rainwater typically has pH between 5.0 and 5.5 due to naturally occurring oxides dissolving in raindrops as they fall.
- however when rain combines with excessive amt of and produced by human activity, it can have pH of round 4.0.
- pH 4.0 is 10-30 times more acidic that pH 5.0 to 5.5
- frequent exposure to acid rain → devastating effects on forests and water bodies.
- acid rain leaches essential nutrients like magnesium and calcium from the soil - which hampers health and growth of trees.
- acid rain can also lower pH of soil below what many plant species can tolerate, killing them.
Aquatic org → very susceptible to pH changes.
- over time - addition of acidic rainwater to a water body like a lake or pond can cause pH to drop out of survivable range.
- even species that can tolerate acidic conditions - not spared.
- plants and animals they eat might not survive low pH
water bodies that have experienced prolonged exposure to acid rain - much less biodiverse