Environmental Impact On Air: Thermal Inversion And Acid Rain

Thermal inversion.
It is defined as an increase in temperature with altitude in a layer of the atmosphere. As the temperature usually decreases with altitude to the level of 8 to 16 km of the troposphere at a rate of approximately 6.5 ° C / km, the increase in temperature with altitude is known as inversion of the normal temperature. However, it is a common feature of certain layers of the atmosphere. The thermal inversions act as covers that slow the upward movements of the atmosphere. Indeed, the air cannot rise in an inversion zone, since it is colder and, therefore, more dense in the lower zone.
Acid rain.
It is the precipitation, usually in the form of rain, but also in the form of snow or fog, which has a water pH of less than 5.65. This involves the deposition of substances from the atmosphere during precipitation. Acidifying substances can have a directly acid character or can acquire this condition by chemical transformation.
Deformation mechanisms and effects.
Most of the acidifying substances released into the air are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. As an example, the sulfur acidification pathway is discussed here: a large part of the sulfur dioxide is oxidized to sulfur trioxide, which is very unstable and rapidly passes into sulfuric acid. The catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide is also rapid. It is believed that in the water droplets oxidation occurs involving molecular oxygen and, as catalysts, iron and manganese salts from the combustion of coal. In addition, photochemical oxidation can occur due to the action of ozone. In any case, the consequence is the formation of fog with a high content of sulfuric acid.