LONDON FOG.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2176, 15 February 1881, Page 3

LONDON FOG.

A lecture on this subject was given by Captain Douglas Gallon at the meeting of the Balloon Society at Westminster Aquarium recently. From the surrounding of the sea the climate of England was more moist than many other climates, and had, therefore, a greater tendency to fogginess. In London fog resulted not alone from this cause and from the Thames, but from the exhalations of open spaces, where the rain had sunk into the soil. The canopy of compacted smoke from the 5,000,000 tons of coal annually used in the metropolis prevented the evaporation of water, and caused the irritating effects ef Loudon fog. There were also the emanations from street sweepings, manure heaps, and the breath of millions of inhabitants, resulting, it was computed, in 19 grains of sulphuric acid in every cubic yard of London air. Balloon experiments by Mr Glaisher and others bod proved that the fogs were not usually of high altitude, and that the sun was sometimes shining on high towers when all below was enveloped in mist. 75 per cent, of light was thus intercepted, to the great detriment of animal and vegetable life, and accounting to some extent fo ithe comparative feebleness of London children. By way of reducing the deleterious influences, open spaces should be well under-drained, and if practicable, more spaces or boulevards laid out to admit freer circulation of air. While smoke from from factories could be checked every private house was in winter a manufactory of smoke and sost. The use of smokeless coal, and of smoke-consuming appliance! would mitigate the evil, but it seemed to him that private bouses might eventually be supplied with heat from some central source by means of electricity. On the motion of Mr Le Fcvre a cordial vote of thanks was given to the lecturer, and after some discussion the meeting terminated.