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Glossary
- acid deposition
- The process by which acidic particles, gases, and precipitation leave
the atmosphere. More commonly referred to as acid
rain, acid deposition has two components: wet
and dry deposition.
- acid rain
- The result of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen
oxides (NOx) reacting in the atmosphere with water
and returning to earth as rain, fog, or snow. Broadly used to include
both wet and dry
deposition. The acid rain page provides
a great deal of information about this issue.
- Al
- Aluminum; a metal that is toxic to trees and fish
- allowance
- A tradeable permit to emit a specific amount of a pollutant. For example,
under the Acid Rain Program, one allowance permits the emissions of
one ton of sulfur dioxide (SO2).
- anions
- Negatively charged molecule such as sulfate (SO4(2-)) and nitrate
(NO3-). In combination with hydrogen (H+), these molecules act as strong
acids.
- acid neutralizing capacity (ANC)
- A measure of the ability for water or soil to neutralize added acids.
This is done by the reaction of hydrogen ions with inorganic or organic
bases such as bicarbonate (HCO3-) or organic ions.
- acidification
- Refers to reducing something's pH, making it more
acidic; also means the loss of ANC.
- adsorb
- To take up and hold (a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance) in a thin
layer of molecules on the surface of a solid substance.
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- buffering capacity
- The resistance of water or soil to changes in pH.
- base cations
- Positively charged ions such as magnesium, sodium, potassium, and
calcium that increase pH of water (make it less acidic)
when released to solution through mineral weathering and exchange reactions.
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- Ca(2+)
- Calcium; a base cation that helps to reduce
acidification
- chronic acidification
- Generally refers to surface waters that remain acidified (ANC<0) regardless
of variations in hydrologic conditions (precipitation, stream flow,
etc.).
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- deposition
- The processes by which chemical constituents move from the atmosphere
to the earth's surface. These processes include precipitation (wet
deposition, such as rain or cloud fog), as well as particle and
gas deposition (dry deposition).
- dose response functions
- The relationship between the effects (response) on an organism or
system and the amount (dose) of some material to which the organism/system
is exposed.
- dry deposition
- The settling of gases and particles out of the atmosphere. Dry deposition
is a component of acid deposition, more
commonly referred to as acid rain.
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- eutrophication
- A reduction in the amount of oxygen dissolved in water. The symptoms
of eutrophication include blooms of algae (both toxic and non-toxic),
declines in the health of fish and shellfish, loss of seagrass beds
and coral reefs, and ecological changes in food webs.
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- leaching
- Process by which water removes chemicals from soil through chemical
reactions and the downward movement of water.
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- Mg(2+)
- Magnesium; a base cation that helps to reduce
acidification
- mineral weathering
- The physical and chemical breakdown of rocks that releases ions such
as calcium and aluminum.
- MW
- Megawatt; a unit for describing how much electricity a power plant
can generate. The Acid Rain Program includes virtually all units in
the US that can generate over 25 MW.
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- nitrogen fixation
- The process in which bacteria convert biologically unusable nitrogen
gas (N2) into biologically usable ammonia (NH3) and nitrates (NO3-).
- nitrogen oxides (NOx)
- A group of gases that cause acid rain and
other environmental problems, such as smog and eutrophication
of coastal waters. Burning fossil fuels, such as coal and gasoline,
releases NOx into the atmosphere. Various programs are reducing NOx
emissions, including the Acid Rain Program
and NOx cap and trade programs.
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- pH
- A scale that denotes how acidic or basic a substance is. Pure water
has a pH of 7.0 and is neither acidic nor basic. For more information,
see the pH page.
- precipitation
- Water in the form of rain, sleet, or snow (wet
deposition).
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- sulfur dioxide (SO2)
- A gas that causes acid rain. Burning fossil
fuels, such as coal, releases SO2 into the atmosphere. Various EPA programs
are reducing SO2 emissions, including the Acid
Rain Program.
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- wet deposition
- The process by which chemicals are removed from the atmosphere and
deposited on the Earth's surface via rain, sleet, snow, cloudwater,
and fog.
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