Effects of Acid Rain on Ecosystems

In the past century, one of the greatest threats to North America's aquatic ecosystem has been the widespread acidification of hundreds of thousands of waterways. Acid rain has effected plant and animal life within aquatic ecosystems, as well as microbiologic activity by affecting the rates of decomposition and the accumulation of organic matter. What causes this poisonous rain, and what can be done to improve North America's water quality and prevent future catastrophes? To answer …

…and 3.2 million tons for Canada) and plans were implemented for the reduction of nitrogen oxides. Phase II of the Clean Air Act will kick off this year, mandating even steeper cuts in sulfur emissions. The National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) has 191 sites across the country which measure the emissions of sulfur dioxide. Establishing more organizations such as this will help us understand how and where to combat the acid rain problem.