Greenhouse Emissions Caused By Transportation
Elliott Nickell
Prof. Matthew Schmeer
English 121
8/28/13
Greenhouse Emissions Caused by Transportation Global Warming is defined as an increase in the earth’s normal atmospheric temperature due to the greenhouse effect (Dictionary.com). The warming of earth’s atmosphere occurs when “CO2 absorbs infrared radiation and then re-radiates it back toward the surface of the planet” (Mahlman). Reducing unnecessary travel and shipping will reduce CO2 emissions. The amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased dramatically in the last century. Globally, the average temperature, along with the sea level, is rising “although human-produced airborne sulfate particles can cause cooling that offsets some of the warming” (Mahlman). Luckily, “computational models that include these factors” can project what might happen in the next century (Mahlman). These models predict that by 2100, the average global temperature will be increased by between 1 ½ and 5 Celsius. The glaciers are melting, animals are dying, and our world is changing for the worse. It is not only the United States causing this global crisis, but we are a huge contribution to it. The United States produces 19% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions and the second most amount for any country in the world, right behind China (Fig. 1). 28% of all carbon dioxide in the United States comes from trains, plains, and automobiles (Fig. 2). If, as a nation, we can cut down on unnecessary shipping and transport, there will be a large impact in the global emissions of harmful greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide. In the United States, transportation isn’t cheap. Gas prices rise every day, and commuting is getting more and more expensive. Although the monetary cost of driving and shipping all over the country or globally is very expensive, there is a much greater cost to our environment. As explained previously, the more carbon dioxide we emit from the burning of fossil fuels the more the climate
Prof. Matthew Schmeer
English 121
8/28/13
Greenhouse Emissions Caused by Transportation Global Warming is defined as an increase in the earth’s normal atmospheric temperature due to the greenhouse effect (Dictionary.com). The warming of earth’s atmosphere occurs when “CO2 absorbs infrared radiation and then re-radiates it back toward the surface of the planet” (Mahlman). Reducing unnecessary travel and shipping will reduce CO2 emissions. The amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased dramatically in the last century. Globally, the average temperature, along with the sea level, is rising “although human-produced airborne sulfate particles can cause cooling that offsets some of the warming” (Mahlman). Luckily, “computational models that include these factors” can project what might happen in the next century (Mahlman). These models predict that by 2100, the average global temperature will be increased by between 1 ½ and 5 Celsius. The glaciers are melting, animals are dying, and our world is changing for the worse. It is not only the United States causing this global crisis, but we are a huge contribution to it. The United States produces 19% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions and the second most amount for any country in the world, right behind China (Fig. 1). 28% of all carbon dioxide in the United States comes from trains, plains, and automobiles (Fig. 2). If, as a nation, we can cut down on unnecessary shipping and transport, there will be a large impact in the global emissions of harmful greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide. In the United States, transportation isn’t cheap. Gas prices rise every day, and commuting is getting more and more expensive. Although the monetary cost of driving and shipping all over the country or globally is very expensive, there is a much greater cost to our environment. As explained previously, the more carbon dioxide we emit from the burning of fossil fuels the more the climate
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