Prolonged severe storm threat for Northwestern Ontario
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Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
P.E.I. precipitation no longer in the range considered acid rain
After an air-quality agreement Canada signed in the 1990s, P.E.I.'s precipitation no longer falls into the range of acid rain. A few decades ago, there were concerns about precipitation quality in the eastern half of North America, including Prince Edward Island, with severe acid rain recorded throughout the region. In 1991, the federal government signed the Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement , and many North American industries began to focus on creating products that were more sustainable for the environment. In a phone interview with The Guardian on July 4, UPEI biology professor Michael van den Heuvel explained the significance of the air quality agreement. 'While it was particularly about protecting the waters of the Great Lakes, that agreement was to reduce sulphur and nitrogen compounds,' he said. Acid rain may not be making the news anymore, but Prince Edward Island is still monitoring it. Acid rain is a phenomenon that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, that falls to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. To improve air and water quality, industrial factories began to separate the sulphur compound by what is known as a scrubber, said van den Heuvel. 'It turns into gypsum, the same stuff in some people's walls. They were able to obtain quite dramatic reductions of sulphur very quickly, which was the main form of acid rain,' he added. While acid rain still can occur occasionally, it is less severe than it used to be, said van den Heuvel. P.E.I. has never had major impacts from acid rain, van den Heuvel said. It all has to do with the geology, he added. Because P.E.I.'s groundwater contains fair amounts of calcium and magnesium, it has been able to resist the acidic changes within the soil, said van den Heuvel. Emily Vanlderstine, the province's air and water monitoring supervisor, said while acid rain can have effects on freshwater aquatic species, including fish, amphibians and invertebrates sensitive to changes in pH, the water in P.E.I. helps protect these species. 'P.E.I.'s naturally alkaline waters help buffer the effects of acid rain, reducing its impact on wildlife. The alkaline conditions help neutralize acidity, so species found in P.E.I. waters are generally less affected compared to areas with lower pH levels,' she said. Vanlderstine said acid rain could also include forms of snow, fog, hail, or even acidic dust. 'Acidity and alkalinity are measured using a potential of hydrogen scale for which 7.0 is neutral. The lower a substance's pH (less than 7), the more acidic it is. The higher a substance's pH (greater than 7), the more alkaline it is,' she said. Normal rain consists of a pH of 5.6 due to the dissolving of carbon dioxide, forming weak carbonic acid, Vanlderstine said. She added that acid rain usually has a pH ranging between 4.2 and 4.4. In P.E.I., precipitation samples are collected at the Southampton air monitoring station at the eastern P.E.I. forestry office. The monitoring station is equipped with a collection system that gathers and stores precipitation for measurement, Vanlderstine said. A bucket is used to collect rainfall and other forms of precipitation, allowing for an accurate assessment of the accumulated volume, she added. 'Each week, the collected precipitation is transferred to sample bottles and sent to the P.E.I. analytical lab for chemical analysis,' Vanlderstine said. The station also features an automated sensor that detects precipitation events. 'When precipitation begins, the sensor triggers the opening of a protective lid, allowing rainfall and other precipitation to enter the collection bucket. Once precipitation stops, the lid automatically closes to prevent contamination,' Vanlderstine said. The average pH in 2024 was 6.1, Vanlderstine said. At this level, the acidity is mild and unlikely to cause significant harm to the environment, she added. 'Once a week, precipitation samples are collected and tested for pH along with several other parameters,' she said. Since 1982, samples have been collected to store and monitor the atmosphere above P.E.I. 'The annual average pH value has increased from 4.8 in 2004 to 6.1 in 2022. The average pH for the last five years is 6.2,' she said. Acid rain results when sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents, Vanlderstine said. 'The sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground,' she said. The major sources of SO2 and NOX in the atmosphere are the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity, vehicles and heavy equipment emissions, manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries. Yutaro Sasaki is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. He can be reached at ysasaki@ and followed on X @PEyutarosasaki . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBS News
8 hours ago
- CBS News
Cooling begins Tuesday in Minnesota ahead of quiet stretch
Minnesota is headed for a much-needed break from the intense heat and humidity. Expect highs in the lower 80s on Tuesday with moderate dew points, which will drop by night. Then, winds turn breezy from the northwest, helping usher in cooler, drier air. Some wildfire smoke may also mix in, especially up north. An air quality alert is in effect for the northern half of the state through 11 p.m. on Wednesday. A few isolated showers or weak storms are possible later on, mainly in southern Minnesota during the afternoon and overnight hours. A quiet, pleasant stretch begins midweek, with sunshine and highs in the upper 70s through Friday.
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- Washington Post
July 29 morning weather update
The inside scoop on D.C. weather from the Capital Weather Gang. Get your D.C. area weather update in under a minute on weekday mornings.
