Acid Rain in Norway

Acid Rain in Norway

Website Bibliography

1. Isherwood, Julian. "British Acid Rain Helps Our Trees, Says Norway." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/sweden/1403483/British-acid-rain-helps-our-trees-says-Norway.html>.

2. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ces.iisc.ernet.in%2Fenergy%2FHC270799%2FSOE%2Fsoeno97%2Facidrain%2Fpressure.htm>.

3. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <https://thegeographyofblackwood.wikispaces.com/file/view/Acid+rain+Case+Study.doc>.

4.N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <www.environment.no%2FTopics%2FAir-pollution%2FAcid-rain%2F>.

5. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Http://www.nasco.int/pdf/2005%20papers/CNL%2805%2934.pdf.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

BY ROHAN BHANDARI

This image shows the critical loads of acidity. They have decreased over the past years shown in image above. There is barely no loads of acidity that are more than 1200 from the data of 2010.

Acid Rain

3. Nitrogen emissions in Norway due to transport: Main sources for nitrogen emissions in Norway are from road and costal traffic and oil production. Total emission in 1995 was approximately 222,000 tones.

Summary

2. sulfur emissions in Norway due to industries: 63% of sulfur emissions are from industries particually the metallurgic or ferro-alloys. In, 1995 emission of S02 were 34,620. tonnes.

The graph shows the emissions change from 1990 to 2009. Norway has decreased severely in emissions and are just under the -80% mark.

The image shows that transport has the biggest affect for acid rain in Norway.

Causes of Acid rain in Norway

1. Emissions produced from Norway's neighboring countries: More than 90% of sulfur and 80% of nitrogen deposits in Norway originates from UK, Germany, Poland and other European countries. Factors contributing to the acid rain from other countries include coal fired power station and vehicles. Britain has alone contributed approximately 16% of the acid depositions in Norway.

The image on the left shows places of acid rain and polluted air emissions in the world. Europe has been included which shows that there is polluted air and problem of acid rain over there.

Shows that in Norway the process emissions (industries) are the biggest cause of acid rain.

This image shows the trees that have suffered from acid rain recently.

In Europe, policy has been effective in reducing soil and water acidification, while also reducing the severity of eutrophication from air pollution. Sulfur emissions from industry have dropped by about 25% in the last 10 years mainly due to fuel being used more efficiently. Estimates of future river catches by rod indicate an increase of 75 to 100 tons a year as a result of liming. Although, countries have agreed to reduce Sulphur emission it is not able to solve the problem entirely. In fact, Scientists have said a cut of 80-90% is required to prevent further damage to the environment. Norway needs to find more alternatives to cut down the Sulfur oxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions prevent acid rain.

Human activities are a major cause of acid rain. Factories, cars and power plants release sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in their emissions into the atmosphere. Power plants tend to release the majority of sulfur dioxide and the burning of fossil fuels produce much of the nitrogen oxides. These two compounds are carried away with the wind and travel far distances. When these chemicals, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, mix with the water molecules in the atmosphere, it makes it acidic. Eventually, they fall as rain, sleet, snow and fog on certain days.

The image shows the formation of Acid Rain.

Development of parts of cars

Further steps taken to reduce nitrogen being released in the atmosphere:

Hybrid cars are powered by batteries which starts the electric motor. The electric motor powers the generator to starts the engine. which in turn gives it energy to the wheels using the power split device.

Aluminium engines that use high technology to cause less nitrogen pollution

Norway has implemented many regulations and taxes on cars and petrol. The taxes increase depending on the motor size, so most cars on Norwegian roads are more energy efficient than in many other countries. Over the past years, new products have been installed into cars. Example: Aluminum engines which produce less pollution and clean diesel that helps the car go smoothly and makes the engine more efficient. Newer aluminum engines are being imported to Norway. Hybrid engines also add to the efficiency of the car and produce less emissions than a standard engine would. In addition, Norway subsidizes buses and trains in order to reduce the amount of cars on the roads.

Steps being taken to control acid rain in Norway:

Further steps taken to reduce sulfur being released in the atmosphere:

In 1979, Norway persuaded the Organization of Economic Cooperation

and Development (OECD) to issue regulations in the convention on long-rang transboundry air pollution. This was implemented by the Scandanavian countries to prevent emissions from neighboring countries to affect them. In the mid-1970s, the Soviet Union joined forces to push for a regional convention on acid rain. The Soviets were not concerned about acid rain as an environmental problem, but saw in it a potentially for furthering the friendship between them and the U.S. Due to this, in 1979, the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) was signed by thirty-three states, including Canada and the United States. This decreased the emissions though it did not give clear and immediate benefits.

Effects of acid rain in Norway

Norway is also producing the vast majority of the electricity via hydropower, which is renewable energy. This means that less harmful gasses are produced. Norway has also implemented some strict regulations for the industry with regards to pollution, and has reduced the use of "torching" to burn of excess gas from the oil production. Further more, Norway has injected CO2 into oil wells in order to store the gas.

1. Acidic lakes causing marine life to die: A serious threat to biodiversity in Norway is Acid rain. It was estimated that the area with damage to fish stocks in 2006 was 13000 km2. Especially salmon stocks have been lost in the southern most parts of Norway. Some lakes that experienced acid rain would be Tovdalselva and Mandalselva.

Southern part of Norway has experienced the worst cases of acid rain compared to the north. The pH level for acid rain is below 4.5 in most parts of the south.

Shows pH level in lakes in Norway

Effects of acid rain in Norway

Effects of acid rain in

Norway

Images bibliography

3. Eutrophication- Some amounts of nitrogen produced from human activities are absorbed by plants while the rest ends up at coastal area. This fuels eutrophication and causes excessive algal growth. This overcrowds the area causing the plants to compete for sunlight, space and oxygen.

2. Effect on eco-system- Due to acid rain, soils have become thin and the bedrock consists of acidic rocks like gneiss and granite. This affects the plant's growth and it's nutrients.

Salmon dieing due to Acid rain

1. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/SOER2010/images/Map2-7_SO111_CSI005_Acid1980-2010.png>.

2. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://go.hrw.com/venus_images/0647MC30.gif>.

3. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://images.wisegeek.com/soil.jpg>.

4. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Potomac_green_water.JPG>.

5. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/images/industry/acid.jpg>.

6. Digital IMAGE. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.miljodirektoratet.no/FileCache/Global/English/kalking.jpg/width_680.height_330.mode_max.Anchor_middlecenter.jpg>.

7. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.unece.org/uploads/pics/lrtap_cmyk_logo_06.jpg>.

8. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://wwws2.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/sulphur-dioxide-distance-to-targets-1/image_xlarge>.

How reducing acid rain, by the use of hybrid cars impacts the economic factor

Liming

The image is showing how liming is done in rivers, lakes, etc. The lime is sprayed across the water, neutralizing the acids.

To reduce the nitrogen emissions in the atmosphere hybrid cars should be used by all in Norway but it is not being practiced as it will affect the economy. Hybrid cars are 20% more expensive than normal petrol cars. Their battery life is 4-6 years and to replace would cost around $1200. Also, the companies that have been producing petrol-powered cars will have to eventually shut down or will need to produce hybrid cars instead. This would mean more capital expenditure for them . Hence, it is not economical to produce and drive hybrid car even though it would be beneficial for the atmosphere.

Further steps taken to reduce the damage done by acid rain

Liming is done to prevent the lakes from being acidic. Liming reduces damage because, since it is a base it tends to neutralize the acid with the water and make it non-acidic. In 1983 the Norwegian government initiated a liming programme. Over the last 10 years, 22 rivers have been limed at a cost of £4 million.

Each year 30000-50000 tonnes of lime is applied in Norwegian lakes like the Tovdalselva and Mandalselva which has suffered a lot from acid rain. 78-88 million NOK has therefore been spent annually on liming of rivers and lakes in recent years. liming is done to neutralize the acid which, in turn, improves the pH and makes the water less acidic. The Calcium carbonate dissolves in this process and provides it with both calcium ions and carbonate ions. These calcium ions are beneficial for aquatic life as the carbonate ions tend to react with acids to form bicarbonate and neutralize it.