How to Spot Acid Rain

There is some acid in all rain that comes out of the sky because water drops in the clouds dissolve some of the natural carbon dioxide in the air. Acid rain occurs when the rain has more acid in it than normal—like the amount of acid you'd find in tomato.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look toward the Midwest and the Great Lakes region for the highest volume of acid rain. Acid rain occurs with the highest levels of acid over the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia along with parts of Canada—around the Toronto area. Acid rain can be found in higher doses throughout the entire eastern half of the United States with the most acidic levels occurring the closer you get to the Great Lakes region.

2. Gather rain in a bucket, and pour it into a clear glass. If you have a significant rain storm, put a bucket out to catch some of the rain to take a look at it. Acid rain is not completely clear.

3. Test the rain in your area for sulfur compounds and acidity. The biggest cause of acid rain is emissions of sulfur compounds that produce sulfur dioxide. This rains out of the sky as sulfuric acid. The coal plants of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia are largely blamed for the problem of acid rain.

4. Watch for areas where fish populations have died off and natural beauty has died. In the Great Lakes region, acid rain has killed fish populations and increased algae blooms. In streams in the Appalachian Mountains, the water's acidity level is high and fish populations are lower.

5. Watch for acid rain after it's already landed on the ground in your buckets and glasses, and have it tested. You really can't determine the acidity level of rain without having it properly tested.