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_acid rain _
By: josh tomas
The Effects of Acid Rain on Lakes and Trees Acid rain has long been argued by
societys most formidable minds. It indirectly destroys ecosystems that
surround forests and lakes (Taylor, 26). People need to make decisions dealing
with the destruction of nature and the role acid rain plays in it. Acid rain
destroys millions of forests and lakes (Taylor, 26 ). Studies show that acid
rain is one of the largest contributing factors in the death of forests and
lakes. Acid rain indirectly kills millions of acres of forestland each decade.
In the 1960s, people found that acid rain fall was unhealthy and damaging to
forests (Baines, 20). Acid rain does not kill the trees directly. Acid rain
makes the tree weaken and poisons it with toxic substances that are slowly
released from the soil (EPA). When the trees weaken from the acid, it has a
harder time fighting off adversaries such as fungi, diseases, and frost so
subsequently it dies. Around the 1970s the acid rain dilemma got worse, the
acid rain has put trees in danger and now they are starting to die off. The
effects of acid rain on a tree is shown if it has less foliage, yellow spots
and produces many cones (Baines, 22). Secondly, acid rain damages the trees
through the soil by releasing metals that harm them even further (Lucas, 72).
Acid rain makes the trees lose their leaves, so when the trees try to regrow
their leaves, buds come instead, this process is called a panic shoot (M. 15).
Large land areas which used to be covered with forests are now gone, dead or
dying (Baines, 21). Around the 1980s more than half Kotto 2 of the
trees in Germany had signs of acid rain damage (Edmonds, 14). Now it is known
that acid rain is one of the biggest contributing factors in the death and
deterioration of natureLakes support thousands of species of marine life,
thats why its a shame that they are constantly being poisoned by acid rain.
Scientists have studied the effects on acid rain in lakes for several decades
(Lucas, 49). Scientist use their observations to determine whether lakes are
acidous or not. People can tell if there is acid rain in a lake if the water
is clean and crystal clear, but with hardly no life in it (Baines, 16).The
acid rain can enter the lakes by way of snow, rain, sleet, hail, dew, and fog.
Many fish are depleted due to the effects of acid rain (Lucas, 57). The acid
rain that falls in the lakes is making it difficult for fish to reproduce
successfully (Edmonds,18). When the acid falls in lakes, almost everything in
them dies. The only thing that can survive in an acidic lake are the hardest
plants and animals (M.19). Therefore, acid rain is very dangerous to lakes and
the life that they support. People must do everything within their power and
reach to lower the acid content of the atmosphere, the same atmosphere that
surrounds every aspect of their lives Again, people need to make important
decisions that deal with the destruction of nature and the role acid rain
plays in that. Acid rain plays a large role in the death of forests by
poisoning the trees and leaving them vulnerable to all other ailments. Acid
rain causes the death of the species living in the lakes through the poison
acid rain leaves in them. With the help of the general public, the dream of an
atmosphere free of acid rain can finally become a reality. Acid rain is one of
the largest contributing factors in the death of forests and lakes.
Word Count: 612
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