DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0045Z March 8, 2007
Note due to the incredible number of fires detected as well as numerous smoke plumes, only the absolute most significant plumes will be described here. Refer to the graphic/web pages for additional information on smoke detected. Also, as was the case yesterday, high thin cirrus clouds passing across the southern US likely interfered with even more smoke detection and with details concerning the smoke density. Florida/Alabama/Georgia: Several fires across the Florida Panhandle were emitting moderately dense smoke plumes which fanned out as the large mass spread to the east. Another significant smoke plume close to the AL/FL border was also fanning out as it moved to the east. Similarly, fires along the southwestern GA/northern FL border were emitting large batches of moderately dense smoke which fanned out as it spread eastward. More moderately dense to perhaps locally dense smoke plumes moving eastward were detected from several fires across the region stretching from west central Georgia to west central Alabama. Cirrus moving over top of the smoke plumes made additional detection and density details difficult. Louisiana/Mississippi: Locally dense smoke was moving to the northeast from a fire in Yalobusha County of north central MS. Several fires scattere across northeastern LA/southern MS were responsible for areas of locally moderately dense smoke which moved mainly to the east and combined to form a few larger patches. A similar situation existed over northwestern and northern Louisiana with smoke from several fires combining as it moved to the east. A significant locally dense smoke plume was moving to the east from a fire in southern Vermillion Parish of southern LA. Texas: Batches of moderately dense to dense smoke were being emitted from fires in Angelina, Trinity, and Houston Counties of eastern Texas. The smoke was moving to the east. Fires in Calhoun County of southeastern Texas were responsible for a locally dense batch of smoke which fanned out as it spread to the north and east. Oklahoma/Arkansas: Large fires in the region of eastern Oklahoma and northwestern and west central Arkansas were emitting significant areas of moderately dense to locally dense smoke which appeared to move mainly in an easterly direction but also fanned out as it did so. Cloudiness in the region likely prevented additional smoke detection and limited the visual extent of the analyzed plumes. Missouri: Several fires in southeastern Missouri were emitting smoke which also fanned out as it spread to the east initially. Changing erratic winds in the vicinity of the fires also caused the smoke to move in various directions late in the afternoon. JS