In the United States, transportation accounts for one-third of energy-related emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Between 1990 and 2007, these emissions increased by 29 percent (see References 1). This pollution takes a serious toll on the environment, resulting in dramatic environmental changes that affect the weather.
The Process of Climate Change
Car pollution contributes significantly to climate change, which results from a buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels in cars releases carbon dioxide, which is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. (see References 6). As these gases build up, they trap heat in the atmosphere, causing climate change.
Results of Climate Change
Increased heat in the atmosphere warms environments, causing ecosystems and weather patterns to change. For instance, in the arctic, boreal forest is gradually replacing tundra, says the United Nations Environmental Programme. Climate change also causes sea levels to rise, increases salinity in ocean ecosystems, and affects rainfall patterns. Rain tends to decrease in the tropics and increase in mid- and high-latitude regions of the northern hemisphere, according to UNEP. Lack of rainfall in some areas such as Africa leads to desertification, while higher-than-normal rainfall in other areas causes floods. Other extreme weather phenomena such as stronger and more frequent tropical cyclones also seem to be a result of climate change (see References 7).
The Problem of Smog
Car pollution also creates smog, a dangerous weather condition that reduces visibility in cities and poses a serious health threat. In 1948, a thick blanket of smog killed 20 people and left about 6,000 ill in the steel mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania. While industrial activities most likely played a large role in creating the smog in this case, this tragedy sparked further research in the causes of smog. London's killer smog of 1952, which killed roughly 4,000 people, and New York City's deadly smog in 1953, which killed 200, also highlight the strong role automobiles play in creating smog. Smog forms when large amounts of air pollutants are released and the air does not circulate enough to disperse them, usually because of wind patterns and geographical location (see References 3).
Different types of cars and driving practices affect the environment, and therefore the weather, to different extents. Time spent idling in traffic releases emissions, so a person who avoids rush hour traffic may release less emissions than one who does not. Carrying heavier loads also releases more emissions. Of course, different cars release different amounts of pollution. A small compact car or a hybrid will probably have a smaller effect on the environment than a large truck or van.
Other Forms of Car Pollution
Cars can cause pollution in other ways, too. Oil that leaks from cars and gasoline spills at gas stations release toxins into the ground. Improper disposal of car fluids like motor oil can also harm the environment (see References 2).
- EPA: Emissions
- EPA: After the Storm
- University of California at Berkeley: All That Smog
- Automobile in American Life and Society: The Automobile and the Environment in American History
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: In 1948, Smog Left Deadly Legacy in Donora
- EPA: 2012 Draft U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report
- UNEP: How Will Global Warming Affect My World?
- Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images