Monday July 21, 2008

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0200Z JULY 22, 2008

Effect of northern California fires:
Dense smoke from the fires in northern California is moving offshore
into the Pacific but then it turns back east entering the US through
northern Oregon and southern Washington.  The smoke remains moderately
dense as it moves through the southeastern corner of Washington, northern
Idaho and northern Montana.  The smoke begins to thin but can still be
seen blanketing most of Alberta, southern Saskatchewan and the Dakotas.
The Basin Complex in Monterey county is generating moderately dense to
dense smoke which is moving north into Merced county.

Kansas and Northern Oklahoma:
Many small agricultural burns are emitting discrete puffs of light
smoke which are creating a hazy area over central Kansas and north
central Oklahoma.

Texas:
In southwestern Wichita county a fire is producing light to moderately
dense smoke which is traveling to the north over 125km entering into
Washita county Oklahoma.  In the panhandle of Texas in Parmer and Castro
counties there are small fires which are generating light smoke which
is moving north reaching Oldham county.

Canada:
In northern Saskatchewan, east of Lake Athabasca several fires are
emanating moderately dense to dense smoke which is moving to the north.
There are also a few smaller fires in northern Manitoba and southern
Nunavut which are producing light to moderately dense smoke which is
also moving to the north.  In the Northwest Territories around the Great
Slave Lake several fires are emitting moderately dense to dense smoke
which is traveling north.

 


Unless otherwise indicated:
  • Areas of smoke are analyzed using GOES-EAST and GOES-WEST Visible satellite imagery.
  • Only a general description of areas of smoke or significant smoke plumes will be analyzed.
  • A quantitative assessment of the density/amount of particulate or the vertical distribution is not included.
  • Widespread cloudiness may prevent the detection of smoke even from significant fires.