MONDAY APRIL 13, 2009

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0115Z APRIL 14, 2009

Central Gulf of Mexico:
Remnant smoke from previous days' fires, mainly in the Yucatan Peninsula,
is seen across the central Gulf of Mexico as it is entrained along a
frontal boundary. This smoke varies in density from light to moderately
dense.

Florida/Eastern Gulf of Mexico:
Light smoke can be seen lifting northward from Cuba over the eastern
Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys, and west central Florida. The smoke
then turns eastward across the Tampa Bay area to central Florida.

Northwestern US/Southwest Canada:
A light haze that is presumed to be SO2 from the continued Redoubt
eruption is seen stretching from southern Saskatchewan southwestward along
the border with Alberta through western Montana, Idaho, and southeast
Oregon. This area is moving to the east along a frontal boundary.

-Sheffler/Salemi

THE FORMAT OF THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS BEING MODIFIED. IT WILL NO LONGER
DESCRIBE THE VARIOUS PLUMES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE FIRES. THESE
PLUMES ARE DEPICTED IN VARIOUS GRAPHIC FORMATS ON OUR WEB SITE:

JPEG:   http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/hms.html
GIS:    http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm
KML:    http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/kml.html

THIS TEXT PRODUCT WILL CONTINUE TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF SMOKE
WHICH HAVE BECOME DETACHED FROM AND DRIFTED SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE
SOURCE FIRE, TYPICALLY OVER THE COURSE OF ONE OR MORE DAYS. IT WILL ALSO
STILL INCLUDE DESCRIPTIONS OF BLOWING DUST.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THESE CHANGES OR THE SMOKE TEXT
PRODUCT IN GENERAL 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.