Welcome to NY..one of the leading states in acid rain production
We fall well above the “normal” pH level
The average pH of rainfall in New York State ranges from 4.0 to 4.5, which is up to 30 times more acidic than "normal."
Satisfaction of our energy needs via the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas, wood, etc.) is the basic cause of acid rain
But we are turning things around…
New York State has worked hard to reduce air emissions which contribute to acidic deposition, including passage of the first Acid Deposition Control Act in the nation in 1984. The New York State Legislature realized then that the state could not solve the acidic deposition problem by itself, due to the significant impact of air emissions originating primarily in the Midwest. DEC reported in its final Environmental Impact Statement on the Sulfur Deposition Control Program that 83 percent of the sulfur deposition that occurred in the southwestern Adirondacks originated outside of New York State.
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 20103.6
3.8
4
4.2
4.4
4.6
4.8Alfred
Aurora Research Farm
Chautauqua
Huntington Wildlife
Akwesasne Mohawk-Fort Covington
Moss Lake
Bennett Bridge
Biscuit Brook
Cedar Beach, Southold
Whiteface Mountain
West Point
Knobit
Stilwell Lake
Jasper
In general NY becomes a bigger target for acid rain as the years go by. This is for many reasons including the New Yorkers need for transportation and technology. With more pollution comes from acid rain. Acid rain is destroying the environment and if we don’t figure out how to get a handle on it, we may not recognize New York in a couple decades.
Check out the results of acid rain!!