Sunday, August 5, 2012

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1700Z August 05, 2012

Idaho/Montana/Wyoming/Plains States:
An large area of light to moderately dense smoke was visible today
stretching from central Idaho eastward into the central Plains. The
majority of this smoke likely originated from the wildfires in Idaho and
southern Montana, most notably from the large  Halstead fire burning in
central Idaho.

Great Lakes through Midwest:
An elongated ribbon of light, remnant smoke can be seen moving eastward
through the central Great Lakes and midwest along and behind a cold
front moving through the region. This is most likely a mixture of remnant
smoke from the large wildfire burning in northern California as well as
the wildfires burning through Idaho and Montana.

Oklahoma/Arkansas:
An area of light, remnant smoke was seen across central Oklahoma and
into western Arkansas. This smoke is from the numerous wildfires burning
throughout Oklahoma but the majority is most likely from the Bluegill
wildfire located in Creek County, OK.

Northern California:
Moderately dense to very dense smoke can be seen coming from the very
large Chips wildfire in northern California and moving towards the
northwest and reaching the Oregon border.

Northwest Territories/Alberta/Manitoba/Saskatchewan/:
Two elongates areas of remnant smoke can be seen stretching from the
northern portion of the Northwest Territories near the Yukon border
southeastward into Alberta and Saskatchewan. There are likely two sources
for these areas of smoke. First, it is likely remnant, high altitude
smoke that has been transported from Siberia where wildfires continue
to burn. Also, there are numerous fires burning through northern British
Columbia and southern Northwest Territories which is leading to additional
smoke be transported to the southwest into Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Manitoba/Ontario:
An area of remnant smoke can be seen just south of the Hudson Bay through
western and central Ontario and the back side of the Low pressure system
that is currently located in southern Canada. This is likely smoke from
the fires burning through Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan.


-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

 


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.