DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0215Z May 24, 2010

Northern Plains:
An area of light aerosol was seen stretching from the northern Plains
of the eastern Dakotas and northwest Minnesota into western Ontario. The
source is not certain but there is likely some remnant blowing dust and
smoke in the mix.

Four Corners area:
Strong winds have generated another blowing dust storm over northeast
Minnesota which is lifting into eastern Utah and western Colorado.

Gulf of Mexico:
A patch of light aerosol was seen over the northeast portion of the
Gulf. The source and composition are uncertain but remnant smoke is that
has recirculated is likely one of the constituents.

An area of moderately dense smoke was seen over the extreme southwest
portion of the Gulf of Mexico and moving into Veracruz and Tamaulipas
states in Mexico. This smoke originated from the oil wells in the Bay
of Campeche and may be mixed with smoke from agricultural fires in
eastern Mexico.

Eastern Colorado:
A large fire in northern New Mexico in Taos county near the Carson
National Forest has a smoke plume that extends to the north and northeast
and reaches into western Nebraska. Most of the plume is light, except
near the fire where it is moderately dense. Smoke plumes from other
active fires can be seen via the links below.

Ruminski


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.