1st English Speech on 16.1.1997
Speaker: David REPOLUSK
Topic: Acid rain
Class:
5.HBa
__________________________________________________________________________________
________
Speech:
ACID RAIN
I am presenting my speech about ACID RAIN.
1. INTRODUCTION
Acid rain is caused by burning fossil fuels like coal and oil and
allowing them to pollute the atmosphere.
This form of pollution is so strong that many trees and lakes are dying,
buildings are decaying and, in some cases, people’s health is being
damaged.
Acid rain is one of many pressures on our environment caused by the
modern way of life enjoyed by people in the more industrialized
countries.
Modern technolgy has made many people richer, in one way more
healthy and more comfortable than ever before.
However, all these benefits depend on our environment, which provides
us with everything we need - the air we breathe, the water we drink, and
the food we eat, the house in which we live and the school in which we
learn.
If we continue to damage the environment, then it will not be able to
support us so well.
I will be telling you more about acid rain and how it can damage the
environment.
2. AIR POLLUTION
Most air pollution is a result of burning fossil fuels like coal and oil.
These fuels have been formed over thousands of years from dead plants
and animals.
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1st English Speech on 16.1.1997
Speaker: David REPOLUSK
Topic: Acid rain
Class:
5.HBa
__________________________________________________________________________________
________
When the fuel is burnt, not only is the energy released, but many other
chemicals as well, including sulphur and nitrogen that the organic
material contained.
This happens in factories, traffic and cities (-->FOIL 1).
These substances are two of the most important ingredients of acid rain.
(Here is a picture you can understand better. --> FOIL 2 -->
"The water pollution cycle")
Das Bild ist leider nicht als Datei möglich !!!
2.1.What happens to air pollution ?
Some of the pollution falls to the ground very quickly, before it is
absorbed by moisture. It settles on trees, buildings and lakes, usually in
and around the area where it was produced.
This is called ‘dry deposition’.
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1st English Speech on 16.1.1997
Speaker: David REPOLUSK
Topic: Acid rain
Class:
5.HBa
__________________________________________________________________________________
________
When water evaporates from seas, lakes or land, the moisture is neither
acid nor alkaline.
It is neutral.
Natural rainfall has a pH of between 5 and 6 (neutral is pH 7).
It can dissolve rocks and create spectacular landscape, in a process that
takes thousands of years.
The moisture absorbs gases, like carbon dioxide, found in the
atmosphere, and becomes a weak acid.
It can dissolve rocks and create spectacular landscape in a few years.
The rest of the pollution can remain in the air for up to a week and is
carried long distances by the wind.
During this time, the chemicals react with the moisture in the atmosphere
and become dilute sulphuric and nitric acids.
They are ready to become acid rain. They also react with other chemicals
in the atmosphere to form pollutants.
***
Ozone is one of the most dangerous of these, as it damages vegetation.
It also attacks our health (especially babies and old people).
For example: asthma or other breathing problems, heart problems,...
***
In winter, when acid rain falls as snow, the snow collects on the ground,
holding on as acids.
In spring, when the snow melts, there is a sudden surge of water which
flows across the land into streams and lakes.
The lake becomes more acid water, so fish and plants can die.
2.2. How far can pollution be carried ?
If you look at smoke coming from a chimney, there are very few days in
the year when it goes straight up.
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1st English Speech on 16.1.1997
Speaker: David REPOLUSK
Topic: Acid rain
Class:
5.HBa
__________________________________________________________________________________
________
Most often, the smoke bends away from the chimney because the air
around the chimney is moving.
Even when there appears to be only a slight wind on the ground, higher
up it can be much stronger.
The pollution from the chimneys is carried by the wind.
Some of it may stay in the air for a week or more before it is deposited on
the ground.
In this time it can travel many kilometres.
Even a gentle wind of 16 kilometres per hour could carry the pollution
over 1,600 kilometres in five days.
The longer the pollution stays in the atmosphere, the more chemical
composition changes. So the ozone will be greater.
3. ACIDITY IN LAKES
Two of the most popular hobbies in North America and Europe are
fishing and swimming in lakes and streams.
The problem is that living fishes in lakes which are full of acid are
caught by those who fish.
Now we buy this fish and we eat it. So we can get some illness because
of acidic fishes.
This water also damages our skin and eyes, especially with babies. Also
animals and flora suffer.
There is no drinking-quality water !
In Austria most of the lakes have very good drinking quality (-+- show
Austrian flag).
4. DAMAGE TO TREES AND FORESTS
Today, almost 40 per cent of the forest is dead or dying from acid rain.
Large areas that were forest are now moorland.
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1st English Speech on 16.1.1997
Speaker: David REPOLUSK
Topic: Acid rain
Class:
5.HBa
__________________________________________________________________________________
________
This picture shows you how tree areas can be affected by acid rain
(--> FOIL 2).
Trees can get very thin branches and others must die from acid rain.
Trees are very important since they produce fresh air !
5. DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS
If you look at many buildings, especially old ones, you may well notice
that the building materials are breaking up. Building materials weather
naturally, but over a long period of time, usually many centuries.
Acid rain speeds up the process.
Good examples in Austria are Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, the Votiv
Cathedral and the City Hall of Vienna (--> pictures, photos).
Acid pollution had corroded the material (copper covering).
Millions of schillings had to be and have to be spent to restore these
famous buildings.
But who should pay ? Should it be the taxpayers of Austria or the
factories that caused the pollution in the first place ?
***
Don’t criticize others, begin with yourself.
We should provide help for our environment !!!
Thank you for listening.
*** ...means pause during holding this speech.
--> ...means take this FOIL or this picture.
PAGE 5
1st English Speech on 16.1.1997
Speaker: David REPOLUSK
Topic: Acid rain
Class:
5.HBa
__________________________________________________________________________________
________
-+- ...means to do something (for example "show a flag").
in bold print words ... vocabulary (-> on page 11).
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