Acid rain significantly degrades the quality of the hydrosphere, the Earth's water system. It achieves this primarily through increased acidity and aluminum leaching.
Increased Acidity and Aluminum Leaching
Acid rain, formed when atmospheric pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water, lowers the pH of water bodies (lakes, streams, rivers, oceans). As detailed in multiple sources, including the EPA (https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects-acid-rain) and National Geographic (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/acid-rain), this increased acidity isn't just a direct toxic effect. It also causes aluminum to leach from the soil into the water. This combination – increased acidity and elevated aluminum levels – creates a highly toxic environment for aquatic life. The USGS (https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/acid-rain-and-water) further explains how this impacts the chemistry of the aquatic environment.
- Toxicity to Aquatic Organisms: The combined effect of lower pH and increased aluminum is lethal to many fish, amphibians, and other aquatic organisms. This is explicitly mentioned in the National Geographic and other referenced articles.
- Disruption of Aquatic Ecosystems: The death of key species due to acid rain disrupts entire aquatic food webs, leading to biodiversity loss and ecosystem instability.
Other Hydrosphere Impacts
Beyond direct toxicity, acid rain has other effects:
- Increased Soil Erosion: Acid rain accelerates the weathering of rocks and minerals in the soil. This, as noted in https://homework.study.com/explanation/how-does-acid-rain-affect-the-hydrosphere.html, can alter soil structure, leading to increased soil erosion and water runoff.
- Water Quality Degradation: Acidification impacts water quality, making it unsuitable for drinking and other human uses.
- Damage to Infrastructure: Acid rain can also damage infrastructure reliant on water systems. The USGS notes the impact of acid precipitation on structures such as those made of marble and limestone.
