Acid rain

Acid rain is caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, in power plants. The emissions from those fuels result in a reaction high in the atmosphere where the chemicals, namely sulfur dioxides (SO2) and nitric oxides (NOX), bind with moisture, creating a solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid that then falls to earth as rain or snow.

Acid rain causes a cascade of effects in coldwater environments that harm or kill individual fish, reduce fish population numbers, completely eliminate fish species from a body of water, and decrease biodiversity altogether.

For more information on acid rain, visit the following web sites:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

USGS Online Data