The sub-regional ecological environment of the Gulf could be damaged if the Iraq war continues, said scientists participating in the International Symposium on Climate Change, which opened in Beijing Monday.

Ali Mohammad Noorian, vice-president of the World Meteorological Organization and president of the Iran Meteorological Organization, said the Iraq war would not seriously affect the global environment, but its localized influence could not be neglected.

"The oil fires induced by the war will affect the ecological environment in Iraq and its immediate neighboring countries," Noorian said.

He explained that the particular climatic system in the Middle East would bring war pollutants eastward to Iran, causing acid rain and endangering agriculture and forestry.

Iran had already suffered from the pollution of the Gulf War in 1991, which led to decreased agricultural output, loss of fisheries and decimated wildlife.

Ding Yihui, special advisor on climate change with the China Meteorological Administration, said Iraq had over 2,000 oil wells. Long-term oil fires due to a prolonged war would negatively affect the climate and environment.

Ding pointed out that during the 1991 Gulf War, burning oil increased the carbon content in the air, which was conveyed to China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Tibet Autonomous Region by westerly winds.

Due to its strong ability to absorb short-wave radiation from the sun, the carbon content accelerated the melting of snows and glaciers, which was unfavorable for the local climate and ecological environment.

Chinese scientists are closely watching the Iraq war to see whether it will influence China's weather this summer, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2003)