Environmental effects of burning coal as a fuel

global warming phenomena

The phenomenon of global warming is a controversial issue. Some see it as just a hoax, while others consider it a serious threat that must be taken seriously. However, scientists and specialists agree that the planet Earth is witnessing gradual increases in its average temperature, and it has been found Over the past hundred years, the increase in Earth's temperature has ranged between 0.4 to 0.8 degrees Celsius, and higher increases are expected in the next fifty years, which indicates a rise in sea levels and the occurrence of violent climate disturbances.

Smog

Smog results from air pollution with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic materials, which in turn interact with sunlight to form ozone gas. The presence of this gas near the Earth’s surface poses a serious environmental threat. It is responsible for climate fluctuations and the harm they cause to human health, such as respiratory problems and eye irritation. Many large cities suffer from the problem of smog, due to the huge amount of pollutants emitted from their factories and vehicle exhausts, and with the availability of suitable climatic conditions represented by high temperature and low wind speed, these cities may be covered with fog for a long period of time, up to several days.

Acid rain

The term acid rain is given to rain containing sulfuric acids and nitric acids resulting from the interaction of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides with components of the atmosphere, sometimes reaching pH 4 on the pH scale.

It is noteworthy that the pH scale uses the hydrogen exponent to express the acidity of substances, and the acidity of all substances falls between pH numbers that vary from the number 0 to the number 14, and the middle of the scale is the number 7, which constitutes the neutral degree, while the numbers located below this number express acidic substances, such as vinegar. The pH is 2, while numbers greater than 7 represent alkaline substances.

Acid rain causes a number of environmental problems. When it reaches the surface of the Earth, it raises the degree of acidity of the soil and water bodies, which scientists attribute to causing the death of fish in lakes and the destruction of forests as well. It can be said that Germany, the Scandinavian countries, and the United States of America in particular It suffers from the damage of acid rain, and the resulting huge economic losses.