DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1800Z APRIL 24, 2008

Update to previous text narrative...

Western US:
A large mass of what is believed to be mainly smoke was visible covering
a significant portion of the western US including much of Washington,
Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, as well as the far
eastern Pacific.  The smoke was primarily of thin density and most likely
originated from large fires which have been burning in Russia.  It is also
possible that a small contribution to this area of haze is from blowing
dust/sand which originated in portions of Asia and transported across
the Pacific into the Western US by upper level winds.  Additional very
small contributions from localized sources of blowing dust/sand within
the western US is also possible.

JS

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.