Acid Rain

This EPA site has basic information about acid rain with links to the Acid Rain Kids site, an Acid Rain Student Site, and Learning About Acid Rain: A Teachers Guide for Grades 6 through 8. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Acid Rain. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/

Acid Rain FAQ

Canada’s interest in the acid rain issue dates back to the late 1970s. Half of the acid deposition in eastern Canada came from sources in the United States. To address this issue, Canada and the US began negotiations on establishing a bilateral agreement, which was signed in 1991. This site presents the Canadian perspective on the acid rain problem. Environment Canada. (2011). Acid Rain FAQ. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.ec.gc.ca/Air/default.asp?lang=En&n=7E5E9F00-1

Air and Rain: the Beginnings of a Chemical Climatology

Robert Smith was one the first people to scientifically study acid rain. The pH scale had not been developed at the time this book was written. Smith, Robert Angus. (1872). Air and Rain: the Beginnings of a Chemical Climatology. London: Longmans, Green, & Co.

Air Pollution Engineering Manual

This is a definitive resource on air pollution control on an industry and process basis that was produced by the Air & Waste Management Association. Davis, Wayne R. (ed.) (2000). Air Pollution Engineering Manual, 2nd Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 

Chemical Heritage Foundation

The People section at the Chemical Heritage Foundation web site has readings relating to real scientists who have made all kinds of contributions to the world through science. The work by Mario Molina and Susan Solomon on CFCs is highlighted. The Chemical Heritage Foundation. (2001). People. Retrieved July 9, 2018, from https://www.sciencehistory.org/

Clean Air Markets Programs

Clean Air Markets Programs include various market-based regulatory programs designed to improve air quality. The most well-known of these programs is EPA’s Acid Rain Program, which has the overall goal of achieving environmental and public health benefits through reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), the two compounds produced by fossil fuel combustion that adversely affect air quality, the environment, and public health. In addition to information on the Acid Rain Program, you will find information at this site on other programs that employ cap-and-trade mechanisms. The latest acid rain allowance auction results are at the site. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Clean Air Markets. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/

Drive Clean Across Texas

Drive Clean Across Texas is the nation’s first statewide public outreach and education campaign designed to raise awareness and change attitudes about air pollution. This site provides background materials and lessons to help educators teach about air quality in their classrooms. Teachers helped to develop these materials, made available from the state of Texas. State of Texas. (2011). Drive Clean Across Texas. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.drivecleanacrosstexas.org

EPA’s NOx Reduction Program and the Clean Air Interstate Rule

The Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) was designed to address interstate transport of ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. To do so, CAIR required certain states to limit emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), which contribute to the formation of ozone and PM2.5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Clean Air Markets. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/progress/CAIR_09/CAIR_3.html

Lessons for K-12 Teachers

Teachers who participated in courses on teaching environmental sciences developed a number of lesson plans that are at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) website. The TCEQ staff have reviewed them for technical accuracy. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. (2011). Lesson Plans. Retrieved July 9, 2018, from https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/Education

Michigan’s Annual Air Quality Report

An annual air quality report is produced by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. These reports contain up-to-date information about air quality trends in Michigan. The annual report and those from previous years are available online at Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Air Division web site (http://www.michigan.gov/deq)

Michigan’s Environmental History

The Michigan Environmental History Project includes a slide-show presentation, photos, a timeline, and short articles. (2011). Michigan History Project. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.environmentalcouncil.org/priorities/slideshow.php

National Air Quality Trends

The U.S. EPA provides information on air trends, particle pollution, and ozone as well as air quality nstatistics. A link to “where you live” provides more detail on the air quality in your area. The air quality status and trends reports are posted on this site. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Air Trends. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/

National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN)

This is a nationwide network of precipitation monitoring sites. Its website has trend maps for acid rain and data from each of the stations in the network that can be generated online. The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP). (2011). National Trends Network (NTN). Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/

National Park Service Acid Rain Monitoring

A National Park Service lesson on Acid Rain Monitoring links directly to their actual data. National Park Service. Nature and Science. (2006). Acid Rain Lesson Plan. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/edu/lessons/acidrlessonplan.cfm

Project A.I.R.E.

Project A.I.R.E. (Air Information Resources for Educators) was developed by the U.S. EPA to focus the attention of elementary, junior high, and high school students on air pollution issues. The units in this package encourage students to think more critically and creatively about air pollution problems and the alternatives for resolving them. Topics covered include air quality, radon, the creation of environmental laws, the greenhouse effect and ozone. Project A.I.R.E. is on the MEECS Air Quality CD.

State of Michigan’s Environment 2003 and 2008

These reports are a good reference for all of the units in this series. Harrison, K.G. (ed.). (2003 and 2008). State of Michigan’s Environment 2003: Second Biennial Report and State of Michigan’s Environment 2008: First Triennial Report. Lansing: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-osep-ftp-deqdnrei03.pdf. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/2deq-exe-deqdnrei08_266980_7.pdf

U.S. EPA History

There is a wealth of information about the history of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at this site including a timeline, photographs, and profiles of people and issues. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). History. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/history