Aug. 24, 2020 – California Fires and Aerosols from the Smoke
More of the same yesterday, namely #smoke from the #CaliforniaFires blanketing large parts of the western US as well as moving into southern Canada and well out into the Pacific (#N20 #VIIRS RGB+hotpot on the left, with the #OMPS aerosol index on the right).
By Colin Seftor
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Most of Alaska is now covered by smoke from the #SiberianFires as it wraps around a low-pressure system. The #SNPP #VIIRS RGB+hotspot image from earlier today is on the left with the #OMPS aerosol index overlaid on the right. Most of the smoke lies over the system’s clouds.
The #SiberianFires produced a couple of pyroCbs yesterday, and some of the heavy smoke has now moved across to western Alaska. The situation earlier today as seen by #SNPP #VIIRS RGB+hotspot on the left, and with the #OMPS aerosol index overlaid on the right.
The #SiberianFires continue to pump out heavy smoke that covers a huge area and that is now moving out into the Pacific towards Alaska. The #SNPP #OMPS aerosol index overlaid on the #VIIRS RGB+hotspot imagery for the 24th-26th July.
The dense cloud of #SiberianFireSmoke now covering a huge area. #NOAA20 #OMPS aerosol index overlaid on the #VIIRS RGB+hotspot image from for earlier today.
Here’s a different look at the same cloud, using just the #NOAA20 #OMPS aerosol index.
By Colin Seftor
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
NOAA/NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured this wide image of many of the fires that are currently plaguing the states of Arizona and New Mexico. Besides the huge Bush Fire (near Phoenix) that is the largest fire in Arizona presently, six other fires are visible in this image. Those fires include the Mangum Fire near the Grand Canyon, the Bighorn fire northeast of Tucson, the Bringham fire near the border with New Mexico, the Good Fire and Tadpole fires near the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico, and to the far right, the Vics Peak fire in the San Mateo mountains. The fire season is in its early stages, but the hot, dry, and windy conditions present in that area of the country is unfortunately a combination which creates the “perfect storm” for fires to break out.
This image was captured on June 22, 2020, by the VIIRS instrument which is a 22-band radiometer that collects infrared and visible light data to observe weather, climate, oceans, nightlight, wildfires, movement of ice, and changes in vegetation and landforms.
NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks “right now.” Actively burning fires, detected by thermal bands, are shown as red points. Image Courtesy: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). Caption credit: Lynn Jenner
This image was captured by the NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP satellite on June 23, 2020 and shows red points which designate areas that are higher in temperature than the surrounding earth. If smoke is present, as it is here, it is indicative of fire.
The VIIRS instrument which collected this image is a 22-band radiometer which collects infrared and visible light data to observe weather, climate, oceans, nightlight, wildfires, movement of ice, and changes in vegetation and landforms. Suomi NPP is the first Earth-observing satellite to measure both global climate changes and key weather variables. Suomi NPP is managed by NASA, NOAA and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Caption by Lynn Jenner and image courtesy of NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). NASA’s Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks “right now.”
@NOAA‘s #GOES17 — from 23,000 miles in space — saw the raging #BushFire burning northeast of #Phoenix last night. (The city’s lights are visible at the end.) #Arizona #AZ #AZwildfire #AZFire #FireSeason2020
The North Rim of the #GrandCanyon is closed due to the ongoing #MagnumFire that has burned > 10K acres. This is the 250m #MODIS view from Sunday afternoon. More information and imagery on the CIMSS Satellite Blog at https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/archives/37234
Springtime fire activities (mostly agricultural) over Indo-Gangetic Plain have been the lowest this year in comparison to last five years during COVID-19 led lockdown period. Lower crop amounts could be an additional factor.
By Hiren Jethva
Aerosol remote sensing scientist at USRA/NASA Goddard
Two things to note in the latest Suomi NPP OMPS aerosol index map. First, the Australia fires smoke has extended past Africa into the Indian Ocean. Second, some of the smoke has now moved north into the equatorial Pacific.
From UW-Madison CIMSS: “We’re happy to share this smoke-free #VIIRS image of #California today.”
@NPR reports that the #KincadeFire & #MariaFire are almost fully contained. #CAwx https://npr.org/2019/11/04/776
