Review of acid rain potential in India: Future threats and remedial measures
- Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi (India)
Acid rain is a necessary fall out of rapid development process in India. Any increase in Gross Domestic Product has direct influence on the rate of energy consumption and its pattern. Thermal Power plants are the major source of wet and dry deposition of sulfur while transportation sector has a larger share in the increase of NO{sub x}. The process is complex and the effect can be felt hundreds of kilometers away. Redistribution of both the plant nutrients and toxic substances within the biosphere results from such deposition and biogeochemically important trace species are threatened. These have a destabilising effect on several ecosystems. However, tropical climatic conditions and alkaline rich soil has hitherto not allowed any such destabilising effect in India. The sea and the soil derived aerosols are responsible for neutralizing process and maintaining the pH in the alkaline range in the most part of India. The higher temperature and sunlight, increases the efficiency of atmospheric chemical reactions, particularly those transforming SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} to acidic sulfates and nitrates. The major contribution to acid rain is reported to be due to sulfur component (70%). Therefore, the emission of sulfur requires more attention. It has been observed that pH has a declining trend due to population growth, changing agricultural practices and a very rapid economic development. An estimated 2500 tonnes of sulfur are released in the atmosphere due to the thermal power plants alone as per data available for 1993-94 thermal power generation which is 50 times more than that released in 1950-51 due to thermal power generation. This paper is an overview of the present trends, their likely effects, factors contributing to acid rain and possible remedial action.
- OSTI ID:
- 466123
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9606185--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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