DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1400Z August 06, 2009

Northwestern to Western Canada/Alaska:
Much of northwest Canada, including British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest
Territory is covered in smoke due to numerous wildfires in Yukon and
British Columbia. The smoke is moderately dense and dense closer to the
fires in British Columbia. Across central Yukon and western Northwest
Territory there is a broad area of moderately dense to dense smoke that
has drifted into the region from the long lasting and numerous fires
in Alaska.

Extensive clouds cover much of southern into central Alaska, inhibiting
smoke detection. However, a pall of smoke is seen over much of the
northern half of Alaska, north of the Alaska Range.

Southwest Canada to the Great Lakes:
A broad area of smoke from the numerous fires in British Columbia
with some contribution from fires in California, Oregon, Washington,
Idaho and Montana, extends from southern Manitoba and Ontario, southeast
through northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.  The area then turns
northeast into southern Quebec and is obscured by cloud cover.

California/Oregon:
Northern California and southern Oregon are covered in moderately dense
to dense smoke from the fires which continue to burn in both states.

Salemi/Ruminski

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.osdpd.noaa.gov/ml/land/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.