January 7, 2009
Moderate PM2.5 in Upper Midwest, Parts of West, Small Fires in Texas
Today’s Terra MODIS true color image shows large cloud swaths across the entire East coast, Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest (below left). NOAA’s Hazard Mapping System (HMS) shows MODIS hotspots indicating likely fires concentrated in the few cloudless areas of the U.S., especially in Texas (below right).
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AIRNow is showing Code Yellow (moderate) levels of PM2.5 in the upper Midwest and several parts of the West (below left). The rest of the country is enjoying good (and in many cases, wet) air quality. A focus on California shows several Code Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) readings from far north to far south. Code Orange PM2.5 levels are forecast for Bakersfield and the Sacramento area tomorrow.
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Focusing in on some Terra MODIS true color images corresponding with the hot spots identified in the HMS map above, it is difficult to detect any visible smoke plumes. The left image below is Mexico and Texas; the right image below shows the distinct coastline of Louisiana (note the tell-tale outlet of the Mississippi River into the Gulf).
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