National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Acid precipitation forms when sulfur oxides (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) accumulate in the atmosphere over a long period of time and react with water vapour in clouds.

Such processes are typically associated with industrial areas and locations close to emission sources. When air masses travel over long distances, pollutant concentrations decrease significantly due to atmospheric turbulence, vertical mixing, as well as dry and wet deposition.

As a result, the formation of hazardous concentrations of acid precipitation thousands of kilometres away from the source is virtually impossible. In addition, precipitation is determined by local cloud-formation processes and rainfall develops from water vapour and aerosols present in the atmosphere directly above a particular region.

According to meteorological observations and air quality monitoring data, there is currently no indication of any risk that so-called “acid clouds” could reach the territory of Uzbekistan or neighbouring countries.