Great Smog of London and the Reasons For its Occurrence
One of the biggest incidents of air pollution surfaced in the year 1952 in London. It is called The Great Smog of London that resulted due to windless conditions and anticyclone weather. The mixture of smoke and fog in the winter of 1952 caused deep smog that recorded the least visibility. It remained stagnant for 5 days straight in the month of December and dispersed on the 9th.
As per the sources, the prime reason behind this great smog was airborne pollutants floating in the atmosphere of London due to overconsumption of coal. In this article, we will discuss how smog is formed and what resulted in this bizarre phenomenon.
The Great Smog of London: How did it occur?
The formation of lethal smog in London in 1952 resulted in more than 4000 deaths and 100,000 injuries. Historians believe that the number of death can be higher. It happened due to the combination of unnatural weather conditions along with the industrial pollution due to excessive use of coal. The entire city was engulfed in heavy smog resulting in a lack of visibility, breathing problems, and a lot of accidents.
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As per the meteorological investigation of that London Smog, the experts suggest that the atmospheric pressure on that day was abnormally high in comparison to the other days of winter in London. The anticyclone effect of the weather conditions resulted in windless 5 days where the smoke produced from industrial and domestic chimneys mixed well with the fog caused due to the winter season. It eventually formed so thick due to lack of wind that the entire city was blind. A white coat of smog covered the roads, parks, buildings, etc and people could even see what was there within close range.
This London Smog is found in the winter season as the city has already been suffering from air pollution since the 1300s. The conditions deteriorated in the 1600s and even worsened after the industrial revolution where the use of coal increased to a considerable extent. The Great London Smog in 1952 recorded the highest and even penetrated the houses in the capital city of the United Kingdom. People suffered from breathing problems as the density of the smog increased considerably.
People complained about the increasing pollution in the city but the occurrence of this smog clearly showed everyone how it is getting worse. People suffered from breathing problems due to the inhalation of the dense smog comprising toxic soot and other suspended pollutants. Back in the 1700s, King James I restricted burning coal but it was of no use. People even started to use coal more due to industrialization. Smog is what is the combination of smoke and fog called according to the contraction of both terms ‘smoke’ and ‘fog’.
To understand which disaster is related to Smog, we need to realize that it is not a natural phenomenon rather a creation of the outcomes of human activities related to industrialization and manmade air pollution.
What is Smog?
Smog is an example of intense pollution of air that occurs due to the mixing of smoke and suspended particles with fog. Fog is a natural phenomenon where the air moisture becomes denser due to the drop in temperature. It barely messes with the visibility and does not have any taste or odor. Smog, on the other hand, has a significant opacity and odor as the prime constituents are the suspended pollutants in the air.
The appearance of smog intensified and became more in number in the 19th and 20th Centuries due to industrialization and increased use of coal. Improper burning of coal results in the production of suspended particles or soot. This soot along with dense smoke is released from the chimneys of the industries and also the households. The quantity of these pollutants increased so much in the 1950s that caused the Great Smog of London. The problem intensified due to the weather conditions and also for vehicular emissions, agricultural fires, forest burning, etc.
Effects of the Great Smog of 1952
With the occurrence of the dense and deadly smog of London in 1952, the metropolitan citizens became very worried. This smog is also mentioned in the great novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens. Even though public health was in jeopardy, the administration did not pay attention in the early 19th Century as the industries and domestic coal usage offered immense convenience.
After the occurrence of the Great Smog, people realized the severity of using coal to this extent. The fogs were recurrent and more frequent in the city. Due to an anticyclone event, the great smog formed and settled down over the entire city causing over 4000 deaths and 100,000 injuries. Citizens suffered from bronchitis and pneumonia due to London Smog.
The Clean Air Act was then introduced in 1956 as a major step to reduce air pollution and to stop something so lethal from happening again. The restriction of using coal was implemented across the city throughout all the industries and domestic fireplaces. They also switched to natural gasses, petroleum, and electricity as these are much greener choices than coal. The Great Smog of London thus revealed how air pollution is one of the biggest threats we are suffering from.
FAQs on The Great London Smog of 1952
1. Which disaster is related to Smog?
The biggest disaster of humankind related to smog is the Great London Smog. It happened in the year 1952 due to the ill combination of anticyclone effects, cold weather, and severe air pollution.
2. What caused the great smog of London?
As per the historical data, the industrial revolution and overuse of coal in every aspect of modern life along with the anticyclone weather conditions in the December winter of 1952 caused the Great London Smog.
3. How was the Great Smog of London fixed?
After four years, the Clean Air Act was introduced in 1956. Proper restriction of the use of coal and switching to greener energy sources such as petroleum, electricity, and natural gasses resulted in stopping the recurrence of such lethal smog.
