Iran Receives Acid Rain: Oil Depot Explosions, Missile Strikes The Cause? Science In Times Of War

Last Updated:March 08, 2026, 17:25 IST

Acid rain in Iran: Can missile or air strikes cause acid rain? Has it happened in any war in the past? News18 explains

Tehran woke up to thick black clouds and toxic rain after the US and Israel launched airstrikes that struck refineries and oil storage sites in the Iranian capital. The Iranian Red Crescent warned residents of “dangerous" and “highly acidic" rain. It said the oil depot explosions released into the air “significant quantities of toxic hydrocarbon compounds, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides".

Authorities advised citizens to stay indoors and avoid using air conditioners to prevent inhaling toxic particles.

Can missile or air strikes cause acid rain? Has it happened in any war in the past? News18 explains.

WHAT IS ACID RAIN?

Acid rain is any form of precipitation—like rain, snow, or fog—that contains high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. It forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere, often by burning fossil fuels or through volcanic eruptions. These gases react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to create mild solutions of sulfuric and nitric acid. While normal rain is slightly acidic with a pH of about 5.6, acid rain typically has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4, making it potent enough to leach aluminum from soil, damage forest canopies, and decay stone buildings or metal structures.

In terms of comparison, war-induced acid rain is a “flash" environmental disaster compared to the slow, chronic buildup of industrial acid rain. Industrial acid rain is a systemic issue caused by decades of power plant emissions and car exhaust; it is widespread, regulated by international treaties, and generally has a consistent, lower level of acidity. In contrast, acid rain from missile strikes is an acute, high-intensity event. It is caused by the sudden combustion of rocket propellants or the catastrophic ignition of oil refineries and chemical plants. This results in localized rainfall that can be significantly more acidic and toxic than typical industrial versions, often carrying heavy metals and hazardous hydrocarbons directly into the local food and water supply.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MISSILES STRIKE OR OIL DEPOTS EXPLODE?

Oil depot explosions can cause acid rain

The process involves several stages, from the initial blast to the final “black rain". The high-temperature combustion of oil releases significant quantities of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Once in the air, these gases react with water vapour, oxygen, and other chemicals. Sulphur dioxide transforms into sulfuric acid and nitrogen oxides turn into nitric acid. These acids dissolve into water droplets in clouds. When it rains, the water is highly acidic, often appearing as “black rain" if it is also heavily laden with soot and unburned hydrocarbons.

Missile strikes can cause acid rain

When missiles explode, they release chemical compounds into the air that react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form acidic precipitation.

The process typically occurs through two main pathways:

Direct Chemical Release: Missiles and artillery rockets often contain substances like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur. For example, the explosion of a single BM-21 Grad rocket can release over 500 grams of sulfur, which reacts with atmospheric water to form sulfurous acid.

Secondary Fires: Strikes on industrial targets—such as oil depots, gas storage facilities, or chemical plants—ignite massive fires. These fires release vast quantities of toxic hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides into the sky.

HOW DOES ACID RAIN IMPACT HEALTH?

Human Health: Inhaling the pollutants that form acid rain can cause severe respiratory issues, including asthma, bronchitis, and lung damage.

Ecosystem Damage: Acid rain can “burn" vegetation, poison groundwater with heavy metals, and increase the acidity of lakes and rivers, often leading to massive die-offs of fish and other aquatic life.

HAS A WAR CAUSED ACID RAIN IN THE PAST?

Historical instances where missile strikes or war-related activities have caused acid rain or highly acidic precipitation include:

Kuwait (1991 Gulf War): Following the deliberate ignition of over 600 oil wells by retreating Iraqi forces, massive smoke plumes released approximately 24,000 tons of sulfur dioxide daily. This resulted in acid rain and soot clouds that extended nearly 1,920 kilometres, affecting countries as far away as Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Syria (2013–2017): While primarily known for direct chemical agent releases (like Sarin and Chlorine), strikes on chemical stockpiles and industrial areas during the conflict have been noted for releasing pollutants that contribute to localized environmental acidification.

Ukraine (2022–Present): Ongoing missile and artillery strikes on industrial infrastructure, such as nitric acid tanks in Rubizhne, have created chemical clouds capable of producing localized acid rain. The explosion of standard military rockets (like the BM-21 Grad) also releases sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which are primary precursors to acidic precipitation.

News explainers Iran Receives Acid Rain: Oil Depot Explosions, Missile Strikes The Cause? Science In Times Of War

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