DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1745Z May 17, 2012
Western Canada: An elongated area of remnant, high-level smoke from the Siberian wildfires can be seen moving eastward into southern British Columbia and central Alberta this morning and early afternoon. This area of remnant smoke is getting wrapped up and transported eastward and northward by the low pressure system that is spinning over extreme northern Alberta. Another area of this thin, remnant smoke can be seen through central/southern Saskatchewan. It was difficult to see the full extent of this smoke due to the extensive clouds moving through this region. Central Ohio: A small, linear area of what appears to be remnant smoke can be seen moving south/southeast through the eastern Great Lakes this morning and into central Ohio. This is likely a piece of remnant smoke moving down from Canada that originated from the Siberian wildfires. More of this smoke may be seen later on this evening with a better viewing angle from GOES-E. Southwest U.S./Rockies/Central Plains: A large area of what appears to be mostly remnant smoke from the recent large wildfires burning through central Arizona and western New Mexico can be seen in satellite imagery moving eastward and getting wrapped up in the low pressure system that is currently in the vicinity of Colorado. The full extent from this area of remnant smoke may not be seen due to the increasing clouds throughout this region. Northern Mexico: Remnant and new smoke can be seen through portions of northwest Mexico this morning from the numerous fires that continue to burn through this region. Southern Plains/Northern Gulf of Mexico/Southeast US: An area of what appears to be elevated aerosols with sulfates and possible haze can be seen stretching from the east coast of the US through the southern Plains and into the northern Gulf of Mexico. -Belge THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT AREAS SMOKE ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE FIRES AND SMOKE WHICH HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE FIRES AND DRIFTED SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE SOURCE FIRE..TYPICALLY OVER THE COURSE OF ONE OR MORE DAYS. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VIEW A GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF THESE AND OTHER PLUMES WHICH ARE LESS EXTENSIVE AND STILL ATTACHED TO THE SOURCE FIRE 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 ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE SENT TO SSDFireTeam@noaa.gov