Thursday, April 5, 2012

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0215Z April 6, 2012

Gulf of Mexico:
A persistent area of remnant light smoke remains over the central and
western Gulf of Mexico.  This is most likely from agricultural fires in
Mexico and Central America.

Nebraska:
Although agricultural fires were viewed in Nebraska this evening,
smoke was difficult to detect due to cloud cover.  However, daylight
diminished, an area of remnant smoke was seen in southern Nebraska in
Saline, Fillmore, Clay, Nuckolls, Thayer, and Jefferson Counties.

Blowing Dust-
California:
One area of blowing dust/sand began in northern San Bernandino County,
CA around 2145Z and moved to the northeast into Nevada by sunset.
Several smaller plumes also started in San Bernandino County but remained
within California.  Another dust plume originated in central Inyo County
and moved dust from here moved into Nye County, NV by sunset.

Nevada:
In Nevada, numerous areas of dust began in Clark County (Las Vegas) around
2000Z. These areas moved to the northeast and entered Utah by sunset.
A small plume began on the Nye and Clark County border and moved into
Lincoln County, NV.

Utah:
Dust plumes originated in Iron and Beaver Counties in southwestern Utah
this evening.  These plumes generally moved to the northeast.

Mexico:
A dust plume began this evening west of Caborca, Mexico (Sonora state).
This dust/sand stayed over Mexico and did not enter the United States
by sunset.

Pacific Ocean:
Light to moderate dust appears aloft off of the southern California
coast behind a frontal boundary.   The heaviest dust was present in
a 20 km wide line which passed through San Diego, CA around 2300Z.
This is most likely dust originating from Asia.

Myrga



THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT
AREAS SMOKE ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE FIRES AND SMOKE WHICH HAS BECOME
DETACHED FROM THE FIRES AND DRIFTED SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE SOURCE
FIRE..TYPICALLY OVER THE COURSE OF ONE OR MORE DAYS. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST
ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VIEW A GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF
THESE AND OTHER PLUMES WHICH ARE LESS EXTENSIVE AND STILL ATTACHED TO
THE SOURCE FIRE 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
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PRODUCT 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.