Why can acid rain fall far downwind from power plants?

Acid rain can fall far downwind from power plants because the primary pollutants responsible for its formation—sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides—are released into the atmosphere and can travel long distances before reacting with water and oxygen to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid.1

Because these gases remain airborne, they can be transported by wind currents for hours or even days. If industrial emission controls are weak, these compounds eventually mix with cloud moisture or fall as dry deposition, impacting regions located far from the original source of pollution. This transboundary nature of acid rain highlights the importance of international cooperation and strong environmental regulations, as emissions from one area can cause significant ecological harm to ecosystems and infrastructure in distant, downwind regions.12