DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1445Z July 22, 2009
Central US/Canada: An area of remnant light smoke from fires in Alaska can be seen from central Canada extending into the central United States. The smoke is moving southeast from the Northwest Territories, through Alberta, Saskatchewan and into the United States. The states of North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota are being effected by this remnant light smoke. There are two other areas which may be remnant smoke from the Alaskan fires. These are located over central Ontario moving northwest toward the Hudson Bay and Manitoba border. The other area is moving southeast and is currently located over the Ungava Bay and Labrador Sea. Alaska: An area of dense smoke remains in northern Alaska as well as smaller areas of moderately dense smoke in central Alaska. The smoke from the fires in central Alaska is currently moving to the northwest. Gulf of Mexico/Southeastern US: Sand/Dust from the Sahara can be seen traversing the Atlantic and the Caribbean resulting in a haze effecting the southern and western portions of the Gulf of Mexico. -Salemi More information on the areas of smoke described above as well as others can be found at the locations listed below. 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