Wednesday, February 15, 2006

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 2345Z February 15, 2006

Southeast US:
Numerous fires were producing smoke plumes over North and South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama and Florida this afternoon and evening. Most of
the plumes were moving to the north or northeast and were of thin to
moderate density. Some of the larger plumes, up to 100 km in length,
were seen emanting from the following locations: in South Carolina along
the southern Aiken/Barnwell county border, over Jasper and southeast
McCormick counties and along the Union/Chester border; in North Carolina
over northern Brunswick county and in Alabama over southwest Calhoun.

Mexico:
A fire near Monterey Mexico has produced a large smoke plume which extends
to the east-northeast and fans out. The plume is moderately dense near
the source and becomes thinner downstream. At sunset the plume reached
nearly to McAllen Texas 225 km away.

Northern California:
A couple of small plumes were seen from several fires. The plumes were
mainly over Colusa and Yolo counties and moving to the south.

New Mexico:
A fire over northern Lea county had a very narrow smoke plume extending
about 100 km to the northeast reaching into Cochran county Texas.


Blowing Dust:
Strong winds have kicked up a broad area of blowing dust over much of the
Southwest. One of the most dense areas was over Nye county in Nevada over
the Sarcobatus Flat near Scotty's Junction and extended into much of Inyo
county California in and around Death Valley National PArk. Additional
areas were around the Salton Sea in southern California.

Blowing dust was also seen in parts of central and northeast Arizona
moving into northwest New Mexico. Additional areas in New Mexico were
coming from White Sands and central Torrance county. An area of blowing
dust was also over parts of west Texas.

Ruminski

 


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.