Publisher's Synopsis
This concise but thorough account of acid rains asks the basic questions that the non-specialist scientist needs to know: "What is acid rain? How is it formed? What are its effects? How can they be remedied?" It identifies what is known, what is uncertain, and what is conjectural in what has become a contentious, topical field of international discussion.;Commencing with an introduction to the subject of acid rain and its social and historical relevance, the author discusses acid emissions and transformations, including how sulphur and nitrogen emission are converted to acid in atmosphere and how sulphur and nitrogen compounds in air are transferred to the terrestrial and aquatic environment. Acid depositions and effects in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are reviewed and the relative roles of natural and man-made perturbations leading to acidic phenomena. The text also considers what remedial actions might be effective, either through emission control technology, or by alternative remedial treatments at affected sites.;Steering clear of speculative and antagonistic discussion, the book aims to bring a view of technology in the context of ecology: a well-ordered view of the causes, effects and wider implications of acid rain.
