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