You would think that Hawaii, alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles from the industrial pollution and factory wastes of Asia, South America, North America, would be immune to the effects of acid rain.
Acid rain is an insidious and dangerous result of human emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds which react in the earth’s atmosphere to produce acids.
Until now, the effects of acid rain in Hawaii have been disguised by a few decades of lessening rainfall in the islands. Recently, with more rain crossing the islands in winter storms, the effects of acid rain can be viewed and felt throughout the state.
Acid rain causes potholes in roads.
What other explanation can there be for the huge potholes which developed over the past week, following two weeks of wind and rain?
Industrial acid rain was first discovered back in the 1850s, but did not become a noteworthy phenomenon until over a century later. Modern media has reported acid rain damage in Europe, Asia, and the United States, and now in Hawaii.
In most locales, acid rain damages building materials and historical monuments, as the acid in the rain chemically reacts with the calcium compounds in stones. Most buildings in Hawaii are immune to the effects of acid rain because of a thick coating of pigeon excrement.
However, Hawaii’s streets are highways are not immune to acid rain. Water from the heavens may be good for replenishing Hawaii’s water tables, and maintaining the brown discoloration of the Ala Wai Canal, but the acid from an abundance of rain wreaks havoc on asphalt and concrete, the two prime ingredients in Hawaii’s roads.
Make no mistake about it, acid rain created the potholes that damage the cars which send pollution into the skies which form chemicals which rain down upon all continents– and Hawaii.
3 comments ↓
If you want your readers to take you seriously, write a scientific report about acid rain in Hawaii (and about the allegations of acid rain recently contributing to increasing potholes in Hawaii) and show us the data. Don’t forget to apply the scientific principle (form a hypothesis and then try to destroy it — all good and true scientists try to destroy their own hypotheses and put their egos aside). Also, in the name of Edward Tufte, do not use a Powerpoint or Apple Keynote format, and don’t forget to cite your sources. I’m so weary of reading blogs (or listening to amateurs talk in person) from people who make assertions anecdotally without having facts to back up their statements. For example, people in Hawaii who on occasion alleged that O’ahu experiences “vog” and that “vog” leads to all sorts of ailments allegedly such as worsening respiratory conditions or sinus problems … but there is no such scientific classification of what “vog” by professionals who would qualified to make such definitions (e.g., NOAA). Thus if vog can’t be measured with sensors and observational instrumentation, then data can not be collected. If there is no data, then all the urban myths and anecdotes are just a bunch of nonsensical cackling by amateurs not worthy of anyone’s time.
Editor’s Note – Hello? Humor. Satire. Do you seriously think that anyone thinks that acid rain causes potholes in Hawaii? Go to Long’s and buy some Head On, apply direct to where it hurts. Your common sense.
Very funny. This year has been a tough year for potholes. Of, a good year if you’re keeping pothole scores. I’ve never seen so many wide and deep potholes as I have this year. It’s the rain, poor construction, and poor maintenance.
I’m so tired of reading comments on blog site by people who absolutely, positively don’t get the point. Hey, Eddie, can you say ‘Satire?’
Here’s a clue: “Most buildings in Hawaii are immune to the effects of acid rain because of a thick coating of pigeon excrement.”
Here’s another: “Water from the heavens may be good for replenishing Hawaii’s water tables, and maintaining the brown discoloration of the Ala Wai Canal.”
OK, you now have two clues. That’s two more than when you began reading.
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