USA and CanadaAcid rain affects the eastern third of the USA and southeast Canada. The main force of the devestation caused by acid rain in these countries, is focused on bodies of water, plants and animals.
The highest level of pH in the USA is 4.3, and Canada is about the same. When acid rain falls on bodies of water, it contaminates the flow and soils, which have a limited ability to neutralise acidic compounds. The water becomes acidic when the soil and waters cannot bear the levels of acidity, and are unable to buffer it enough to neutralise it. The body of water with the highest pH level is Little Echo Pond in New York. It has a pH of 4.2. Acid rain has a huge effect on forests; in extreme cases it has caused entire forests to die out with insane speed and without obvious reason. Acid rain causes a decrease in the speed of tree growth, injury and death. |