Why is acid rain not distributed evenly across the landscape?

Answer 1

Acid rain is caused by smoke from manufacturing processes interacting with rain. As such, it is affected by both the availability of rain and being downwind from manufacturing plants.

For example, in Southern California, where I live, much of our smog has been proven to be coming from industry in China. However, we don't have much rain, so we don't get acid rain. In Washington, there is a lot of rain, but they are north of the prevailing winds from China, and they don't get acid rain either.

Answer 2

True acid rain is from SO2 from the sulfur in gasoline . It is a mineral most plants desire. I have worked at gas plants that burn H2S which is very deadly ,but after it burns it is SO2 . Around these plants the plants grow fine ,but most are in the desert ,so there is not much rain. The NO2 is what causes a lot of plant damage as it is a fertilizer so it kills plants if there is not enough rain to wash it off the plants. With rain it is very good for plants .