Soil Problems:

The effect of acid rain on the environment depends greatly on the ability of soils to neutralize the acid. Limestone and other rocks and soils containing calcium carbonate are most effective. Acids react with calcium carbonate to produce neutral compounds and carbon dioxide. For example, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid react with calcium carbonate. If the soil has no limestone, then the soil becomes acidic, and most plants cannot grow in this type of soil. The ph level must be balanced.

Fish and Aquidic Life:

When nutrients and metals, including heavy metals and aluminum, are leached from the soil, they are carried by runoff and groundwater into streams and lakes where they kill aquatic life. Aluminum dissolved by acid rain is highly toxic to many aquatic animals, especially young animals including eggs and larvae. Fish are an important diet for raptors, bears, raccoons, and people. The heavy metals will build up in the blood stream and start to kill all of these creatures that eat fish. Heavy metals are a major cause of cancer.

Eco-system Problems:

The ecosystem of the Alpine Forest is a very delcate system. In North Carolina, there are fewer eco-systems of the Canadan forest zone because the forest has to be at least above one mile above sea level.When the Alpine trees die in the forest, the blackcap chickadee, and other birds that depend on the seeds of the tree have less food. They will ether have to leave or die out. The Norther Saw-whet Owl depends not only on weaker birds but also the mice that also eat the seed of the tree in the Alpine Forest. The owl has no food so it has to move to a new spot. The eco-system is like a dominal effect where one factor of the food chain is destroyed, the whole system will fall apart.

This is one of the things that I worry about with the Northern Saw-whet Owl where its picture is right. Did the male owl come down to Taylors because of the destruction of its habitat, or was it the cold weather in Pisgah National Forest where it could not find food?

Waist Problems:

The major problem is what to do with the scrubbers when they are no longer good. They are filled with Sulfuric Acid that is toxic to the environment. The Best solution is renewable energy.