Acid rain primarily causes increased tree death among the options listed.
Acid rain results from the deposition of acidic components (like sulfuric and nitric acids) in rain, which can lead to soil acidification. This can harm trees and other vegetation by damaging their leaves, impairing their ability to photosynthesize, and disrupting nutrient uptake in the soil. Over time, these effects can lead to increased tree mortality.
While acid rain can have broader environmental impacts, such as contributing to the degradation of aquatic ecosystems and altering soil chemistry, the specific option of "increased tree death" directly relates to the effects of acid rain. The other options, such as smog and depletion of groundwater, are typically not direct results of acid rain, and conversion of land to agriculture is generally a land use issue rather than an effect of acid rain.
1 answer