Air pollution from factories causes harm to forested areas.
Due to the increase of automobile usage and factories, air pollution has increased since the 19th century, causing major damage to the world's forested areas. Some of the effects on forested areas from air pollution is immediate, such as acid rain and vegetation loss, while global warming is a more long-term effect. Although air pollution continues to be a problem, federal legislation, such as the Clean Air Act, has been passed to reduce pollution.
Acid Rain
Acid rain is a form of precipitation with an aberrant amount of acid, or hydrogen ions, and it has harmful effects on trees. This type of rain is the result of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere. The acid rain phenomenon was first recorded in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the Industrial Revolution begin in Europe and the United States. Currently, nations with industrial development, such as China and Russia, experience constant problems with acid rain in its rainforests. The primary sources of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions are automobiles, nuclear factories and coal power plants. Dry acid deposition is when acid falls from the atmosphere without precipitation.
Global Warming
The increasing average in the earth's temperature is known as global warming. This temperature increase reduces moisture in forested areas, which causes trees to wither or die. The scientific field first noticed the possibility of global warming in the mid-20th century, due to the increased availability of automobiles. The melting of polar caps causes flooding in forest ecosystems. As a result, some trees break due to water pressure. Greenhouse emissions, which come from coal and nuclear factories, motorized vehicles and deforestation, are a major cause of global warming. Global warming could increase the size of deserts, encroaching on forested areas.
Loss of Vegetation
Not only are trees affected by air pollution, but the plant population on the forest floor is depleted as well. Nitrogen oxides, volatile organic hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide from factories and automobiles combine in the earth's troposphere. The Clean Air Act, a piece of U.S. legislation, allows the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce air quality standards, which reduces the amount of emissions released from factories and automobiles.
