Social media in Uzbekistan has been abuzz with reports of acid clouds appearing in the sky over Iran, which allegedly could spread to Central Asian countries and cause acid rain. These rumors have sparked concern among the public, but official sources have swiftly debunked them.

The National Committee for Ecology of Uzbekistan issued an official statement declaring these reports scientifically unfounded. The committee explained that acid precipitation forms through the long-term accumulation of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, which react chemically with water vapor in clouds. Such processes are primarily characteristic of industrial zones and areas with direct pollutant emissions.

According to experts, when air masses are transported over long distances, the concentration of pollutants sharply decreases due to atmospheric turbulence, vertical mixing, and dry and wet deposition. Therefore, forming dangerous concentrations of acid precipitation thousands of kilometers from the source is nearly impossible. Additionally, the occurrence of precipitation is determined by local cloud formation processes, with rain forming from water vapor and aerosols present in the atmosphere above the region.

The National Committee for Ecology, based on meteorological observations and air quality monitoring, emphasized that there is no risk of acid clouds transferring to the territory of Uzbekistan and neighboring states. The authorities urged the public not to trust unverified reports and to rely only on official sources.

Source: www.gazeta.uz