Monday, October 5, 2009

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0200Z October 6, 2009

Southwestern Oregon/Northwestern and Central California:
The patch of thin aerosol was observed in GOES-West visible satellite
imagery earlier this morning moved farther to the south across
northwestern and west central California, and offshore over the
Pacific. The origin and composition of this detached aerosol is not
absolutely certain, but it is believed to be composed of leftover smoke
along with some possible blowing dust. The main source for the smoke
could be the Preston-Fox fire which continues to burn in Chelan County
of north central Washington. Farther inland over the Sacramento Valley,
a number of what are believed to be mainly agricultural fires were
emitting puffs of thin smoke which spread southward.

Southeastern Washington/Northwestern Idaho:
More probable agricultural fires over southeastern Washington and
northwestern Idaho were producing thin smoke plumes which moved to
the south.

Arizona/New Mexico:
Gusty southwesterly winds were noted in observations across Arizona and
New Mexico, but blowing dust was not discernible in satellite imagery
due to patchy cloudiness.

JS


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.osdpd.noaa.gov/ml/land/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.