New Delhi: The Great Smog of London, also known as the Great Smog of 1952, was deadly episode of air pollution and smog which brought London to its knees for five days, from December 5 to December 9 in that year. High-pressure weather conditions and industrial pollution combined to cause the severe smog. It not only brought London to a standstill but also resulted in the death of thousands of people. As a result, four years later, the Parliament passed the Clean Air Act which was a monumental point in the history of environmentalism.
London and the problem of smog
London was riddled with the problem of fog since the early 1950s. The fogs were dense and yellow in appearance, hence were known as ‘pea-soupers’ and by the 19th century, the fogs had become London’s hallmark. However, the problem goes back to the 13th century and only worsened as the city expanded. Smoke and pollution increased in the 1600s and industrialization in the late 1700s made matters worse.
The hazes were formed by water vapor which would stick to particulates released factories burning coal. It produced dark and heavy clouds and this type of fog was called smog, a term people of London invented in the early 20th century when the industrialisation was rapidly expanding, leading to more air pollution.
What caused the Great Smog of London?
The severity of the Great Smog of 1952 was unprecedented and pollution and weather caused it. In the 20th century, London was frequently grappled by fogs as factories migrated outside the city. On December 5, an anticyclone settled over London. It was a high-pressure weather system which inversed cold air trapped below warm air. As a result, factory emissions and domestic fires were trapped near the ground, leading to the worst smog in the history of the city.
What were the effects of the Great Smog of London?
Even though we call it the London Smog, it extended far beyond the capital. However, London was the worst victim of the smog. People could not see their feet and apart from the London Underground, public transportation stopped. Ambulance services were also stopped and people had to take themselves to the hospitals amid the smog. Many cars were abandoned on the road. The smog even entered the indoors, which led to the cancellation of plays and concerts as people could not see the stages and the screens. The problems became worse at night and the crimes increased on the streets.
It was later found out that the smog had killed 4,000 people. Marcus Lipton, in February 1953, said in the House of Commons that the Great Smog of London had killed 6,000 people and made 25,000 more people sick in London. According to a 2004 research, the smog killed around 12,000 people.
The Great Smog of London (1952) was a catastrophic air pollution event lasting five days. This tragedy spurred the passage of the Clean Air Act, a landmark achievement in environmental legislation. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
