Alternative Energy Wake-Up Calls: Smog, Acid Rain, and Global Warming | What Causes Global Warming

Posted by Sarah Green on December 16th, 2011 filed in Global Warming

Smog

The particles and gases from auto exhaust pipes can create photochemical smog. This form of smog is very often found in hot, dry and bright cities like Athens in Greece, Cairo in Egypt and Mexico City. The automobile exhaust pipes pump out gases like nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and ozone that react together in the sunlight. The result is a smoggy haze over the city.

L. A. in California, USA, has suffered badly in the past from smog. The smog was due in part to the exhaust smoke from millions of vehicles, but also from the local geography. The city lies by the coast and is surrounded by mountains. In certain climate conditions, the smoggy air would be surrounded over the town, and air quality would fall continuously till atmospheric conditions modified and the smoggy air got replaced by cleaner air. A misty layer can still be seen over L. A. , but the level of contaminants has fallen significantly due to new laws and improved pollution control on automobiles.

Acid rain

Coal-fired power stations release sulphur dioxide, particularly those burning lignite coal. This gas, together with nitrous oxides from auto exhausts, reacts with water in the air to form feeble acids. These acids create acid rain — rain that has got a lower pH than normal. Acid rain erodes and damages the exterior of buildings and statues, especially than made of limestone.

Acid rain falling on conifer forests in mountainous areas of Scandinavia, North America and central Europe has been the cause of long—term damages to the trees. The soils become more acid and this leads to damaging compounds,eg aluminium, to be released. The first indications of damage are a tree’s needles becoming brown and full branches dying. Increased astringency in the soil damages trees ‘ roots, and this decreases their power to take up water and nutrients. The trees become more vulnerable to frost and illness. Eventually, they die.

Lakes are also exposed. The acidic rainwater drains off soils into the lake, making it become even more acid. Aluminum in the water causes the gills of fish to supply more mucus, and this prohibits them from getting sufficient oxygen from the water. In extreme cases, all life in the water may die.

Global warming

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is called a ‘greenhouse ‘ gas, as it traps heat in the atmosphere. The presence of some greenhouse gases keeps the Earth at a temperature of roughly 15C, which allows life to survive. A increase in the use of fossil fuels has caused the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to increase, too. More carbon dioxide implies more heat is trapped, and this has caused the average worldwide temperature to rise. This is called global warming.

The exposed solar power effects of global warming are uncertain, but it’s probable that the skyrocketing temperatures will disrupt climates around the globe, causing some regions to have lower rainfall and other regions to have more. The hotter temperatures will cause ice caps and glaciers to melt, which, mixed with the growth of water in oceans, will cause sea levels to rise, flooding low lying areas which are heavily populated. Acute weather events such as droughts and storms could also become more common.

Sarah Green is an environmental campaigner, activist, and strong believer in home made energy. In her spare time, she reports on DIY alternative energy blueprints and kits.