Acid rain affects nearly all aspects of our ecosystem, including:
- fish & other aquatic life
- soils & vegetation
- humans

Fish & Other Aquatic Life

Acid precipitation has a profound effect on the lives of fish.  The effects acid rain has had on fish populations is the most widely studied topic related to the effects of acid rain on widlife.  The main reason that fish and other organisms that make bodies of water their home are so strongly effected is due to the acidification of lakes and streams.  When rain with a very low pH falls in to lakes and other bodies of water, the water itself becomes very acidic, and organisms can only handle certain pH levels.  When the pH falls too low, spawning and reproduction are inhibited, and eventually all the wildlife in the lake can die off and the lake is termed "acid dead."

Soils & Vegetation

Acid rain can damage soil & vegetation just as much as it does bodies of water and wildlife.  With prolonged exposure to acid rain and dry fallout, soils can become very acidic.  The ability of the soil to neutralize the incoming acid is called its buffering capacity, and is determined by the thickness and composition of the soil.
Plants are also directly affected by acid rain.  Plants with leaves can incur damage through the collapse and distortion of cells on the upper leaf surface.  Eventually, all leaf surfaces can become damaged.

Humans

The above effects also have an impact on humans in that they alter the fishability of our lakes and streams, and that a significant amount of damage is done each year to our crops.
Our structures, such as buildings and monuments, can incur a significant amount of damage due to acid precipitation.  Over time, corrosion can occur and fixing the problem can be difficult and costly.
Here are some pictures of what can occur over time:

Another issue caused by acid precipitation is a dispute between the United States and Canada.  This is because Canada blames the United States for some of its acid rain problems that occur in the southeastern portion of their country.  While that may sound absurd, it really is entirely possible that our coal-burning power plants may be partly responsible for some of Canada's problems with acid rain, because the pollution emitted by smokestacks can travel up to a thousand miles away from the source.

Speaking of Canada and its acid rain problems, Sudbury, Ontario is a city in Canada that suffered some of the worst acid rain problems EVER.  With a nickel mine that boasts one of the world's tallest smokestacks at 381 meters, acid rain complications got so bad there that virtually all of the topsoil was damaged and washed away, leaving bedrock exposed.  And here's a Sudbury fun-fact for you:  In 1971, United States astronauts traveled to the city to use its terrain as a training ground for walking on the moon.
However, with a lot of work, patience, and grass-seed, the city was able to turn its problems around, and the difference between the past and the present is truly night and day.  Just how drastic was the turn-around??  See for yourself with these wonderful pictures.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Onto some links!!