Transportation and the Climate Change Connection: Causes, Consequences, and Cures

摘要

While inclement weather affects all modes of transportation in a modern society, transportation likewise influences climate. The transportation sector consumes more than two-thirds of oil supplies in the U.S. each year and accounts for approximately one-third of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions contributing to a rise in global temperatures. Research suggests that this temperature has altered precipitation patterns, caused more severe weather outbreaks, and has significantly increased operating expenses for the transportation industry. As abnormally hot days become more frequent and extreme, asphalt roadways are subjected to softening while concrete highways undergo joint buckling creating hazardous conditions for motorists. Railroads tend to warp and buckle during significant heat events sometimes causing train derailments. Airports experiencing