Monday, March 14, 2022

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0137Z March 15, 2022

SMOKE:
Southeastern U.S...
Widespread agricultural burning activity was observed throughout the
southeastern United States. Throughout the area numerous fires blanketed
the area with light density smoke that included large areas of moderate
smoke and some swaths of heavy density smoke. The burning areas producing
smoke starts in eastern Louisiana, continues east through the Gulf
states and ends in eastern North Carolina. More smoke is likely under
cloud cover west of Louisiana and over Florida.

Central U.S...
An area of light density smoke was visible through the clouds moving
southeast. The source for this smoke could be from recent heavy burning
in the area and some seasonal burning observed today.

Arizona...
A probable wildfire in southeastern Arizona was emitting a plumb of
moderate density smoke which was moving south in directions evening
approached.

SMOKE/AEROSOL:
Texas, Gulf of Mexico/Bay of Campeche/Southern and Eastern Mexico/Central
America/Pacific Ocean Well South of Mexico and Central America…
A mass of remnant thin to moderate density smoke mixed with aerosols
from oil and gas flaring and other industrial sources in Mexico was
visible today over the southern Texas, portions of the Gulf of Mexico,
western Bay of Campeche, southern and eastern Mexico, Central America,
and extending well to the south over the Pacific Ocean off the southern
coast of Mexico and Central America. Moderately dense smoke/aerosol
mixture was seen especially along and off the coast of southeastern
Mexico and Guatemala over the Pacific and from southeastern Mexico to
over the Bay of Campeche. The smoke over this large area was due to the
widespread seasonal burning in Mexico and Central America.

BLOWING DUST:
Southeastern New Mexico/Northern Mexico/Texas...
An area of generally moderate density blowing dust was observed moving
south-southeast from southeastern New Mexico, northern Mexico, and
northern/western Texas as evening approached. This dust could stretch
further east but cloud cover precluded further analysis.

Hanna


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.