Acid Rain
Acid rain is a by-product of our industrialized society. Air pollution combines with water in the atmosphere and falls to the earth as acidic rain or snow. Discussions and reports about acid rain often use the terms acid deposition or atmospheric deposition to describe this return of airborne pollutants to earth. Pollutants can be deposited from the atmosphere in rain or snow (wet deposition) or without precipitation (dry deposition).
While many areas of New York State are not sensitive to acidity because of limestone deposits or soils which neutralize the acid, the Adirondacks, Catskills, Hudson Highlands, Rensselaer Plateau and parts of Long Island are particularly sensitive to acid deposition. The soil and bedrock in these areas are not able to counteract the acid in the rain and snow.
These webpages focus on New York's acid deposition monitoring program. Students and others looking for basic information about acid rain may wish to first visit EPA's Acid Rain information webpage, then return here for information specific to New York.
More about Acid Rain:
- Acid Deposition Sampling and Analysis - Summaries of the collection and analysis protocols
- Acid Deposition Monitoring Data - Acid deposition monitoring data is analyzed, reviewed, and validated prior to entry into computer. Data summaries provided for years 2004-2006.
- Acid Rain Questions & Answers - Questions, answers and facts on acid rain
- Sources of Acid Deposition - Sources of acid deposition that affects New York State.
- New Yorks Acid Deposition Monitoring Network - The New York State's Atmospheric Deposition Monitoring Network measures acid deposition, its precursors and related factors to establish the effectiveness of current sulfur control policy and other strategies aimed at reducing the effects of acid rain.
- Environmental Impacts of Acid Deposition - The New York State's Atmospheric Deposition Monitoring Network measures acid deposition and related quantities to assess the effectiveness of sulfur control policy and other strategies aimed at reducing the effects of acid rain.
