Draft 2 Proposal - Acid Rain's Effect on Western Pond

This topic submitted by Brian Hollingsworth, Elaine Ivie, Jen Mackall, Jessica Neuman, Tom Schmidt ( Schmidtw@muohio.edu ) on 10/9/03 .

Natural Systems 1 Syllabus---Western Program---Miami University

Introduction

Over the course of the next semester, our group will be testing the acidity of the Western Pond. Every Sunday, as well as directly before and after a minimum of three significant periods of precipitation, our group will test the water in the pond for an increase or decrease in the acidity. We will be attempting to establish whether or not the effects of acid rain are evident in the pond and how it affects the pH of the water. The reason our group was attracted to this project was because we thought the human impact on the aquatic environment of the pond would be interesting as well as how the run-off water from the hill affects the waterÕs PH. We hope to discover that the pond is a safe and suitable environment for the wildlife, such as the ducks and swans, to live in; however, our hypothesis is that the pH of the water will go down (be more acidic) due to acid rain.

Background Information

Flaws in the Conventional Wisdom on Acid Deposition
Environment, March, 2000. Carson, Nancy; Munton, Don

This article reviews a study by the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program delivered to congress concerning the effectiveness of the Clean Air Act of 1990. It points out that while many of the mandates have been met to reduce sulfur dioxide omissions in the atmosphere, it is still too early to determine long term effects on aquatic systems. The article also highlights the recent attention given to the negative health impacts that acid rain is believed to have on humans.

Dispelling the Myths of the Acid Rain Story
Environment, July-August, 1998. Munton, Don.

This article discusses several common beliefs about how to control acid rain and why these beliefs are false. It states that acid rain is still a major problem, despite recent attempts to reduce it. Additionally, pollution control devices are not nearly as complicated or expensive as most people believe them to be and are not necessarily detrimental to industry.

Comparing and Assessing Acid Rain-Sensitive Ponds. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2000. Hagar, William G.Õ Crosby, Barbara A.; Stallsmith, Bruce W.
This article describes the monitoring of two small ponds in Massachusetts to determine the variance in pH levels due to several factors, including rainfall. The ponds had different degrees of acid tolerance based on their level of alkalinity. It was found that during periods of high rainfall, the pH level dropped to as low as 4.

Evolution of Water Chemistry in Natural Acidic Environments in Yangmingshan, Taiwan. Journal of Environmental Monitoring. Ezoe, Yuka; Lin, Cheng-Huang; Noto, Masami; Watanbe, Yoshihiro; Yoshimura, Kazuhisa.
This article details a rare aquatic environment in Taiwan that is very acidic. This is due to a near by volcano as well as acid rain. The truly unique aspect of this aquatic environment is that some species of fish have learned to adapt to the very acidic waters. The fish, the Chineese snakehead, as well as the water environment are being studied in great detail to determine what makes this area support life under such harsh conditions.

The Effects of Ambient pH on Nitrogen Excretion in Early Life Stages of the American Toad (Bufo americanus). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Vol. 113A, No. 4, pp. 369-374, 1996. Tattersall, Glenn J.; Wright, Patricia A.
This study examines the effects of acidic water on amphibious life forms, specifically frogs. In the experiment, slightly acidic water (pH 6) was used to create the aquatic environment for the frogs. It was found that the frogsÕ internal chemical balances were greatly disturbed resulting in skewed metabolisms. Additionally, the survival rate was significantly lower than frogs living in non-acidic water

Environmental Advocacy, the Adirondacks and Air Quality. Environmental Science and Policy Volume: 1, Issue: 3, August, 1998. pp. 175-178. Randorf, Gary.

This article focuses heavily on the short-comings of the Clean Air Act of 1990. The Adirondack Mountains in New York are especially emphasized because over half of its lakes have serious acid issues. Although acid rain has been a problem for a very long time, it did not gain serious attention until the late 1970Õs. Since that time, aquatic life in the Adirondacks as well as forest life has been suffering. Bolder steps are suggested to prevent further environmental damage.

The Canadian Acid Rain Strategy. Environmental Science and Policy Volume: 1, Issue: 3, August, 1998. pp. 261-267. Fenech, G.

This article demonstrates the political side of acid rain. Because areas where the acid is added to the atmosphere are typically very distant from the where the acid is deposited, countries are often unable to prevent acid deposition from occurring on their land, despite environmental procedures they may enact themselves to prevent the problem. In this case, Canada is asking the United States to take greater responsibility for its acid production and help ensure a better environment for fragile Canadian ecosystems.

Acidification Capacity Model: Formulation and Application. Water Research Volume: 32, Issue: 11, November, 1998. pp. 3378-3386. Li, Jinhui; Tang, Hongxiao.

This article describes a method to determine how much acid a water environment can withstand. Factors taken into consideration are alkalinity, pH and levels of oxygen, aluminum, carbonate and organic matter. By determining the acidification capacity, it becomes easier to know what steps must be taken to resolve the problem. If the water is too acidic, it is now possible to know to what level the pH must be changed in order for the aquatic environment to be healthy.

Acidification of Surface Water in Central India. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Volume: 130, Issue: 1/4, August 2001 - September 2001. pp. 855-862. Aggarwal, Shankar G.; Chandrawanshi, Chandra K.; Patel, Raj M.; Agarwal, Smita; Kamavisdar, Anand; et. al.

This article describes a study conducted in Central India over the course of two years that determined the acidity of precipitation and itÕs effect on aquatic life. It was discovered that the muscle structures of fish in more acidic waters were significantly different than those living in non-acidic waters. Also, they contained higher concentrations of minerals that are unhealthy for humans in high doses.
Acid Rain and Natural Organic Matter (NOM)

Acta hydrochimica et hydrobiologica Volume: 26, Issue: 3, May 1998. pp. 131 - 136.
Gjessing, E. T.; Riise, G.; Lydersen, E.
This article describes an experiment in which one side of a lake was artificially acidified while the other half was used as the control. It was found that initially, the amount of natural organic matter decreased on the acidic side of the lake. Over a 5 year period, the amount of organic matter stabilized between the two sides. This was due to a number of complex relationships between the acid and the way the environment reacted to it, including altering the temperatures of the lake.

Natural Acidity or Anthropogenic Acidification in the Spring Flood of Northern Sweden?

The Science of the Total Environment Volume: 234, Issue: 1-3, August 30, 1999. pp. 63-73.
Laudon, Hjalmar; Kšhler, Stephan; Bishop, Kevin H.

This article describes the natural processes that cause a spring in northern Sweden to be acidic. Although it is believe that man made sources of acid are do make a small contribution, the water would be strongly acidic regardless. However, the government is currently taking steps to ensure that the pH does not fall below 6, because it is under the false assumption that the acid is anthropogenic and should be corrected.

Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery Volume: 6, Issue: 3, 1998/1999. pp. 207-216. Keller, Wendel (Bill); Gunn, John M.; Yan, Norman D.

This article argues that recovery from acid rain damage is a lengthy process. It points out that even after steps were taken to reduce acid depositions, damaged areas are still having difficult times recovering. It is suggested that we should encourage recovery of damaged lakes by restocking the waters. Even though an area may return to safe living conditions, it still takes a matter of time for an ecosystem to rebuild itself without help from humans.

Useful websites pertaining to acid rain:
http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/
http://www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain/
http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/msc/as/as_acid.html
http://btdqs.usgs.gov/acidrain/
http://royal.okanagan.bc.ca/mpidwirn/atmosphereandclimate/acidprecip.html

Specific Research Design/Materials and Methods
We will be testing the pH of the water in the Western Pond and rainfall in Oxford. We are measuring the pH to determine if rainfall has any effect on the pH of the pond and if Southwestern Ohio is subject to acid rain. We will only be measuring is the pH levels. Additional information on the specific methods we will be using will be discussed later. To determine the pH level of the water in the pond and the rainwater we will use either a pH tester or litmus paper, which we can obtain from the science center and use for the duration of our experiment. A graduated cylinder will also be used to collect rain; it will measure the rainfall and obtain the water that can be tested for pH levels. The rain collector will be stationed at Boyd Hall to ensure its safety. To collect the water from the pond we will use a 500 mL beaker. In addition to these materials, we will be using the weather station in Boyd Hall to accurately gauge the amount of rainfall received on western campus and possibly the pH level of the water. We will measure the pH level at Western Pond each Sunday at 1pm in four set locations to obtain a standard against which to measure any changes in pH level. At least three times we will measure the pH level of the pond before and after rainfall to see if rainfall does have an effect on pH levels. To determine if it will rain or not we will be relying on local weather reports. We will begin our testing of the pH levels on Sunday, October 19 and continue to test each Sunday until November 30. This will give us seven testing times, as well as six additional test periods directly before and after precipiation. After collecting all our data we will use Stat View to determine if our data statistically supports our hypothesis. The class can be involved in our project by assessing the area around the pond to determine if the environment might play a factor in pH levels. For example, sources of pollution or man made features that could affect the acidity of the pond can be pointed out in order to determine their relevance to the pH of the pond.

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