Thursday, May 13, 2021

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0315Z May 14, 2021

SMOKE:
Pacific Northwest…
Scattered fire activity was producing a few light density smoke plumes
moving in multiple directions, though general smoke direction was south
and east.

Central Plains…
Widespread fire activity throughout the plains was producing primarily
light density smoke moving mostly northward. Cloud cover prevented
further analysis and obscured visibility of other possible light plumes.

Northern Michigan…
A fire complex at the northern tip of Michigan was producing a large
amount of ligh density smoke moving east and fanning as it moved.

Southwestern Mexico…
An immense amount of fire activity along the western coast of Mexico
was producing an extensive amount of light the medium density smoke. A
layer of smoke was observed extending along much of the western coast
of Mexico, the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula and nearing Central
America. Smoke extended into the Pacific Ocean, but it mixed with cloud
cover causing uncertainty in the full extent.

South-Central Canada...
South-Central Canada was producing numerous light to moderate density
smoke plumes. Smoke was moving primarily north-northeast but much of the
area has become cloud covered preventing further analysis. A large fire
complex in particular was producing heavy density smoke that was moving
primarily east and southeast. Additionally, an interesting cloud feature
quickly developed over the complex, hinting a possible pyro-cumulus
cloud. The full extent of the smoke’s size and density could not be
discerned due to mixed cloud cover.


DUST:
Eastern/Central Tropical Atlantic Ocean and Southern Caribbean Sea...
Earlier today light density Saharan dust was observed over parts of the
Southern Caribbean Sea and over Coastal Northeastern South America.

Levine


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/data/land/fire/currenthms.jpg
GIS:    ftp://satpsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/FIRE/HMS/GIS/
KML:    http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/land/fire/fire.kml (fire)
        http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/land/fire/smoke.kml (smoke)

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.