Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
households throughout the metropolis. On 5
December these high concentrations of soot and
sulphur dioxide combined with the cold weather
conditions to perpetuate and deepen the fog.
These climatic conditions persisted for the best
part of five days (with the fog only dispersing on
9 December). While, as we have already noted,
London was no stranger to fog, three initial
features made this pollution incident particularly
problematic: 1) the unusual length of its duration;
2) the thickness of the fog, with naturally produced
fog combining with emissions of smoke to produce
a dense smog; 3) the geographical area that was
affected by the fog: it is reported that at its peak the
fog covered an area of 1000 square miles
(Whitehead, 2009: 143).
These conditions conspired to generate social
and economic chaos within the city of London.
Transport within the city was severely affected.
Aircraft had to be directed away from London; all
but three of the city's bus services were cancelled
(see Figure 7.4); shipping along the Thames had
to be stopped; and most train services operating in
the capital were cancelled (Whitehead, 2009).
With public transport services so badly affected,
many residents turned to motorcars. But the foggy
conditions proved too much for many drivers
with accident rates on the roads increasing at an
alarming rate. There was, for example, an accident
involving 14 vehicles in Kent, and the emergency
services were stretched to breaking point by the
number of calls they received in relation to road
Plate 7.4
The London fog of
December 1952
Source: Getty Images
