Geography HL
Geography HL
13
Chapters
193
Notes
Option A - Freshwater – Drainage basins
Option A - Freshwater – Drainage basins
Option B - Oceans & Coastal Margins
Option B - Oceans & Coastal Margins
Option C - Extreme Environments
Option C - Extreme Environments
Option D - Geophysical Hazards
Option D - Geophysical Hazards
Option E - Leisure, Tourism & Sport
Option E - Leisure, Tourism & Sport
Option F - The Geography Of Food & Health
Option F - The Geography Of Food & Health
Option G - Urban Environments
Option G - Urban Environments
Unit 1 - Changing Population
Unit 1 - Changing Population
UNIT 2 - Global Climate - Vulnerability & Resilience
UNIT 2 - Global Climate - Vulnerability & Resilience
Unit 3 - Global Resource Consumption & Security
Unit 3 - Global Resource Consumption & Security
Unit 4 - Power, Places & Networks
Unit 4 - Power, Places & Networks
Unit 5 - Human Development & Diversity
Unit 5 - Human Development & Diversity
Unit 6 - Global Risks & Resilience
Unit 6 - Global Risks & Resilience
IB Resources
Unit 6 - Global Risks & Resilience
Geography HL
Geography HL

Unit 6 - Global Risks & Resilience

Uncover The Hidden Dangers Of Transboundary Acid Rain Pollution

Word Count Emoji
637 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 16th Oct 2024

Table of content

What is transboundary pollution (TBP)?

This refers to pollution that doesn't respect international boundaries - like acid rain. In simple words, it's pollution that can travel across borders, from one country to another.

Acid rain - how & why?

Acid rain is rainfall that's more acidic than normal due to human activities. Let's break this down:

  • Normal rain has a pH between 5 and 6, which is slightly acidic. This is because rain absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and forms weak carbonic acid.

  • If the pH of rain is less than 5.65, we call it 'acid rain'. This pH scale is logarithmic, meaning a decrease of one pH unit shows a tenfold increase in acidity. For example, pH 4 is 10 times more acidic than pH 5. In severe cases, acid rain can have a pH as low as 3!

  • Human activities, like burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), release pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. These pollutants combine with moisture and form weak sulphuric and nitric acids. Voila! We get acid rain.

  • Coal-fired power stations and vehicles are the main villains here. Power stations produce lots of sulphur dioxide, while vehicles release most of the nitrogen oxides.

  • Note: Natural gas is cleaner, causing less pollution because it contains little or no sulphur.

Dry & wet acid deposition

Pollutants can be deposited in two ways - dry or wet

  • Dry Deposition: Happens near the source of emission and damages nearby buildings and structures.

  • Wet Deposition: Happens when pollutants dissolve in precipitation. This can occur far from the source and is the main cause of TBP.

For example, rainfall in the northeastern USA has been recorded with pH values as low as 2.1, and this rain can fall at great distances from the source of the pollution.

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IB Resources
Unit 6 - Global Risks & Resilience
Geography HL
Geography HL

Unit 6 - Global Risks & Resilience

Uncover The Hidden Dangers Of Transboundary Acid Rain Pollution

Word Count Emoji
637 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 16th Oct 2024

Table of content

What is transboundary pollution (TBP)?

This refers to pollution that doesn't respect international boundaries - like acid rain. In simple words, it's pollution that can travel across borders, from one country to another.

Acid rain - how & why?

Acid rain is rainfall that's more acidic than normal due to human activities. Let's break this down:

  • Normal rain has a pH between 5 and 6, which is slightly acidic. This is because rain absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and forms weak carbonic acid.

  • If the pH of rain is less than 5.65, we call it 'acid rain'. This pH scale is logarithmic, meaning a decrease of one pH unit shows a tenfold increase in acidity. For example, pH 4 is 10 times more acidic than pH 5. In severe cases, acid rain can have a pH as low as 3!

  • Human activities, like burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), release pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. These pollutants combine with moisture and form weak sulphuric and nitric acids. Voila! We get acid rain.

  • Coal-fired power stations and vehicles are the main villains here. Power stations produce lots of sulphur dioxide, while vehicles release most of the nitrogen oxides.

  • Note: Natural gas is cleaner, causing less pollution because it contains little or no sulphur.

Dry & wet acid deposition

Pollutants can be deposited in two ways - dry or wet

  • Dry Deposition: Happens near the source of emission and damages nearby buildings and structures.

  • Wet Deposition: Happens when pollutants dissolve in precipitation. This can occur far from the source and is the main cause of TBP.

For example, rainfall in the northeastern USA has been recorded with pH values as low as 2.1, and this rain can fall at great distances from the source of the pollution.

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Geography HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟