Further Studies of the Effects of Smoke from Towns upon Vegetation in the Surrounding Areas

Abstract

In two previous communications a summary has been given of the results obtained in determinations of the relative degree of atmospheric pollution, firstly in various parts of the city of Leeds, and secondly in the surrounding semi-urban and rural areas, to a distance in some directions of seven miles from the centre of the city. The results obtained in the latter series indicated clearly the presence of extensive atmospheric pollution, showing the characteristics of coal smoke, in all parts of the area investigated. The degree of pollution was found to fall rapidly on passing in a northerly direction from the centre of the city into an area free from smoke-producing industries, but less rapidly on passing into similar areas to the north-east and east of the city, owing to the greater dispersion of the city smoke in these directions by the prevailing winds. On the opposite side of the city, from north-west round by south to south-east, smoke pollution was found to be very high in all quarters.