Radiation inversions are present during strong sieges of acidic smog in London. This type of inversion combined with the combustion of coal during December of 1952 resulted in thousands of deaths from the resulting smog.

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Question restatement: The prompt asserts that radiation inversions occur during severe smog events in London and that, in December 1952, the combination of such inversions with coal combustion led to thousands of deaths from smog. The dropdown options provided are: 1) Radiation, 2) coal.

Option 1: Radiation. In the context of air pollution events like the Great Smog of London, temperature or inversion layers that limit vertical mixing allow pollutants to accumulate near the ground. If the question intends to refer to a form of atmospheric layering called an inversion (albeit not typically described as radiation inversion in standard meteorology), the core idea is that stratified air traps pollutants. The reasoning behind selecting inversions (whether called radiation inversions or a similar phenomenon) is that stagnant air prevents dilution, increasing pollutant concentrations and the severity of the smog. The reasoning here would be that the inversion is a meteorological condition that contributes to smog formation by trapping emissions.

Option 2: coal. This option corresponds to the source of pollutants. During the December 1952 period, widespread burning of coal in London produced large quantities of sulfur dioxide, soot, and particulate matter. In the presence of an inversion, these pollutants would not disperse, leading to an extremely thick and toxic smog known as the Great Smog of London, which is historically associated with a dramatic rise in mortality. The coal burning provides the necessary emissions that combine with the stagnant air to generate the harmful smog.

Connecting the options: If the question is about causal factors for the deadly smog event, the combination of emissions from coal combustion (a primary pollution source) and a meteorological condition that traps pollutants (often described as an inversion) explains the intensity and health impact of the event. The reasoning for why these two options fit is that one identifies the pollutant source (coal) and the other identifies the atmospheric condition that exacerbates pollutant concentration (inversion).

Potential misconceptions: If someone thought only wind dispersion or only the source mattered, that would be incomplete. Inversions by themselves don’t produce pollution; they worsen exposure by preventing dilution. Conversely, coal combustion alone can cause pollution, but without an inversion or similar stagnation condition, the pollutants might disperse more readily, reducing peak concentration. The combined interaction is key to the severity observed in December 1952.

Overall assessment: The option labeled Radiation aligns with the idea of a meteorological barrier that traps pollutants, albeit the common meteorological term is a temperature inversion rather than radiation inversion; the option coal aligns with the principal pollution source. Together, they describe the two critical components that intensified the Great Smog event when they occurred concurrently.

25S-A&O SCI-2-LEC-1 / 25S-A&O SCI-2-LEC-2 Homework Assignment #5

Radiation inversions are present during strong sieges of acidic smog in London. This type of inversion combined with the combustion of coal during December of 1952 resulted in thousands of deaths from the resulting smog.

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