Transboundary Pollution (HL IB Geography)

Revision Note

Jacque Cartwright

Expertise

Geography Content Creator

Case Study: Acid Rain

  • Transboundary pollution (TBP) is defined as "pollution that originates in one country but, by crossing a border through pathways of water or air, is able to cause damage to the environment in another country" (OECD)

  • Air pollution is the release of chemical particulates into the atmosphere

  • Acid deposition occurs when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere

  • These gases undergo chemical reactions and transform into secondary pollutants, resulting in both dry and wet acid deposition called acid rain

    Causes of dry and wet deposition of acid rain
    Causes of dry and wet deposition of acid rain
  • Dry deposition occurs close to the source of the pollution and is usually in the form of particulate matter

  • Wet deposition happens when the pollutants dissolve in precipitation and fall at a distance from the source

  • It is these wet depositions that cross international boundaries and, therefore, form transboundary pollution

What is acid rain?

  • All precipitation is naturally acidic as it absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

  • This becomes a weak carbonic acid with a pH of between 5 and 6

  • Acid rain is precipitation that has a pH of less than 5.5

    • Human activity, such as burning fossil fuels, produces oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), which are released into the atmosphere

    • Coal-fired power stations are major contributors to SO2 emissions, while NOx emissions are mainly from vehicle exhausts

  • Sulphur oxides have the greatest impact, accounting for 2/3 of the problem

  • Global emissions of SO2 are declining; however, NOx emissions are increasing with car ownership

Examiner Tip

If you are going to write about acid deposition/acid rain, you must remember to write about wet and dry. Wet deposition is transboundary, but dry deposition is not usually transboundary.

Impacts of acidification

  • Acid rain and the dry deposition of acidic particles contribute to the corrosion of metals, such as bronze and rocks, such as limestone

  • These effects significantly reduce the societal value of buildings, bridges, and cultural objects such as statues and monuments

  • Dry deposition of acidic compounds can also dirty buildings and other structures, leading to increased maintenance costs

     

Image showing the impact of acid deposition on buildings, statues and metal structures
The impact of acid deposition can be seen on buildings, statues and metal structures
  • Acidic deposition, particularly in bodies of water, directly affects aquatic organisms such as fish, amphibians, and invertebrates

    • Acidic deposition lowers the pH of the water, making it difficult for some species to survive and reproduce

Image showing the effects of lowered pH in water due to acid deposition and the release of nitrates and aluminium as a result.
When acid rain falls on bodies of water, pH levels fall and cannot support life. Further decreases in pH levels releases nitrates and aluminium from rocks
  • Acid deposition directly falls on leaves, causes leaf damage and eventually kills plants

  • Acid particulates can block stomata (plant pores), preventing gaseous exchange

  • Coniferous forests, such as pine or spruce trees, are particularly sensitive to acid deposition due to their shallow root systems and thin bark

    • Acid rain also damages their foliage and inhibits nutrient absorption

Image showing the impact of acid deposition on plant life
The impact of acid deposition on plant life

Case Study

Acidification in Sweden

  • Most acidifying pollutants deposited in Sweden have been carried on winds from other countries and international shipping

  • Most soils in Sweden are poor in limestone and vulnerable to acidification

  • Over 18 000 lakes in Sweden are acidified, and 4000 of them are seriously affected

  • Fish stocks in about 9 000 Swedish lakes, mostly in the south and the centre of the country, are also very badly affected

  • Sweden has aluminium levels of up to 1.7 mg/l, compared to the safe limit of 0.2mg/l

  • High levels of mercury in fish cause health problems when eaten

  • Acid rain has a negative impact on forests and trees.

  • Sulphur dioxide interferes with the process of photosynthesis

  • Removing a whole tree can be equivalent to the effects of 60 years of acid rain

Action taken by Sweden

  • Ever since the late 1960s, Sweden has made efforts to reduce acidification and its effects

  • Sweden banned the burning of high-sulphur oils in 1969, and then took a number of steps to lower sulphur emissions. Methods included:

    • More efficient energy use

    • Increasing the use of nuclear energy, which reduces the need to use fossil fuels

    • Introducing requirements for flue gas cleaning at combustion plants

  • In 1991, a tax on sulphur and NOx was imposed further reducing emissions and a few years later, NOx emissions had almost halved

  • Research by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has been significant for environmental protection, particularly in the context of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

  • Sweden has drawn attention to the problem and encouraged other countries to take action

  • The Swedish Government has spent money and resources to inform citizens and politicians of neighbouring countries about the seriousness of acidification as an environmental threat

Reducing the impacts of acid deposition

  • There have been various methods to deal with the effects of acid deposition, such as fitting catalytic converters on all cars and using powdered limestone in lakes to increase the pH

  • However, these are short-term solutions

  • The most obvious long-term methods are:

    • Reduce emissions and energy consumption by industry

    • Encourage the production and use of renewable energies

    • Remove pollutants before entering the atmosphere

    • Plant trees to absorb polluted air

    • Avoid the use of sulphur-rich fuels

    • Inform the public on the issues of acid deposition and the importance of reducing household energy use

    • Promote innovation and new technologies to develop efficient and reliable renewable energies

Image showing how catalytic converters are a short-term design to reduce polluting gases from car exhausts
Catalytic converters are a short-term remedy to reduce emissions produced in car exhausts

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Jacque Cartwright

Author: Jacque Cartwright

Jacque graduated from the Open University with a BSc in Environmental Science and Geography before doing her PGCE with the University of St David’s, Swansea. Teaching is her passion and has taught across a wide range of specifications – GCSE/IGCSE and IB but particularly loves teaching the A-level Geography. For the past 5 years Jacque has been teaching online for international schools, and she knows what is needed to get the top scores on those pesky geography exams.