U.S. Air Quality

Fires in South US and Central America

Most of the Nation experienced good air quality today as reported by AirNow. However, Moderate levels were read in several stations in California, Texas and in the Northeast states (top left). As for fires, HMS continues to detect hundreds of agricultural fires in Texas and in the Southeast and Mississippi Valley regions (top right), as well as in Central America (bottom left). In particular, thin smoke was seen over northern Texas moving southwestward. This remnant smoke could be from numerous fires yesterday that were burning in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and eastern Texas. Also, light remnant smoke from fires in Central America was stationary over the Bay of Campeche and extreme southwestern Gulf of Mexico. AOD retrievals by MODIS shows high levels over the states where fires are taking place (bottom right). Finally, An area of blowing dust/sand is moving west to east over the northern portion of the Great Salt Lake.