Most modern forms of transportation are powered by fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, and other gases are released into the atmosphere during the production and combustion of these fuels. How might these gases cause climatic changes? These gases have no effect on atmospheric temperatures, so they are unable to cause any type of climatic changes. These gases cause more water vapor to condense, making climates wetter than they were in the past. These gases reduce the amount of thermal energy escaping into space, effectively warming the atmosphere.