I read the article about the devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo. The main point of this article, I feel, were to inform people about just how much of an impact tornados can make. Just in one town 30 people were killed. This tornado had brought on the worst damage so far in this string of tornados, which have been occurring all spring. A meterologist said from a scale of 1-10 it was a 8-9. Tornados are very powerful forces of nature and people should be taking precautions, especially this time of year in the midwest.

I think that it’s really scary that there’s almost nothing you can do but wait it out and hope for the best. Especially if it’s surrounded by rain than you can’t tell how bad it really is. I have sympathy for people who were killed, injured, or lost everything to this tornado.

1.) List a few of the gases which lead to acid rain.
Acid rain is caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are produced when fuels burn.



2.) What is the source of much of the acid rain producing gases in Pennsylvania?
The source of most sulfur dioxide is high-sulfur coal burned in power plants.


30 percent of the nitrogen oxides comes from power production. Automobiles generate another 30 percent, and  an additional 25 to 30 percent is caused agriculturally.



3.) Briefly explain how acid rain forms
Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere combine with water to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. With these acids that are mixed with rainwater, fall to Earth as acid rain, snow or fog and can acidify lakes and streams in the Northeast.