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Impacts of Acid RainAir Pollution Cr run downes Acid Rain Scientists have discovered that air pollution from the burning of dodo fuels is the major cause of acid pelting. Acidic deposition, or acid rain as it is commonly known, occurs when emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and oxidants to realize various acid-forming compounds. This mixture forms a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Sunlight increases the rate of most of these reactions. These compounds then fall to the universe in either wet form (such as rain, snow, and fog or dry form (such as gas and offseticles). About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition as gases and dry particles. The wind blows these acidic particles and gases onto buildings, cars, homes, and trees. In some instances, these gases and particles can eat away the things on which they settle. Dry deposited gases and particles are sometimes washed from trees and other surfaces by rainstorms. When that happens, the runoff water adds those acids to the acid rain, making the combination more acidic than the falling rain alone. The combination of acid rain plus dry deposited acid is called acid deposition. Prevailing winds transport the compounds, sometimes hundreds of miles, across state and subject area borders. Mobile sources (transportation) also contribute significantly to NOx emissions. Overall, over 20 million tons of SO2 and NOx are emitted into the atmosphere each year. Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees at high elevations (for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet in elevation). In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nations cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, SO2 and NOx gases and their particulate matter derivat ives, sulfates and nitrates, contribute to visibility degradation and impact public health. Acid rain primarily affects medium bodies of water, that is, those that rest atop soil with a limited ability to neutralize acidic compounds (called "buffering capacity"). Many lakes and streams examined in a National Surface water Survey (NSWS) suffer from chronic acidity, a condition in which water has a constant low pH level. In some sensitive lakes and streams, acidification has wholly eradicated fish species, such as the brook trout, leaving these bodies of water barren.