EnvironmentEnvironmental Concerns al Concerns of of Germany -->Germany -->Acid RainAcid Rain

9/11/139/11/13

Acid Rain in Acid Rain in GermanyGermany

•Over the past 30 years, acid Over the past 30 years, acid rain has been damaging rain has been damaging Germany.Germany.– It damages soil, harms trees, It damages soil, harms trees, eats holes in the surfaces of eats holes in the surfaces of statues/buildings, statues/buildings, pollutes rivers, & pollutes rivers, & kills wildlife. kills wildlife.

What is Acid Rain?What is Acid Rain?•Acid rain is a result of air Acid rain is a result of air

pollution.pollution.•When any type of fuel is When any type of fuel is

burnt, lots of different burnt, lots of different chemicals are produced and chemicals are produced and released into the air and mix released into the air and mix with water in the clouds.with water in the clouds.

What is Acid Rain?What is Acid Rain?• The rain from these clouds The rain from these clouds

then falls as very weak acid.then falls as very weak acid.– It’s not acidic enough to It’s not acidic enough to burn your skin, but it’s very burn your skin, but it’s very harmful for harmful for the environment. the environment.

Germany - Its Own Germany - Its Own Worst EnemyWorst Enemy• Main source of acid rain is smoke from Main source of acid rain is smoke from

factories (burning fuels like natural gas, factories (burning fuels like natural gas, coal, & oil)coal, & oil)– Germany is a top manufacturing Germany is a top manufacturing

country—one of the world leaders in country—one of the world leaders in cars, steel, & chemical products, so cars, steel, & chemical products, so its economy depends on these its economy depends on these factories.factories.

• Cars & buses also produce Cars & buses also produce harmful gases harmful gases

Effects of Acid Rain Effects of Acid Rain in Germanyin Germany

•Acid rain has destroyed Acid rain has destroyed nearly half of the Black nearly half of the Black Forest!Forest!

• This has harmed Germany’s This has harmed Germany’s economy because economy because one of its major one of its major natural resources natural resources is timber. is timber.

Effects of Acid Effects of Acid Rain:Rain:•Acid rain can effect trees in

several different ways, it may:–dissolve and wash away the nutrients and minerals in the soil which helps the trees to grow.

–cause the release of harmful substances such as aluminum into the soil.

Branches from a tree in Germany’s Black Forest show needle loss & discoloration

from acid rain

Effects of Acid Effects of Acid Rain…Rain…

Effects of Acid Effects of Acid Rain…Rain…

Acid rain can cause erosion in Acid rain can cause erosion in stone statues…stone statues…

Germany’s Germany’s solution:solution:• Power plants that use water Power plants that use water

power are replacing many coal-power are replacing many coal-burning factoriesburning factories– Developing new types of Developing new types of

energy, such as wind turbines & energy, such as wind turbines & solar powersolar power

• German government has passed German government has passed laws to reduce emissions from laws to reduce emissions from cars & factoriescars & factories