How Cars Affect Our Ecosystem

Cars impact Earth's ecosystems.

The great ecosystem we call Planet Earth is actually a network of many, smaller ecosystems. Some exist on land, others beneath the waves of the ocean. Some are high in the mountains, others amidst desert sands or glacial ice. A majority of the world's scientists believe cars negatively impact all these ecosystems, by contributing to a process called global warming.

Carbon Dioxide

Cars burn fossil fuels, which sends carbon dioxide into the air. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, carbon dioxide emissions from cars exceeded 314 million metric tons in 2004 alone.

Greenhouse Gas

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration reports that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that prevents heat from leaving the earth into space.

Global Warming

With excess heat trapped under the atmosphere, the surface of the Earth warms, resulting in the phenomenon called "global warming."

Impact

The full extent of the impact that global warming will have on Earth's ecosystems remains theoretical. Raised temperatures could harm ocean life and force land creatures to move into new places, disrupting habitats. Storms and floods could alter and destroy ecosystems. Winters could be phased out as seasons grow warmer, impairing the ability of many plants to bloom.

Dissent

NASA reports that small numbers of scientists believe rises in the Earth's temperature are natural, and are not significantly affected by human causes such as carbon dioxide emissions from cars. However, the majority of the world's climatologists attribute global warming to human activity.

Alternatives

Many vehicular alternatives have been created, or are currently in development, in response to global warming concerns. Innovations already available to consumers include hybrid cars, electric cars and cars that run on ethanol, biofuels and other alternatives to fossil fuels.

References

• Environmental Defense Fund
• Pure Green Cars
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration