DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0145Z July 22, 2009

British Columbia/Northwest US:
A fire in the southern region of British Columbia is generating moderately
dense to dense smoke.  The smoke is traveling east and becoming light
smoke as it enters northeastern Washington State, northern Idaho and
western Montana.  Another area of haze is located in central Idaho.
This is likely remnant smoke from the previous days fire in northern
California.

Northeastern Canada:
A large area of haze extends from the eastern Hudson Strait, through
the northern Ungava Bay and into the Labrador Sea.  The area could be
from the wildfires in Alaska which have been burning for several days.

Alaska:
An area of dense smoke remains in northern Alaska as well as smaller
areas of moderately dense smoke in central Alaska.  The smoke from the
fires in central Alaska is currently moving to the northwest.

Gulf of Mexico/Southeastern US:
Sand/Dust from the Sahara can be seen traversing the Atlantic and the
Caribbean resulting in a haze effecting the southern and western portions
of the Gulf of Mexico.  An area of smoke/haze of unknown origin can be
seen traveling south through South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and into
the northern Gulf of Mexico.

-Salemi

More information on the areas of smoke described above as well as others
can be found at the locations listed below.

THE FORMAT OF THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS BEING MODIFIED. IT WILL NO LONGER
DESCRIBE THE VARIOUS PLUMES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE FIRES. THESE
PLUMES ARE DEPICTED IN VARIOUS GRAPHIC FORMATS ON OUR WEB SITE:

JPEG:   http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/hms.html
GIS:    http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm
KML:    http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/kml.html

THIS TEXT PRODUCT WILL CONTINUE TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF SMOKE
WHICH HAVE BECOME DETACHED FROM AND DRIFTED SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE
SOURCE FIRE, TYPICALLY OVER THE COURSE OF ONE OR MORE DAYS. IT WILL ALSO
STILL INCLUDE DESCRIPTIONS OF BLOWING DUST.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THESE CHANGES OR THE SMOKE TEXT
PRODUCT IN GENERAL SHOULD BE SENT TO SSDFireTeam@noaa.gov

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.