U.S. Air Quality

FIRES AND SMOKE IN THE US SOUTHEAST

Moderate PM2.5 levels were reported by AirNow in several states. California, Florida and the Great Plains regions experience these levels throughout the day (top left). Many fires were detected by HMS in the South-Eastern states, that is from South Carolina to Texas (top right). From those fires, two areas of thin remnant smoke are present over the northern Gulf of Mexico today. A small patch was seen to the east of southern Texas and a larger elongated area of smoke was seen moving southward from the coasts of northwest Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and southeast Louisiana. Numerous fires along the Gulf Coast yesterday which were producing smoke are the likely origin of this aerosol (bottom left). Also in Arkansas a small patch of thin remnant smoke could be seen in morning GOES-W imagery moving northeast across central Arkansas. Numerous fires in the South Central US yesterday are the probable cause. Some of the smoke plumes are retrieved by Modis trough high AOD levels in the regions were fires are taking place (bottom right).