April 13, 2009
Heavy Smoke in the Gulf of Mexico, Dust off the Pacific Coast
The smoke from fires in Central America continues to be visible in the Gulf of Mexico, and appears to be impacting air quality in southern Florida and the Louisiana coast. AIRNow reported PM2.5 levels in the code yellow (moderate) range today as shown below left, displayed in Google Earth with Aqua MODIS true color imagery. The sunglint and the smoke appear similar in the image of the Gulf, but the smoke is particularly evident with a bluish cast south of the Louisiana-Texas border in the Gulf. The NOAA Hazard Mapping System (below right) helps clarify the areas that are smoke. Also note how parts of Central America and the Yucatan are "covered" with fires! For bilingual readers (or those that like pictures), refer to the Mesoamerican and Caribbean Smog Blog which is written primarily by CATHALAC and the University of Panama analyzing this region.
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The Terra MODIS true color and AOD side by side also show elevated particle levels in the Gulf, and in selected parts of California and off the northern California coast.
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The US Naval Research Lab Monterrey Aerosol NAAPS model shows dust in the upper left image below, likely related to the elevated AOD we saw in the image above off the coast of northern California.
