May 13, 2009
Ozone Levels Reach Code Orange in California; Smoke and Haze in Texas
As captured by the Terra MODIS true color image of the Texas and Louisiana coasts today, smoke and haze can be seen in the image below left. According to the NOAA Hazard Mapping System, this is due to fires in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Central America over the past few days, as reported in previous days’ posts. The HMS Fire and Smoke product (below right) shows the extent of the fires and associated plume. Hazy conditions and reduced visibility have been reported from the Houston area southward according to HMS analysts.
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Today’s Terra MODIS AOD identified some elevated levels of particles in Texas, Nevada, and Oregon (below left). AIRNow shows elevated PM2.5 levels (Code Yellow or Moderate) in parts of Texas, southern California, and the Midwest.
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Finally, AIRNow shows ozone levels creeping into the Code Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) in parts of southern and central California, and Code Yellow (moderate) in the mid-Atlantic/Northeast.
