward (Monteith, 2013)! This is greatly encouraging, however the impacts on the lakes has not been as noticeable or dramatic. A spatial variation is observable across the UK, with the initially most acidified sites responding the fastest and increasing their pH, whereas others haven't as much.  The magnitude of the impacts have been correlated with the availability of Carbon and whether the site has been afforested. This is because water with a higher pH has a higher solubility to organic Carbon (which has positive impacts on the lakes ecosystems).

So the good news is; pH is decreasing as a result of a successful reduction of emissions. 

Bad news; Concentrations of Sulfur and Nitrate remains abnormally high in relation to post industrial levels, so restoration must continue, and emissions must continue to drop to reach target levels. 

Battarbee et al, 2005, interestingly mentions that the rapid climate change we are experiencing may mean that we need to alter our target levels of restoration as conditions change, as those targets may no longer be feasible. Increasing atmospheric temperatures will lead to increased surface water temperatures, which will decrease their solubility of Oxygen, which impacts all living organisms. 

Climate change has impacts on everything apparently...!