Acid precipitation, otherwise known as acid rain is when the pH of rain is unusually low. The hydrogen content of the rain is higher causing the acidity. Acid rain can come from natural sources like volcanoes and different decaying vegetation, but also can come from man made things like factories and fossil fuel combustion emissions. Once these emissions are released into the atmosphere, the SO2 gasses react with other gases like water and oxygen to form things like sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
Some of the biggest effects acid rain can have on life on earth is how it can impact the water. The acid rain causes the water to be acidic and causes the different water environments to absorb the aluminum that comes from the soil into the lakes and streams. The combination of the acidity of the water and the aluminum make the waters very toxic to the life that lives there. Eventually, things higher up in the food chains, like the birds, are affected because the lower levels in the water are being impacted so negatively by the acid rain. Forests are also affected because the acid rain takes away many of the nutrients which impacts the water intake of the different plants.
The effects of the acid rain can definitely be reduced. The biggest thing that would reduce acid rain would be to reduce the burning of fossil fuels; or better yet stop burning them completely. Alternative fuel sources need to continue to be developed and improved. However, the effects of the acid precipitation would take years to disappear. Each individual can help reduce the acid rain by conserving energy. By doing simple things like taking the bus, riding a bike, and reducing ones dependence on cars, the effects of acid rain can begin to be reduced!
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