Many scientists, researchers, and environmentalists have expressed their concern about the climate changes that are occurring on earth. These professionals believe that these dramatic climate changes are due to human pollution, resulting in global warming of the atmosphere. Global warming refers to an increase in the overall global temperature and is believed to be caused by greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2). There are many signs that global warming is happening such as the rise in sea level and temperature. In a study done by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration they noticed that the sea level globally has risen about 6.7 inches in the last century. However it has nearly doubled that in the last decade.
Another study done by NASA determined that the earth started to heat up during the 1970’s, but 10 of the warmest years on earth have happened in the last 12 years [1]. This could be due to the increase of technology which leads to an increase of pollution, leading to an increase in global warming. A main contributor of CO2 that increases global warming and the amount of greenhouse gases are automotive vehicles [2]. According to the United States Department of Transportation in 2011 there was 253,108,389 vehicles registered on the road and the total amount of vehicles registered in the world surpases just over one billion vehicles [3]. Although vehicles are not the only contributors to the pollution of the earth, they are the leading contributors because of their sheer numbers which equates massive amounts of greenhouses gases being released from exhaust pipe. Some of the gases from car mufflers include methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, carbon monoxide but the main gas is carbon dioxide.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency did an overview of the gases coming out of a car through an exhaust and 82% of the gas was carbon dioxide [4].This is a huge problem that has to be taken care of as soon as possible because the average car produces approximately 8,900 grams of CO2 per gallon, or about 5 metric tons annually [5].
Figure 1. This image depicts a Fuel Economy rating for each vehicle which determines the amount of CO2 it produces.
Some of the challenges that arise with trying to reduce global warming is that not many people believe global warming is actually happening and not everyone can afford to help due to lack of resources. But ultimately the desired outcome is to at least reduce the amount of CO2 that vehicles produce even if it by the slightest margin. Any type of reduction of CO2 is helping the environment regardless.
