Wednesday August 20, 2008

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0045Z AUGUST 21, 2008

Northern Great Plains/Canada/Great Lakes:
A large area of remnant smoke, haze and SO2 (from recent volcanic
activity) can be seen across much of Canada with small portions affecting
other portions of the US.
Thin to moderate smoke/SO2 can be see extending along the Missouri
River in ND/SD north covering nearly all of Manitoba.  This area is
moving nearly due east.  An area of moderate smoke/haze can be seen in
the middle of the upper level ridge extending between the UP of MI north
across central Ontario to Hudson Bay (west of James Bay) where it connects
up to the larger eastward moving main plume.  The eastern portion of the
plume is a bit thinner in consistency but extends from Eastern Hudson
Bay into western Quebec and south across extreme E Ontario into the US
across Lake Ontario and far N NY, this portion appears to be moving more
eastward across Quebec/Hudson Bay but nearly SE or S across NY/Ontario.

North Dakota/Manitoba:
A large fire in the bend of the Missouri River near Fort Rice, ND produced
a narrow plume of thin smoke that extends due north and now can be seen
moving into S Canada in a pocket that is about 20km by 20km wide.
Strong southerly winds this morning across ND lead to a sand storm
to be kicked up from Long Lake across S Burleigh and Kidder counties.
This sand/dust storm moved due north and can now be seen moving across
SW portions of Manitoba (NW of the aforementioned smoke) east of Lake
Mantioba in a 100km long (N to S) and 20-30km wide area.

Nevada:
The East Slide Rock Ridge fire complex near the boarder of ID in north
central Elko county is producing dense smoke that is moving due east but
fanning just a shade north of due east along the boarder of NV/ID and
UT out to the longitude of Great Salt Lake. The plume is approximately
60km wide and 200km long.

A fire on the western slopes of the Antelope Mtns in far NW White Pine
county (just SE of the US-93 and Alt-93 split) is producing moderately
dense smoke that is in a plume moving due east into UT extending about
110km over the salt flats with an average width of 25km.

ID/WY:
Large areas of cloudiness obscure good detection of smoke plumes from
persistent fire complexes, though breaks in the clouds do hint at some
light smoke activity particularly with the fires in NW Wyoming and Elmore
county ID. All appear to be moving E or NE under the cirrus canopies.

Gallina

 


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.