United States Department of Transportation
i
Aviation and the Environment: Aviation's Effects on the Global Atmosphere Are Potentially Significant and Expected to Grow
-
2000-02-01
[PDF-975.00 KB]
Details:
-
Corporate Creators:
-
Corporate Contributors:
-
Subject/TRT Terms:
-
Publication/ Report Number:
-
Resource Type:
-
Geographical Coverage:
-
Corporate Publisher:
-
Abstract:Concerns about global warming are focusing increasingly on the contribution of human activities, including aviation. Jet aircraft are among many sources of greenhouse gases-gases that can trap heat, potentially increasing the temperature of the earth's surface and leading to changes in climate. According to a recent report by the National Research Council, the average global temperature at the earth's surface has risen 0.7 to 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the last century. Many experts agree that, in total, greenhouse gases are warming the earth and that this warming could have harmful effects on the environment and human health. For example, some scientists are concerned that with global warming, glaciers and ice sheets could melt, leading to a rise in sea levels and subsequent coastal flooding. In addition, they expressed concern that the incidence of malaria and other tropical infectious diseases could increase in moderate climates. While aviation is believed to contribute less to global warming than some other human activities, it is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the world economy, with global air passenger travel projected by some experts to grow 5 percent annually from 1990 through 2015. Hence, the impact of aircraft emissions on the earth's atmosphere and climate is a concern for transportation planners and policymakers.
-
Format:
-
Collection(s):
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type:
