What causes acid rain? What is the effect of acid rain on natural habitats?

1 Answer
SCooke
Nov 4, 2017

Primarily Sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere, with some contributions from nitrogen oxides as well.

Explanation:

Sulfur and nitrogen oxides are a normal part of the geologic/environmental cycles. However, putting excess amounts of them into the atmosphere (primarily from fuel combustion) allows them to react (as normal) to form sulfuric and nitric acids.

The larger amounts of them can then be precipitated with normal rainfall. Because of the dissolved acids in the rainwater, this rain is "acidic" in nature. Excessive amount of "acid rain" have deleterious effects on plant and animal ecosystems - killing plant and aquatic life in many cases - and thus affecting the food chain for animals as well.
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Acid rain effects:
enter image source here (from National Geographic)

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