This book presents the latest scientific information and analysis concerning the costs, benefits, and environmental effectiveness of the Acid Rain Program (ARP), a bipartisan mandate under Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments signed into law by President George H W Bush to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from electric generating sources. Notably, the SO2 program includes the use of a creative emissions cap-and-trade program that combines the best of American science, government, and market-driven innovation. This book focuses on emission reductions from power plants, summarises changes in deposition rates and environmental impacts, and evaluates the ecological effects expected to accompany future reduction in SO2 and NOx emissions.

This book is the result of a conference held biannually at the Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies at Connecticut College. It uses an interdisciplinary approach to focus on important ecological impacts of acid deposition. The book combines research findings and the policy analyses of experts from different academic disciplines with the positions advanced by representatives of various nongovernmental organizations.

When we originally published Biogeochemistry of a Forested Ecosystem in 1977, the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES) had been in existence for 14 years, and we included data through 1974, or a biogeo chemical record of 11 years. Now our continuous, long-term biogeo chemical records cover more than 31 years, and there have been many changes. The most notable change, however, is that three of our coauthors on the original volume are now deceased. They are deeply missed in so many ways. In spite of the longer records, different trends, and new insights, we believe that the basic concepts and approaches we presented in 1977 represent the most valuable contribution of the original edition. They are still valid and useful, particularly for an introductory study of, or course in, biogeochemistry. Our goal in this revision is to preserve these fea tures, correct errors, and revise or eliminate misleading or ambiguous short-term data (11 years!), while maintaining approximately the original length and the modest cost.

Asia's rapid economic growth has fueled a growing appetite for commercial energy, which is satisfied by fossil fuels that emit pollutants. These pollutants are oxidized and transported into the atmosphere, creating acidic depositions known as acid rain that can damage foliage, soils, and surface waters. At current energy consumption growth rates, by the year 2000 sulfur dioxide emissions from Asia will surpass the emissions of North America and Europe combined. RAINS-ASIA is an assessment tool developed by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and donors to study the implications of alternative energy development strategies for air pollution and acid rain and to help identify cost-effective abatement methods. This report provides an overview of the model and some results of analyses that have been conducted as part of the RAINS-ASIA program.