Wednesday, February 23, 2022

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0149Z February 24, 2022

SMOKE:
Southeastern U.S...
Widespread agricultural burning activity was observed throughout the
southeastern United States. In the southeastern U.S. numerous fires
blanketed the area with light density smoke that included large swaths of
moderate density smoke. The burning area starts in southern Mississippi
and continues east through the southern portion of the Gulf states,
over South Carolina and continuing off the coast over the Atlantic Ocean.

Florida...
Heavy agricultural burning activity was observed throughout Florida this
afternoon. As some cloud cover appeared an area of mostly light density
smoke was observed extending west off the entire peninsula over the Gulf
of Mexico. In northwestern Florida two mostly moderate to heavy density
smoke plumbs were observed moving north with one moving towards and into
southern Alabama as evening approached.

Oregon...
A possible wildfire in southwest Oregon was producing light to moderate
density smoke plumb that was moving to the north in direction as evening
approached.

California...
Probable seasonal burning activity in central California was emitting
a light to moderate density smoke plumb that appeared to be moving
southwest as vied through the clouds.

Hispaniola/Caribbean Sea...
Scattered wildfire activity continues to be observed in the Southwestern
Dominican Republic emitting light to moderate density smoke that was seen
progressing southwestward offshore from Hispaniola over the Caribbean Sea.

Cuba:
Seasonal burning was responsible for numerous light density smoke plumes
throughout Cuba creating areas of light smoke over the Caribbean moving
southwest off Cuba and south over the Caribbean.

SMOKE/AEROSOL:
U.S. Gulf Coast, Bay of Campeche/Gulf of Mexico/Mexico/Northwestern
Central America/Pacific Ocean South of Mexico and Central America...
The combination of thin density smoke from seasonal fires in Mexico and
Central America and other atmospheric pollutants including aerosols from
oil and gas flaring and other industries in the region was visible today
over southern, western and eastern Mexico, northwestern Central America,
a sizable portion of the Pacific off the southern coast of Mexico
and Central America, the Bay of Campeche, most of the Gulf of Mexico,
southeastern Texas, and continuing east over southern Louisiana and off
the U.S. Gulf Coast. Heavier areas of smoke were observed around the
western Bay of Campeche, Northwestern Central America and the adjacint
Pacific Ocean. Smoke from widespread wildfires in northwestern South
America may be contributing to these areas of smoke.

BLOWING DUST:
Southeastern Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico, Texas...
An area of moderate density blowing dust with a front that appeared to be
lead by heavy density dust was observed moving northeast from northern
Mexico, through at least the southern half of New Mexico and into the
tip of western Texas and as evening approached. This dust could stretch
further north and northeast but cloud cover prevented further analysis.

New Mexico...
A different area of moderate density blowing dust kicked up from the
White Sands National Park in northwest New Mexico, This dust was seen
moving north as night approached.

Eglin


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 map:	https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/land/fire/currenthms.jpg
Smoke data:
https://satepsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/pub/FIRE/web/HMS/Smoke_Polygons
Fire data:
https://satepsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/pub/FIRE/web/HMS/Fire_Points


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.