Tuesday, June 20, 2006

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0215Z June 21, 2006.

Southwestern and Central US:
A large area of smoke ranging from moderately dense to very dense is
spread across the majority of the central US.  The smoke goes as far
north as South Dakota/Minnesota, and as far east as Iowa/Missouri.
The source of this massive area of smoke are the wildires located
throughout California, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.
Closer to the sources the smoke is much denser, and begins to thin out
as it reaches further east.

California:
A wildfire in Santa Barbara county, along the southwest coast is producing
a moderately dense to dense plume of smoke that was originally moving
northeast and reached as far as southern Nevada.  Later in the evening
the plume shifted directions and began moving south to southwest over
the Pacific Ocean.

Arizona:
The enormous wildfire in northern Coconino county continues to emit a
massive plume of very dense smoke that is moving northeast.  This fire
is also the main source for the smoke that has moved across the central
United States.
The wildfire in central Arizona on the border of Coconino and Yavapai
counties is producing a dense plume of smoke that is moving east.
This fire has also contributed to the massive area of smoke.

Utah/Colorado:
A wildfire that just emerged today on the border of Montrose county in
Colorado and San Juan county in Utah is producing a very dense plume of
smoke that is moving east to northeast.
The wildfire in southern Colorado that was burning yesterday continues
to produce a very dense plume of smoke that is moving east.  This fire
is located on the border of Costilla and Huerfano counties, but the
smoke emitting from it is mainly affecting Huerfano and Pueblo counties.

New Mexico:
The wildifre in Catron county on the western border that has been burning
for several days now continues to produce a very large and very dense
plume of smoke that is moving east to northeast.  This fire has been
emitting a significant amount of smoke for several days now, and is one
of the major sources in the massive area of smoke over the central US.
A wildfire in Harding county in the northeast portion of New Mexico
continues to produce a massive amount of very dense smoke that is moving
northeast.


Idaho:
A fire in southern Idaho on the border of Gooding and Jerome counties
flared up late in the evening and is producing a dense plume of smoke that
is moving directly east and spreading out as it reaches the southeastern
border.

Banks



 


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.