Monday September 1, 2008

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0015Z SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

Upper Mississippi/Lower Ohio River Valleys:
A large area of SO2 from Kasatochi eruption, summer haze including
some pollution (sources can distinctly be seen today over E IL) and
very light smoke mixed it can be seen north of the cirrus of Hurricane
Gustav across all of IL and IA, N MO, S and C OH, W WI and E MN (IN is
in a clearing of the haze).  The moderately dense area is centered over
N IL, E IA and is moving north along the MS River into southern Canada.

California:
The Burnside fire is producing thin smoke that is drifting SW no more
than 15km and is about 7km wide.

A fire in the northern central valley near Clayton and Lincoln in far
SW Placer county is producing a nice fan of thin to moderate smoke that
is moving SE (though fans from S to E) and covers much of El Dorado and
W Amador county and far NE Sacramento county.

Both the Siskiyou/Blue 2 Complex and Panther Complexes are producing
plumes of thin smoke that extend WSW across S Del Norte county to the
coastline. Both plumes are about 10km wide.

A fire near Hume and Kings Canyon Natl Park has been producing thin
smoke that has been wafting in the valleys north, west and northeast
of it with moderate smoke near the source.  The smoke has been mostly
contained in eastern Fresno county with a bit seen over central Madera.

Oregon:
A fire along the NE Jackson/Klamath county line is producing a small
amount of thin smoke that was moving west in the low levels (west of
the mtn ridge) but with increased westerlies aloft, has begun to drift
eastward into Klamath county about 5-10km so far.  The width is less
than 5km.

Alaska:
A large fire along the upper eastern reaches of the Sheenjek River in
NW AK (67N144W) is producing thin to moderate smoke that is extending
due west.  There are two distinct plumes from each active portion (north
and south) of the fire, though combined the plume extends 40km and is
about 33km wide.

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.