Weatherwatch: how UK vehicle emissions affect Norway's fish

Nitrogen oxides produced by farming and cars are a continuing cause of acid rainIn the 1980s, there was a series of diplomatic spats between Britain and Scandinavian countries about acid rain. Sulphur emissions from coal-burning power stations in Britain were being swept up into clouds, crossing the North Sea and falling as weak sulphuric acid into lakes and rivers in Norway and Sweden. The acid was wiping out salmon and trout populations. Eventually, after years of denials, Margaret Thatcher admitted some responsibility and scrubbers were fitted to British power station chimneys to remove the worst of the pollution.Since then the issue of acid rain has virtually disappeared from public view, and the news this week that Britain managed a whole week without any coal-fired power station in use would suggest an end to the problem - but sadly not. Continue reading...