Flash opens with Photo Collage Introduction: Acid rain has become a problem all around the world especially in places such as the United States, where people use a lot of electricity. The power plants that produce the electricity that most of us use every day are the major cause of acid rain. Acid rain can be harmful to many different plants and animals and the environment in which they live. Slide 2: Coal is a material that is found under the Earth’s surface and is an example of a fossil fuel. When coal and other fossil fuels, such as oil and natural gas, are burned in power plants, energy is created. This energy is then turned into electricity. A lot of the electricity that you use every day comes from power plants that burn coal. Slide 3: Burning Coal For Electricity When fossil fuels are burned to produce electricity, harmful gases that contain the pollutants sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. Slide 4: Acid Rain: Formation and Deposition When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released, they mix with oxygen and water in the air to form acid rain. These chemicals can travel long distances in the wind before being deposited. Acid rain is an example of acid deposition, where acidic pollutants fall from the sky to the Earth as rain, snow, fog, or as solid particles. Slide 5: No Acid Rain Formation We can help reduce acid rain by cutting back on the pollution that comes from power plants and by using renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind power. Solar and wind power create electricity for us to use by collecting energy from the sun and wind. Renewable energy sources do not burn any fossil fuels, so they do not release any pollutants that cause acid rain. Slide 6: Acid Rain: Acidification of Lake When acid rain falls to the ground, it can end up in lakes and streams. This can make the water more acidic by lowering its pH and reducing its ability to “buffer” the acids. As a result, the acidic waters may not be able to support certain plant and animal life. Slide 7: No Acidification of Lake By reducing the emissions that cause acid rain, there are lower amounts of the harmful gases that cause acid rain in the air. This helps lakes and streams have a healthy pH level. Slide 8: Photo This lake has been damaged by acid rain and its pH is very low. As a result, its fish cannot survive in its water and other animals cannot live in the unhealthy environment. The trees that surround the lake have also been affected and are beginning to die. Slide 9: Photo This lake and the trees surrounding it are healthy and have not been damaged by acid rain. Slide 10: Photo The harmful gases that are released into the air by burning fossil fuels can cause other problems besides acid rain. Some of the sulfur dioxide that is released during the production of electricity at power plants creates very small particles that make it very difficult to see long distances. Slide 11: Air Pollution and Human Health These same tiny particles make the air unhealthy to breathe, especially for young children, older people, and people who have existing respiratory (or breathing) problems. The particles can be inhaled by people and go deep into their lungs. Slide 12: Photo Since the Acid Rain Program began in 1995, sulfur dioxide emissions have been reduced by 33 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions have been reduced by 27 percent from 1990 levels. In certain places, acid deposition has been reduced up to 30 percent. This has helped to protect human health and improve visibility in some places, and to begin the process of ecosystem recovery. Slide 13: Conservation and Renewable Energy The fossil fuels that are burned to produce electricity are only available to us in limited amounts. If we keep using these same sources of energy, some of the earth’s fossil fuels could eventually run out. By using alternative methods of making electricity, we are conserving our fossil fuels as well as reducing the emissions that cause acid rain. Slide 14: Help Make a Difference By practicing energy conservation at home and at school, we can decrease the amount of electricity that needs to be generated, so fewer fossil fuels are burned and there is less pollution that causes acid rain. Slide 15: Ending Slide Acid rain is a problem in certain areas around the world. The Acid Rain Program has made a big difference in the United States by reducing the emissions that cause acid rain. But we need your help to reduce them even further!