Tuesday, May 26, 2015

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0230Z May 27, 2015

SMOKE
Western Canada/Central Canada/US:
A large area of light to medium-density smoke from the numerous wildfires
burning over parts of western Canada extends across Yukon, western NW
Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and
Ontario. The smoke travels across the border into the northern Plains as
far south as Nebraska. A band of detached smoke has traveled offshore as
well off British Columbia in the Pacific Ocean, however due to the large
amount of dust and smoke coming from Asia, it may be mixed in with the
Canadian smoke too.

Pacific NW:
A plume of medium-density smoke is visible curling counterclockwise
towards the SE extending from British Columbia through Oregon. This smoke
originates from the wildfires taking place in British Columbia as well
as western and central Canada the last few weeks.

Mid-Atlantic:
A plume of light-density remnant smoke is visible moving SE extending
from Manhattan Island as far south as Virginia Beach, VA. This smoke was
visible this morning, and has shifted more south. This smoke originated
from the wildfires currently burning in Canada.

Gulf of Mexico:
A large area of medium-density smoke is visible extending NW from the
Yucatan Peninsula all the way west to the Mexican coast, as well as
crossing the border north into Texas and Louisiana. This smoke originates
from the agricultural burns taking place in Central America as well as
oil exploration in the Bay of Campeche. There is also a considerable
amount of Saharan dust in the Caribbean, and is visible moving east to
west, which may be mixed in with the remnant smoke that is traveling up
the Gulf coast.

Oegerle

THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT AREAS
OF 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.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/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.