![]() ![]() This is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs when cool air is trapped at the ground under a layer of warm air. However, the Great Smog of London was of an unprecedented severity compared to all the ones before due to temperature inversion. During this time, smogs in the capital could last up to a whole week, and related deaths were even being reported on gravestones. The increase in domestic hearths and factories led to a surge in emissions. This all came to a head in the 1900s with the Industrial Revolution. Conditions were only further exacerbated by rapid industrialization in the late 1700s. ![]() In the 1600s, King James I passed legislation to curb the issue in response to complaints made by citizens, but it was ultimately ineffective. Air pollution only got worse as London continued to expand. The city already had a history of smog, starting as early as the 13th century because of coal burning. The reason why the events of Decembecame known as the Great Smog of London was due to a variety of factors. They are exacerbated by dampness and particulate matter (PM): water vapour would stick to the released particulates and produce thick and dark clouds that impaired visibility. These result from a high concentration of sulphur oxides (SO x) in the atmosphere from fossil fuels high in sulphur, such as coal. Today, pea-soupers are known as sulphurous smog or “London smog”. They were called “pea-soupers” due to their yellowish-brown appearance. London had experienced these types of smog before. However, the fog later turned into smog as a result of mixing with smoke from coal-burning factories and chimneys, and diesel-fueled automobiles and buses. This was not unusual, as it was winter, and the capital was known for its misty weather. On December 5, 1952, fog descended upon the city of London. Its impact ultimately served as a turning point in enacting the first air quality legislation in the United Kingdom and paved the way for future environmentalism. The Great London Smog of 1952 (also just called the Great Smog) was an environmental disaster of unprecedented severity as a result of critical air pollution. ![]()
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