Technology is Destroying our Planet

By Brody Johnston

The Automobile and Global Warming

The AutomobileThe Automobile is the most

revolutionary piece of technology to emerge from the field of transportation. The impact cars have had on our society is tremendous. Allowing people to travel long distances in a very short amount of time. It is estimated that there are about 600 million vehicles in the world. From this it is obvious that the automobile has impacted our society in a serious way; not just economically, or socially, but also environmentally.

Pros of the Automobile Technology that revolutionized the way we trade, transport people and goods.

The ability to travel where and when you want at a moments notice.

Faster response time in emergencies (ambulance, police, fire trucks, etc.).

Faster, more localized transportation of goods and services.

Overall societal Independence

Cons of the Automobile Cars are expensive, (insurance, gas, maintenance fees, etc.).

Can be deadly. Collisions in cars is the #1 cause of teenage deaths.

Causing our society too be unhealthy and lazy due to lack of exercise.

The increase in car users is causing a lot of congestion on the roads.

Negative Impact on the environment:Cars exhaust fumes are causing global warming.

What is Global Warming?

Global warming is defined as, “The progressive gradual rise of the earth's surface temperature thought to be caused by the greenhouse effect and responsible for changes in global climate patterns” (Natsource).

The Effects of Global Warming Why is Global Warming such a big deal? Global warming is having a huge impact on our planets climate today.

The increase of the Earths temperature, is slowly causing a variety of problems.

Floods, and bigger and stronger storms are some of the smaller immediate issues. Global warming however, has the power to destroy our planet.

The Depletion of the Ozone Layer

The Increase in Greenhouse Gas

Emissions

GlobalDeforestation

3 Main Causes of GlobalWarming

Cars and Greenhouse Gases The majority of cars on Earth burn fossil fuels. (Gasoline, Diesel, oil, etc.).

The combustion of theses fossil fuels releases pollutants into the atmosphere.

These pollutants are known as Greenhouse gases, released from the cars muffler.

Greenhouse Gases Greenhouse gases are the number one cause for global warming.

Released into the atmosphere primarily through the Combustion of fossil fuels in cars, factories, and electricity production.

Greenhouse gases are made up of CO2, nitrous oxide, and methane (All released from automobiles exhaust).

CO2 causes a greater temperature increase than any other gas.

Trees and Carbon Dioxide Animals produce CO2, and plants produce oxygen. Natural Harmony Deforestation Disrupts this process. Trees store CO2, they are a naturally occurring defence against the buildup of CO2 in our atmosphere from pollutants such as car exhaust.

Deforestation As we continue to become a more technologically advanced society, the amount of industry increases.

More Cars = More Carbon Dioxide With more industry we are also seeing more deforestation.

Less Trees = more Carbon Dioxide More CO2 = More damage to ozone layer

Ozone Depletion Ozone Depletion is the number one cause for the increase in temperatures world wide.

Ozone Depletion is caused from the release of greenhouse gases.

Holes in the ozone layer allow UV rays into our atmosphere.

CO2 build up in our atmosphere traps heat(The suns UV rays)at the surface.

Hotter surface temperatures = colder temperatures in the ozone layer.

The colder the temperature in the ozone layer, the harder it is for the ozone to naturally replenish.

Evidence of Ozone Depletion By the year 2000, 60% of the ozone layer covering the Arctic region was lost.

Currently over the Antarctic the ozone hole is three times the size of the United States.

This is why the Arctic regions areshowing the greatesttemp increases.

The Automobiles Impact on Climate

The automobile was invented in the early 1900’s. During the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution caused a higher % of greenhouse gas emissions.

This pollution results in higher global temperatures.

The global temperature average has risen 0.7 degrees Celsius since the 1900’s.

Evidence of Climate Change

In 2006 24% of the ice in the polar arctic region disappeared.

It was this same year that the Northwest Passage was free of ice for the first time in recorder history.

Effects of Global Warming The Arctic Regions house 96% of the glacier ice on Earth.

If it melted, sea levels would rise up to 25ft world wide.

The damages this would cause would be incomprehensible

If not taken seriously global warming will destroy our planet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH-qO9RRchc

Video on the Effects of Global Warming

How to Beat Global Warming

To improve our chances of stopping global warming there are a few things we as a society can do…

Drive less/walk more = fewer emissions. Get your car E-Tested or consider buying an electric car.

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle. Cut down on electricity Use less heat/air conditioning Buy more energy efficient products

References

Google Images. Retrieved from https://www.google.ca/images/

National Geographic. (n.d.). Causes of Global Warming. Retrieved on Tuesday, December 4th 2012 from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment /global-warming/gw-causes

Natsource. Retrieved from www.natsource.com/markets/index.asp

RACV. (2010). My Car: Impact of Cars on the Environment. Retrievd on Tuesday, December 4th 2012 from http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Internet/Primary/my+car/advice+_+information/motoring+_+the+environment /impact+of+cars+on+the+environment

Rind, D. (2009 January). Do Variations in the Solar Cycle Affect Our Climate System. Retrieved on Tuesday, December

4th 2012 from http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/briefs/rind_03/

Shah, A. (2002 June 08). The Ozone Layer and Climate Change. Retrieved on Tuesday, December 4th 2012 from http://www.globalissues.org/article/184/the-ozone-layer-andclimate-change

Somerville, R. J., & Hassol, S. (2011). Communicating the science of climate change. Physics Today, 64(10), 48-53.

Thompson, L. G., & Kuo, G. (2012). Climate Change: The Evidence and Our Options. World Future Review, 4(2), 114-122.

Within-Reach. (2011). Pros and Cons of traveling by car vs. any other. Retrieved on Tuesday, December 4th 2012 from http://www.within-reach.org.uk/pros-and-cons-of- travelling-by-car.html

YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/

References