Wednesday, April 5, 2017

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0200Z April 6, 2017

SMOKE:
Gulf of Mexico/Gulf Coast Region...A large mass of thin to moderately
dense smoke attributed to the ongoing seasonal burning occurring over
portions of Mexico and Central America was present over the Bay of
Campeche and much of the central and western Gulf of Mexico. Some of the
thinner density smoke may also be present inland over the Central Gulf
Coast region though cloudiness in this area limited smoke detection in
satellite imagery.

DUST:
Western Atlantic/Caribbean...A large area of rather significant Saharan
dust continued to be visible this morning over the Atlantic, the Windward
and Leeward Islands, and the Caribbean generally south of Puerto Rico
and Hispaniola. The dust moved overland across northern South America
and farther west over Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula. Some
of the leading edge of the dust may also have spread to the northwest
into the southern and eastern Gulf of Mexico where it merged with the
smoke from the fires occurring in Mexico and Central America.

Southern Texas/Louisiana/Mississippi/Western Tennessee/Western Gulf of
Mexico...Leftover blowing dust from yesterday's event could be seen this
evening over southern Texas and the nearby offshore Gulf of Mexico region
and extending northeastward from there over Louisiana and Mississippi
into western Tennessee. The dust may extend farther to the north, but
clouds interfered with detection in that region.

Westbrook


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.