Saturday, July 30, 2005

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THRU 1600Z JULY 30, 2005

Alaska and western Canada:
Moderate to dense smoke continues to cover all or most of Alaska.
The smoke seems to be moderate in northern Alaska but significantly denser
in central and southern Alaska.  Cloud cover in southeastern Alaska and
western Canada make it difficult to determine the eastern edge of the
smoke but the smoke seems to extend well into the western Yukon Territory.
To the west the smoke extends over the Bering Sea into Russia.

Idaho/Montana:
An area of thin smoke can be seen moving east across central Idaho into
southwest Montana. The area stretches from the Challis National Forest
across the Lemhi range and over the Gallatin National Forest.

Dust and Sand:
Fairly thin Saharan dust and sand is seen over the western Gulf of Mexico
and extends about 100 miles onshore into Mexico, particularly over the
states of Tamaulipas, Vera Cruz, eastern Puebla and eastern Hidalgo.
Any remaining sand or dust in southern Texas looks very diffuse this
morning.


 


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.