Testing for the most acidic rainfall in the United States Christina Taylor, Dr. Theodore A. Endreny

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Testing for the most acidic rainfall in the
United StatesChristina Taylor, Dr. Theodore A.
Endreny
Meteorology, FOR 338, SUNY ESF
INTRODUCTION Acid Rain beyond natural levels
is a serious problem with disastrous effects. An
assessment of the extent of the problem locally
and by state was undertaken in this data review
research. Scientists discovered, and have
confirmed, that sulfur dioxide (SO2) and
nitrogen oxides (NOx) are the primary causes of
acid rain Acid rain occurs when these gases react
in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other
chemicals to form acidic compounds. Sunlight
increases the rate of most of these reactions.
The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid
and nitric acid. As a result of the following
atmospheric chemical reactions with Nitrous
oxide, acid rain will be produced SO2 H2O
H2SO3SO2 1/2O2 SO3 H2SO4 As a result
of these following chemical reactions with sulfur
dioxide, acid rain will be produced NO 1/2O2
NO22NO2 H2O HNO2 HNO3NO2 OH
HNO3
Discussion
My Results
The acidity of substances dissolved in water is
commonly measured in terms of pH. According to
this measurement scale solutions with pHs less
than 7 are described as being acidic, while a pH
greater than 7.0 is considered alkaline.
Precipitation normally has a pH between 5.0 to
5.6 because of natural atmospheric reactions
involving carbon dioxide. Precipitation is
considered to be acidic when its pH falls below
5.6 (which is 25 times more acidic than pure
water). Some sites in eastern North America have
precipitation with pHs as low as 2.3 or about
1000 times more acidic than natural rain.
Regional geographic trends were considered
using EPA data, mapped below. These data support
those observed in this research.
From my experiment I discovered that Louisville,
Kentucky had an average PH level of 4.5, Lanoka
Harbor, New Jersey has an average PH level of
4.4, and Fort Myers, Florida had an average PH
level of 4.8. It displayed how the Northeast
does have a higher acidity than any other section
of the United States, considering pH levels for
Florida and Kentucky were higher. It showed how
places with less industry, like Florida have a
more pure rain than those with industry and those
who are along the path of the pollution blown
from industries.
Conclusion
From this experiment it was demonstrated that
acid rain has geographical trends, and is most
severe in the Northeast. From other studies it is
clear how and where it is produced, the Midwest
and Ohio Valley. Considering this information,
we can begin to create methods to prevent this
acid rain from occurring, and we start by
specializing in these particularly needy areas.
Bar Graph Representing Most Acidic Rain by State
Methods and Materials Three experiments in
three different states were performed Kentucky,
Florida, and New Jersey. In these experiments, I
collected several samples of rain water over a
five day period in October, and using a PH meter
I measured the rains acidity. The only
materials necessary were rain samples from
Louisville, Lanoka Harbor, and Fort Myers and a
PH meter. To reinforce this information, I used
an equation used to determine PH pH - log
H3O H3O is expressed in powers of 10 from
10 -14 to 10 0 1 example If H3O 1 X 10
-4, the negative log of H3O 4. The pH equals
4, indicating an extremely acidic solution. 2
example If H3O 1 X 10 -5, the negative log
of H3O 5. The pH equals 5, indicating an
fairly acidic solution.
EPA PH results
References
Tyson, Peter. Acid Rain. New York, New York
Chelsea House. 1992. Alm, Leslie. Science,
Technology, and Human Values. Scientists and
the Acid Rain Policy In Canada and the US.
1997 349
Roberts, Leslie. Acid Rain Forgotten, Not
Gone. U.S. News World Report. Nov. 1999
70. Environmental Protection
Agency
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Christina TaylorFor 338EndrenyNovember 23,
2003 Where does the
most acidic rain fall in the United States?
I always wondered why the Adirondack
Mountains and Central New York were notorious for
being extremely acidic. To establish the answer
to my question, I researched the issue and
discovered that this high acidity was caused by
the large number of cities, the dense population,
and the concentration of power and industrial
plants in the Northeastern part of the Unites
States. In addition, the prevailing wind
direction most often brings storms and pollution
from the Midwest to the Northeast. I wanted to
verify this theory, though Thus, I set up my own
experiments. In these experiments, I ended up
gathering several rain water samples and
measuring their PH levels, in three different
states New Jersey, Kentucky, and Florida. The
only materials necessary for the experiment were
PH meters and the three rain samples. From the
results of the experiment, I concluded that
Louisville, Kentucky had a mean PH of 4.5, Lanoka
Harbor, New Jersey had a PH of 4.4, and Fort
Myers, Florida had an average PH of 4.8. My
experiment proved that the Northeast United
States does have the utmost acidity in the
country, how the Ohio Valley region had a
slightly less acidity, and how the Southern
United States was vastly less acidic than the
rest. Contentedly, my experiment proved to be
accurate to prior studies performed by the EPA.
Considering we now know from experiments, like
mine, where the majority of acid rain is produced
and where it is most prevalent, we can attempt to
prevent its occurrence in the future.
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