Germany's Acid Rain

1. Environmental Environmental
Concerns of Concerns of
Germany -->Germany -->
Acid RainAcid Rain
9/11/139/11/13

2. Acid Rain in GermanyAcid Rain in Germany
•Over the past 30 years, acid rain has Over the past 30 years, acid rain has
been damaging Germany.been damaging Germany.
–It damages soil, harms trees, eats It damages soil, harms trees, eats
holes in the surfaces of holes in the surfaces of
statues/buildings, statues/buildings,
pollutes rivers, & pollutes rivers, &
kills wildlife.kills wildlife.

4. What is Acid Rain?What is Acid Rain?
•Acid rain is a result of air pollution.Acid rain is a result of air pollution.
•When any type of fuel is burnt, lots When any type of fuel is burnt, lots
of different chemicals are produced of different chemicals are produced
and released into the air and mix and released into the air and mix
with water in the clouds.with water in the clouds.

5. What is Acid Rain?What is Acid Rain?
•The rain from these clouds then falls The rain from these clouds then falls
as very weak acid.as very weak acid.
–It’s not acidic enough to burn your It’s not acidic enough to burn your
skin, but it’s very harmful for skin, but it’s very harmful for
the environment. the environment.

6. Germany - Its Own Worst Germany - Its Own Worst
EnemyEnemy
•Main source of acid rain is smoke from Main source of acid rain is smoke from
factories (burning fuels like natural gas, factories (burning fuels like natural gas,
coal, & oil)coal, & oil)
–Germany is a top manufacturing countryGermany is a top manufacturing country
—one of the world leaders in cars, steel, & —one of the world leaders in cars, steel, &
chemical products, so its economy chemical products, so its economy
depends on these factories.depends on these factories.
•Cars & buses also produce Cars & buses also produce
harmful gasesharmful gases

7. Effects of Acid Rain in Effects of Acid Rain in
GermanyGermany
•Acid rain has destroyed nearly half Acid rain has destroyed nearly half
of the Black Forest!of the Black Forest!
•This has harmed Germany’s This has harmed Germany’s
economy because one of its economy because one of its
major natural resources major natural resources
is timber. is timber.

9. Effects of Acid Rain:Effects of Acid Rain:
•Acid rain can effect trees in several
different ways, it may:
–dissolve and wash away the
nutrients and minerals in the soil
which helps the trees to grow.
–cause the release of harmful
substances such as aluminum into
the soil.

10. Branches from a tree in Germany’s Black Forest
show needle loss & discoloration from acid rain

11. Effects of Acid Rain…Effects of Acid Rain…

12. Effects of Acid Rain…Effects of Acid Rain…
Acid rain can cause erosion in stone Acid rain can cause erosion in stone
statues…statues…

13. Germany’s solution:Germany’s solution:
•Power plants that use water power are Power plants that use water power are
replacing many coal-burning factoriesreplacing many coal-burning factories
–Developing new types of energy, such Developing new types of energy, such
as wind turbines & solar poweras wind turbines & solar power
•German government has passed laws to German government has passed laws to
reduce emissions from cars & factoriesreduce emissions from cars & factories