This may sound stupid but how can I tell if its smog or just cloudy? (Los Angeles: camping, live)

[ambermerci]

I hear so many people complain about losangeles and the smog. I've been here 8 months and I can't tell when its smog or not..what are the tell tale signs? Then again, maybe I don't wanna know. Ignorance is bliss. Lol

[Fontucky]

Photochemical smog

[yamota]

you shouldv'e lived in LA in the 70s and 80s, that brown and orange haze over the city was definitely smog

[apollyoncruiser]

I've always thought that its the view you have. If its just cloudy you still can have a "clear" view of things off in the far distance from your location, ie; the Hollywood Sign and hills; the views south towards the beach cities; the San Gabriel Mountains; the downtown LA buildings. If its smoggy your visability is drastically cut and you can only make out those views in a haze, if you can very well see them at all.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by ambermerci

I can't tell when its smog or not..what are the tell tale signs?

You need expensive instruments. Fortunately, you have them.

AQMD GIS Maps

AQMD GIS Maps

both from

South Coast AQMD

[Lumerian Feast]

Smog is yellow. If it's more of a white or light gray mist, that's cloudiness or the marine layer.

[bigdumbgod]

Massive bong hit. Open the windows.

[wrcousert]

Originally Posted by yamota

you shouldv'e lived in LA in the 70s and 80s, that brown and orange haze over the city was definitely smog

I remember coming back from camping trips up north, descending into the smog as we approached LA. There was a definite boundary between what appeared to be clean air and the smog. Something like an invisible wall holding the dirty air in.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by wrcousert

Something like an invisible wall holding the dirty air in.

We used to say "You can't trust air you can't see".

[Andre2000]

Here's what I learned from growing up in L.A...
Fog is moist, never brown, doesnt hurt your eyes or make you cough.
Smog is usually invisible at ground level, can be better seen agianst the
horizon, can kill you eventaully, makes eyes sting and water and like fog,
happens plenty of paces besides Los Angeles. {shhhhhh...!!}