EGEE 101
Energy and the Environment

Lesson 10: Acid Deposition

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Overview

Dr. Mathews and the Nittany Lion shrine (this will be you after graduation!)
Click Here for a Transcript of the Lesson Introductory Video

[Dr. Mathews is standing next to the famous Penn State Nittany Lion Shrine.] Dr. Mathews: Most of you all know that I am standing by the Nittany Lion Shrine. A beautiful artistic rendering of a puma or a mountain lion. It has been standing here since 1942. And every home game it has its own honor guard to protect it from visiting fans from desecrating it with other colors or symbols or even paint. But how would you feel if it had been under attack every single day? Ever since 1942, it’s been made under attack from acid rain or acid deposition. We're in the center of the northeast and we have some of the highest PH rainwater in the United States. This is made out of limestone and it is a single 32-ton block that has been beautifully rendered into this rather wonderful lion. But when it rains and this acid-y content it's going to start eating away at this limestone block. There is also acidic snow, there is also dry deposition, and there is acid fog. All of this is attacking this statue. But since 1990 and the clean air act of 1992 we have tried to reduce our sulfur dioxide emissions and reduce or NOx emissions. How we did that and the impact that it has had on our air quality and on our PH of the water is what we are looking at today. [Video ends]

Credit: JPM

Lesson Objectives

This lesson will be successful if, when you're through with it, you're able to do the following:

  • Explain acid deposition formation and its effects
  • Articulate policy for emission reduction
  • Explain technologies for abatement
  • Discuss efficiency increases for pollution reduction