Robert Hatch

SUBTOPIC:

 The Impact of Acid Rain and the Greenhouse Effect on the Environment

OBJECTIVES:

The students will:

1. understand the causes of acid rain and identify regions of the world greatly affected by it
2. explain the term “greenhouse effect” and state some causes of it
3. identify environmental problems caused by the greenhouse effect
4. test water samples for high acidity
5. complete research on a given topic

Background Information

One of the major problems facing Americans today is the deteriorating quality of the natural environment. Included in these environmental problems are concerns about harmful effects of acid rain and global warming.

In 1852, Robert A. Smith, a British scientist, was the first to document the existence of acid rain. One of the causes of acid rain is the burning of coal, oil and gas by heavy industry and electrical companies. When these fuels are burned, nitrogen oxide and sulfur are released into the atmosphere. When this combines with water vapor, sulfuric acid and nitric acid are produced. These acids in the atmosphere are carried down-wind and deposited on the earth’s surface in snow, rain, and other precipitation, destroying animal life in some freshwater lakes, damaging forests and crops, eroding structures, and contaminating drinking water.

The greenhouse effect is a popular term of the role that various atmospheric components such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and to a lesser extent, ozone, play in keeping the earth’s surface warmer than it would be without their presence. Without this effect, the average surface temperature of the earth would be about 59F. 

The earth’s atmosphere allows most of the sunlight that reaches it to pass through and heat the earth’s surface, but infrared radiation is sent back into the atmosphere. 

One major cause of the greenhouse effect is the burning of fossil fuels. It is believed by some scientists that from the late 1900’s to the late 2000’s the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere will be doubled. This could increase the average earth temperature from 2.7 to 9F. This would definitely alter the earth’s ecological balance.

ACTIVITY #1:

Student Research Projects

             1 week, 3 days in the library and 2 days of presentations

PROCEDURE:

1. Divide the class into small groups of four or five students per group.
2. Assign each group an environmental issue to research, such as the following:
   1. acid rain
   2. the greenhouse effect
   3. use of chloroflurocarbons & the ozone layer
   4. use of pesticides
   5. global warming
3. Allow groups to spend three days in the library or media center researching their topics. References should include at least five resources, three of which should be periodicals.
4. Devote two days to group presentations. Conduct these as formal presentations by the group members to the entire class. 
5. Place emphasis on accuracy, clarity and use of visual aids.

ACTIVITY #2:

Check the Acidity of Local Water Supplies

           2 class periods, 1 homework assignment

PROCEDURE:

1. Give students a demonstration of acids and bases by using commonly known substances to provide pH ranges. 
2. Test samples of dilute sulfuric acid, nitric acid, ammonia, vinegar, liquid bleach, and diluted water with a wide-range hydrion pH paper (or pH meter if available). 
3. Conduct a class discussion of the pH numbers and relative acid-base relations after the demonstration.
4. Assign each student to bring a sample of their drinking water from home (as a homework assignment). This works very well when the class has a mix of city of town and rural students.
5. Collect samples of rain and other standing water (pond/river/lake water).
6. Divide students into groups containing a variety of home water samples and have students mark their samples.
7. Give the freshwater samples to each group.
8. Let each group test the pH of their water samples using wide-range hydrion pH paper (or meter).
9. Finally, have a class discussion on the results of the water tests. The discussion can lead into further investigations of local and state issues that impact on the environment.

ACTIVITY #3:

Town Meeting

           1-2 class periods

PROCEDURE:

1. Have students role-play members of a community involved in a major discussion such as:
   1. plans by the EPA to locate a hazardous waste dump site near by
   2. plans to construct a incineration facility for trash in the city
   3. how to deal with a paper mill or steal mill which emits detrimental gasses that effect the city’s economy and environment 
2. Students may play such roles as executives, doctors, industry workers, teachers, bankers, homeowners, politicians, etc.

Bibliography

BOOKS:

Abrahamson, Dean Edwin. The Challenge of Global Warming. Washington: Island Press, 1989.

“Acid Rain.” Encyclopedia America. Vol. 1. Danbury, CT: Grolier, Inc. 1990. 104.

Bernard, Harold W. The Greenhouse Effect. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger, 1980.

Gilpin, Alan. Dictionary of Environmental Terms. St. Lucia, Queensland: U Queensland P, 1976.

“Greenhouse Effect.” Encyclopedia Americana. Vol. 7. Danbury, CT: Grloier, 1990. 455.

The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Physical Geography. Ed. Andrew Goudie. New York: Basil Blackwell, 1985.

Kahan, Archie M. Acid Rain: Reign of Controversy. Golden, CO: Fulcrum, 1986.

Lymann, Francesca. The Greenhouse Trap: What We’re Doing to the Atmosphere and How to Slow Global Warming. Boston: Beacon Press, 1990.

Oppenheimer, Michael. Dead Heat: The Race Against the Greenhouse Effect. New York: Basic Books, 1990.

Pack, Chris C. Acid Rain: Rhetoric and Reality. New York: Methuen Co., 1987.

Pringle, Lawrence P. Global Warming. New York: Arcade Publishers, 1990.

Schneider, Stephen Henry. Global Warming: Are We Entering the Greenhouse Century? San Francisco: Sierra Book Club, 1989.

Seidel, Stephen. Can We Delay a Greenhouse Warming? Washington: Strategic Studies Staff, 1983.

Smith, Michael C. and James G. Titus. Greenhouse Effect and Sea Level Rise. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1984.

Yanarella, Ernest J. and Randal H. Ihara. The Acid Rain Debate: Scientific, Economics, and Political Dimensions. Boulder: Westview, 1985.

PERIODICALS:

Beardsley, T. “Getting Warmer?” Scientific American July 1988:32.

Begley, S. “Who’ll Stop the Acid Rain?” Newsweek 24 March 1986: 60.

Brown, W. M. “Hysteria About Acid Rain.” Fortune 14 April 1986: 125-126.

Carpenter, B. “What Goes Up, Must Come Down.” US News and World Report 25 July 1988: 44-45.

Crawford, M. “Planning for Climate Change.” Science 28 Oct. 1988: 510.

Grady, D. “Something Fishy About Acid Rain.” Time 9 May 1988: 61.

Lumoa, J.R. “The Human Cost of Acid Rain.” Audubon July 1988: 16-18.

Mahnen, V.A. “The Challenge of Acid Rain.” Scientific American Aug. 1988: 308.

Marshall, E. “Using Forests to Counter the ‘Greenhouse Effect.'” Science 26 February 1988: 973.

Monastersky R. “Shrinking Ice May Mean Warmer Earth.” Science News 8 Oct. 1988: 230.

Oppenheimer, M. “Acid Deposition in the Western United States.” Science 4 July 1986: 10-14.

Rahan, K.A. “The Acid Rain Whodunit.” Natural History July 1986: 62-65.

Tangley, L. “Acid Rain: The Evidence Mounts.” Biological Science June 1986: 366.

White, G.F. “Global Warming.” Environment July/Aug 1988.

Wolkomir, R. “The Greenhouse Revolution.” Oceans Mar./Apr. 1988.