London Fogs -- are they extinct?
Dec 2nd, 2010, 11:22 AM
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London Fogs -- are they extinct?
Mention was made on the radio here this morning that today is the anniversary of a notable four-day fog in London. The comment was made, however, that these pea soupers (of the, " I was walking down the street and could just make out a light coming towards me. Then I realised that it was the end of my cigarette", variety ) no longer occur. Is that correct? If so, where have all the old fogs gone? ("Eton" is not the answer, I'm sure). Is this a result of climate change, environmental management or other influence, or a combination of these factors?
Rob.
Rob.
- we were posting at the same time . . .
Dec 2nd, 2010, 11:54 AM
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Thanks. Christchurch (NZ) had a bad reputation for smog on cold nights, but that has largely disappeared for the same reason. Solid fuels can still be used here, but only in an approved clean-burning appliance.
Rob.
Rob.
Dec 2nd, 2010, 12:31 PM
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<i>In response to the Great Smog of 1952, the British Parliament introduced the Clean Air Act 1956. This act legislated for zones where smokeless fuels had to be burnt and relocated power stations to rural areas. The Clean Air Act 1968 introduced the use of tall chimneys to disperse air pollution for industries burning coal, liquid or gaseous fuels.</i>
From wiki entry.
From wiki entry.
Dec 2nd, 2010, 12:35 PM
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Dec 2nd, 2010, 01:49 PM
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It's a trick question.
In the 19th century, the Dickensian pea-soupers were called fog. They were slightly different from 20th century smog, because there was far more industry in London, so the emissions trapped by cold air consisted of all kinds of multicoloured nasties: smoke from coal was a relatively small part of what was spewed out. The resultant fog - as the Victorians called it - often had a greeny, yellowy tinge.
London stopped having production processes that belched all this muck out the early 20th century. Instead, it just had emission from coal and vehicle fuels, which produced a grey-y fog that got christened smog. As others have said, smog's been outlawed.
London itself isn't particularly prone to natural fog, though as with anywhere on a river it can happen from time to time. It's much more common, especially in November and Feb, upstream in the Thames Valley, and in an area in the north of England called the Vale of York.
Nonetheless, even natural fog seems much rarer now than 25 years ago. I THINK that's because average temps are creeping up: sun seems to burn fog off much more quickly now than in the 1980s. Typically, it's a problem for a couple of hours after dawn, and seems to go away faster the higher the day's temps get.
In the 19th century, the Dickensian pea-soupers were called fog. They were slightly different from 20th century smog, because there was far more industry in London, so the emissions trapped by cold air consisted of all kinds of multicoloured nasties: smoke from coal was a relatively small part of what was spewed out. The resultant fog - as the Victorians called it - often had a greeny, yellowy tinge.
London stopped having production processes that belched all this muck out the early 20th century. Instead, it just had emission from coal and vehicle fuels, which produced a grey-y fog that got christened smog. As others have said, smog's been outlawed.
London itself isn't particularly prone to natural fog, though as with anywhere on a river it can happen from time to time. It's much more common, especially in November and Feb, upstream in the Thames Valley, and in an area in the north of England called the Vale of York.
Nonetheless, even natural fog seems much rarer now than 25 years ago. I THINK that's because average temps are creeping up: sun seems to burn fog off much more quickly now than in the 1980s. Typically, it's a problem for a couple of hours after dawn, and seems to go away faster the higher the day's temps get.
Dec 2nd, 2010, 02:36 PM
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Thanks, flanneruk. No trick intended, but the fact that fog is less of an event now just aroused my curiousity as to why. Obviously, the extreme conditions of earlier years were a combination of fog and pollution, but I had assumed that fog was the main ingredient. It is interesting to note that natural fog is now rarer and is not really regarded as an issue in London.
Rob.
Rob.
Dec 2nd, 2010, 07:14 PM
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I vividly remember a teacher's recollection of London in the great fog of 1952.
She and her husband had opened a window to get a bit of fresh air, as the fire made the room rather close.
Presently, she realized that her husband, seated on the sofa opposite, was disappearing from her view.
Now THAT's scary.
She and her husband had opened a window to get a bit of fresh air, as the fire made the room rather close.
Presently, she realized that her husband, seated on the sofa opposite, was disappearing from her view.
Now THAT's scary.
Dec 2nd, 2010, 10:34 PM
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There's also sea fog (haar) which can hang around for days at a time but may only extend a few hundred yards inland - so you have glorious sunshine at your hotel but find zero visibility 5 minutes walk away.
