197
tilisers as a significant part of these are nitrogen
fertiliser acting acid (e.g. ammonium nitrate,
ammonium sulphate). The degree of environmental acidification is significantly influenced by
apart from material of acid effect by the environment itself. Especially soil properties in the given
area are important. Soil is the natural element
that could be able to balance acid effects due to
its large organic and inorganic colloid content.
This buffer capacity could be significantly different in different zones of the Earth depending on
soil forming processes and base rock conditions.
Figure 4.90 shows the estimated pH of the
topsoil on Earth. Sensitivity to acidification of a
given area is determined by the already mentioned natural and anthropogenic effects and the
pH of soils. Considering this, industrialised and
strongly urbanised areas have to be studied.
Strongly sensitive areas to acidification include
the northern parts of continental Europe, northeastern regions of North America and East Asia.
Acid effects of intensive use of fertilisers occur in
East and South Asia. Soil acidity influences to a
great degree its fertility; therefore, acidification
results in smaller crop yield. Acidification also
contributed to forest decline in certain areas (like
North America and Europe).
Wet tropical areas of continents (Central
America, Amazon and Congo basins, India,
Indochina and most part of the Indonesian
islands) belong to the “sensitive” category.
Areas with soils acidified even in natural
conditions so that artificial effects made no significant change in them or dominated by soils
either with very high buffer capacity (e.g. chernozem) or alkaline properties (sodic or rich in
CaCO 3 ) are classified moderately or slightly
sensitive.
Acidification process determined by sulphur
dioxide emission and modified by the other
anthropogenic emissions and the sensitivity of
soils caused serious environmental load in three
areas of the Earth: north-eastern part of North
America, the northern half of Europe and the
eastern landscapes of China. Recently European
and American SO 2 emission has been reduced
significantly while emission of China and India
increased in the last years.
Acidification, however, affects not only the
above areas but the entire Earth’s surface as the
concentration of carbon dioxide which has also
acid effects increases in the whole troposphere.
Its acidification effect is, however, much less than
that of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Pollutants with acid effect are distributed in the
whole troposphere by the general circulation
increasing global background pollution. Acid
deposition exists even if to a very small degree
Fig. 4.90 Estimated dominant topsoil pH on Earth (Data source: Sumner and Noble 2003; FAO et al. 2012; FAO and
ITPS 2015)
4.5 Changes in the Atmosphere Owing to Human Impacts and Their Consequences
tilisers as a significant part of these are nitrogen
fertiliser acting acid (e.g. ammonium nitrate,
ammonium sulphate). The degree of environmental acidification is significantly influenced by
apart from material of acid effect by the environment itself. Especially soil properties in the given
area are important. Soil is the natural element
that could be able to balance acid effects due to
its large organic and inorganic colloid content.
This buffer capacity could be significantly different in different zones of the Earth depending on
soil forming processes and base rock conditions.
Figure 4.90 shows the estimated pH of the
topsoil on Earth. Sensitivity to acidification of a
given area is determined by the already mentioned natural and anthropogenic effects and the
pH of soils. Considering this, industrialised and
strongly urbanised areas have to be studied.
Strongly sensitive areas to acidification include
the northern parts of continental Europe, northeastern regions of North America and East Asia.
Acid effects of intensive use of fertilisers occur in
East and South Asia. Soil acidity influences to a
great degree its fertility; therefore, acidification
results in smaller crop yield. Acidification also
contributed to forest decline in certain areas (like
North America and Europe).
Wet tropical areas of continents (Central
America, Amazon and Congo basins, India,
Indochina and most part of the Indonesian
islands) belong to the “sensitive” category.
Areas with soils acidified even in natural
conditions so that artificial effects made no significant change in them or dominated by soils
either with very high buffer capacity (e.g. chernozem) or alkaline properties (sodic or rich in
CaCO 3 ) are classified moderately or slightly
sensitive.
Acidification process determined by sulphur
dioxide emission and modified by the other
anthropogenic emissions and the sensitivity of
soils caused serious environmental load in three
areas of the Earth: north-eastern part of North
America, the northern half of Europe and the
eastern landscapes of China. Recently European
and American SO 2 emission has been reduced
significantly while emission of China and India
increased in the last years.
Acidification, however, affects not only the
above areas but the entire Earth’s surface as the
concentration of carbon dioxide which has also
acid effects increases in the whole troposphere.
Its acidification effect is, however, much less than
that of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Pollutants with acid effect are distributed in the
whole troposphere by the general circulation
increasing global background pollution. Acid
deposition exists even if to a very small degree
Fig. 4.90 Estimated dominant topsoil pH on Earth (Data source: Sumner and Noble 2003; FAO et al. 2012; FAO and
ITPS 2015)
4.5 Changes in the Atmosphere Owing to Human Impacts and Their Consequences