Sunday, February 27, 2011

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0315Z February 28, 2011

Southern US and Northern Mexico:
An extensive area of blowing dust was seen this afternoon/evening
originating from numerous sources across much of western Texas, southeast
New Mexico and northern Mexico. The dust began at around 1530Z in
northern Mexico from a point source south of El Paso, TX and spiraled
northeast to southeast-south towards sunset. At 1700Z, a dense area of
blowing dust originating from numerous areas across western Texas began
moving towards the northeast and into Oklahoma and southern Kansas by
sunset. A third area of blowing dust was seen originating from a point
source west of Big Bend National Park. This moderately dense plume of
dust was seen moving northeast into the US before merging with larger
area of dust. Numerous brush fires were also analyzed across a good
portion of western Texas and southeast New Mexico. Dense smoke from
these fires was seen moving from their source to the northeast before
blending with the extensive coverage of blowing dust.

Earlier Today:

Gulf of Mexico:
A large area of light aerosol covered most of the western and northern
Gulf of Mexico this morning.  This aerosol has been present for the last
few days when viewing visible satellite imagery. The aerosol is believed
to be composed of smoke from the gas flares in the Bay of Campeche along
with smoke from agricultural burning from the United States, Mexico and
Central America.  Some embedded, higher-density aerosol/smoke patches
are located in the western Gulf of Mexico, off of the Texas coast.

Atlantic Ocean:
An area of light aerosol, assumed to be remnant smoke from agricultural
fires, is located off of the east coast of Florida, stretching from Cocoa
Beach to Jacksonville.  This aerosol is moving generally to the north.

Earle/Myrga


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. THE SMOKE TEXT PRODUCT IN
GENERAL SHOULD BE SENT TO SSDFireTeam@noaa.gov

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.