What causes natural acid rain?

Volcanic eruption. Volcanic eruptions release water vapor and gases such as carbon dioxide and monoxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen fluoride, ammonia, methane and silicon tetrafluoride. These gases react with water vapor and precipitate as acid rain.

What is the biggest cause of acid rain?

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) released into the air from fossil fuel power plants, vehicles and oil refineries are the biggest cause of acid rain today, according to the EPA.

It can be caused by decaying plants and animals or natural disasters, such as volcanoes, but the main cause of acid rain is the release of chemicals by humans. The main gases that lead to acid rain are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. When they come into contact with water and oxygen, they become acids.

What causes acid rain in the atmosphere?

What is acid rain Acid rain is rain that is unusually acidic; have an elevated level of hydrogen ions (low pH), generally caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.

What is the difference between acid rain and normal rain?

Normal rain is slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.6, while acid rain generally has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4. Decaying vegetation and erupting volcanoes release some chemicals that can cause acid rain, but most acid rain is a product of human activities. The biggest sources are coal-fired power stations, factories and cars.

Can a person be affected by acid rain?

Acid rain is no different, and those with underlying cardiovascular or lung conditions such as asthma may be particularly susceptible. So no, acid rain won't melt your fast, it'll just do what it does to everything else – slowly break you down and weaken you over time.

Why is acid rain referred to as wet deposition?

Acid rain is also called acid deposition because this term includes other forms of acid precipitation, such as snow. Acid deposition occurs in two ways: wet and dry. Wet deposition is any type of precipitation that removes acids from the atmosphere and deposits them on the Earth's surface.