We have always breath a sigh of relief with the news of the drop of acid rainfall, as scientists have warned of their negative effects. But, according to a new study by U.S. researchers, a respite of such rain is no more a good news for the environment.
Scientists now fear that a drop in acid rain may lead to the change in the ecosystem’s biological activity and is increasing dissolved carbon dioxide in the streams that flow through the forest. This is suggested by data from a long-term ecological study of stream chemistry made by Penn State University researchers.
They have come to this conclusion after monitoring the water quality of Pennsylvania’s five streams. David DeWalle, professor of forest hydrology said,
These streams are as pristine as you can get, and we have been sampling them nearly every month over the past 15 years.
Reduction in the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere lead to the formation of a different set of conditions for organisms living in the soil, DeWalle suggests. It may be possible to trace the rise in dissolved carbon dioxide in the streams by the increase in respiration in such organisms.