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AerosolWatch

@aerosolwatch.bsky.social
323 followers 52 following 220 posts

Satellite observations of global aerosol and air quality events, including wildfires, dust storms, and haze. Featuring NOAA satellite products from the AerosolWatch website (www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/spb/a…).

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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Smoke from ongoing wildfires in the Pacific NW pushed daily-average PM2.5 air quality above the US health standard on 28 Sep in northern ID, southwestern OR & central-northern WA, per regulatory monitors & estimated by the VIIRS sensor on @noaa.gov satellites. @saramelinda.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Many wildfires were still burning in the US Pacific Northwest & western Canada on 25 Sep, including relatively intense wildfires in Washington State, measured by fire radiative power (yellow/orange markers) from the VIIRS sensor on @noaa.gov NOAA-21. @mparrington.bsky.social @weatherwest.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Check out our group's recently published paper in JGR - Atmospheres on the "TEMPO Aerosol Optical Depth and Aerosol Layer Height Retrieval Algorithm"! agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
TEMPO Aerosol Optical Depth and Aerosol Layer Height Retrieval Algorithm
We developed an algorithm to retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aerosol layer height (ALH) from Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) data The results match well with AEro...
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Smoke from ongoing wildfires in Washington State degraded PM2.5 air quality again on 24 Sep. Daily average conditions reached Very Unhealthy (Code Purple) in Leavenworth & Wenatchee, observed by regulatory monitors (dots) & estimated by @noaa.gov satellites (shading). @saramelinda.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Thick smoke (purple shading) from wildfires in Washington State blew northward into British Columbia, Canada yesterday 23 Sep, observed by the VIIRS sensor on the @noaa.gov NOAA-21 satellite. @saramelinda.bsky.social @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
The ABI sensor on the @noaa.gov GOES-West satellite is observing thick smoke from ongoing wildfires in Washington State today 23 Sep. The smoke is seriously degrading PM2.5 air quality per surface regulatory monitors (orange & purple dots).
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Wildfires in northwestern Washington State and southern British Columbia emitted thick smoke (purple shading) that reached into western Alberta yesterday 17 Sep, detected by the VIIRS sensor on the NOAA-20 satellite. @noaa.gov @saramelinda.bsky.social @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
The VIIRS sensor on the NOAA-21 satellite detected a plume of thick Saharan dust (brown shading) blowing off the coast of West Africa & over the Atlantic Ocean yesterday 16 Sep. @dustycryder.bsky.social @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the ABI sensor on the @noaa.gov GOES-East satellite observed moderately thick to very thick wildfire smoke (AOD ≥0.6) in between clouds over the US Pacific Northwest & southern British Columbia, Canada on 10 Sep.
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Another day of intense burning by California's Garnet Fire spread Hazardous (Code Maroon), Very Unhealthy (Code Purple) & Unhealthy (Code Red) daily PM2.5 air quality into western Nevada on 8 Sep, observed by regulatory monitors (dots) & estimated by @noaa.gov VIIRS (shading). @usfs.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Thick smoke from the Garnet Fire in California’s Sierra National Forest caused Very Unhealthy (Code Purple) to Unhealthy (Code Red) daily PM2.5 air quality on 7 Sep, observed by regulatory monitors (dots) & estimated by VIIRS (shading). @usfs.bsky.social @calfire.bsky.social @noaa.gov
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
The VIIRS sensor on the @noaa.gov NOAA-21 satellite measured intense burning of the Garnet Fire in California’s Sierra National Forest on 7 Sep, shown by the orange markers (Fire Radiative Power). The wildfire’s thick smoke blew northeast into Nevada. @calfire.bsky.social @usfs.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
The new @noaa.gov Aerosol Layer Height product from TEMPO indicates the thick wildfire smoke reaching the eastern US this morning is >2 km aloft in the atmosphere (maroon/purple/pink shading), and therefore having minimal impacts on surface air quality. @avoiland.bsky.social @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Yesterday’s thick, brown-colored smoke, originating from wildfires in the western US & Canada, has reached the eastern US this morning 5 Sep. Hybrid smoke detection from the TEMPO & ABI sensors shows the smoke (dark purple) as of ~13 UTC. @noaa.gov @avoiland.bsky.social @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
The ABI sensor on the @noaa.gov GOES-East satellite is observing thick, brown-colored wildfire smoke moving southeastward over the Pacific Northwest and Central Plains of the US this afternoon 4 Sep, impacting hourly PM2.5 air quality (colored dots).
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Thick smoke (red shading) from large wildfires in the US states of CA, ID, OR & WA, as well as in British Columbia, Canada, spread across parts of the western US yesterday 3 Sep, shown by aerosol optical depth from the VIIRS sensor on the @noaa.gov NOAA-21 satellite. @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
The ABI sensor on the @noaa.gov GOES-East satellite is observing wildfire smoke degrading hourly PM2.5 air quality (colored dots) across the US Pacific NW & Upper Midwest this morning 3 Sep. @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Another episode of long-range wildfire smoke transport is underway. The VIIRS sensor on the @noaa.gov NOAA-20 satellite shows smoke (pink/purple) from fires in western Canada & US stretching across the continent to the Labrador Sea yesterday 1 Sep. @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Wildfires in the western US continued burning on 26 Aug, observed by @noaa.gov VIIRS on NOAA-20. Fire radiative power (FRP, Left) shows the fires' location & intensity, and aerosol detection (Right) indicates the fires released thick smoke (purple). @saramelinda.bsky.social @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Numerous wildfires in the Western US continued burning yesterday 25 Aug. UV Aerosol Index from the TEMPO satellite sensor “sees” smoke above clouds, highlighting plumes from fires in Oregon, Idaho & Wyoming (red, orange, yellow, green shading). @avoiland.bsky.social @saramelinda.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the VIIRS sensor on the @noaa.gov NOAA-21 satellite observed thick smoke (dark red shading, AOD ≥1) across the Western US on 23 Aug from numerous wildfires, particularly in Idaho, Montana & Wyoming. @saramelinda.bsky.social @sangasso.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Smoke from the Island Creek wildfire in Idaho degraded daily PM2.5 air quality yesterday 21 Aug, with Unhealthy (Code Red) conditions near the fire & Moderate (Code Yellow) further downwind; observed by regulatory monitors (dots) & estimated from @noaa.gov VIIRS (shading). @saramelinda.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
Aerosol optical depth from the VIIRS sensor on the @noaa.gov NOAA-21 satellite observed smoke (red/orange/yellow/teal shading, AOD ≥0.5) across the Iberian Peninsula today 21 Aug from the ongoing wildfires in Portugal & Spain. @mparrington.bsky.social @pierremarkuse.bsky.social @aprados1.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
Aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the ABI sensor on the @noaa.gov GOES-East satellite observed smoke (teal/yellow/orange/red shading) from a wildfire in Broward County, FL blowing offshore near Miami, in the periphery of Hurricane Erin’s circulation, this morning 20 Aug.
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
VIIRS on @noaa.gov NOAA-20 satellite observed the Long Lake wildfire in Nova Scotia, Canada, yesterday 17 Aug. Fire Radiative Power (FRP, small yellow dots) indicates the intensity of burning & smoke detection (pink/purple shading) shows the smoke plume blowing northeast. @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
This year's Amazon fire season has been relatively quiet so far, but that may be changing as VIIRS on the @noaa.gov NOAA-21 satellite observed numerous thick smoke plumes (purple) on 14 Aug from burning in Amazonas, Brazil, between Manaus & Porto Velho. @aprados1.bsky.social @sangasso.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Aerosol optical depth from the VIIRS sensor on the @noaa.gov NOAA-20 satellite shows thick smoke (red shading) across the Pacific Northwest on 13 Aug from numerous wildfires in Washington State, Idaho & Vancouver Island, British Columbia. @saramelinda.bsky.social @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
Aerosol detection from VIIRS on the NOAA-20 satellite highlights thick smoke plumes (purple shading) yesterday 12 Aug from the Bear Gulch Fire in the Olympic National Forest of Washington State & from a large wildfire on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. @noaa.gov @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Transported smoke from Canadian wildfires caused Code Red (Unhealthy) and Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) daily PM2.5 air quality in MN, ND & SD yesterday 11 Aug. @noaa.gov satellite-estimated PM2.5 (shading) fills gaps in the AirNow PM2.5 regulatory monitor network (dots).
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
More wildfire smoke moved into the US Upper Midwest yesterday 10 Aug, causing Code Red (Unhealthy) daily PM2.5 air quality across ND & prompting Air Quality Alerts for today 11 Aug in MN & the UP of MI. @noaa.gov VIIRS aerosol detection highlights the thick smoke (dark purple). @avoiland.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Southern CA wildfires: the @noaa.gov GOES-East satellite observed the beginning of the Canyon Fire along the border of Los Angeles & Ventura Counties yesterday afternoon 7 Aug, as well as the ongoing Gifford Fire near Santa Maria.
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Aerosol detection from VIIRS on @noaa.gov NOAA-20 highlights the enormous extent of wildfire smoke (lavender/pink shading) over central Canada & eastern US on 5 Aug, as well as smaller plumes from wildfires in the western US, e.g. Colorado. @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
Canadian wildfire smoke caused Code Red (Unhealthy) & Code Orange (USG) daily PM2.5 air quality on 4 Aug in the Great Lakes region of US & Canada. PM2.5 estimated from @noaa.gov satellites (shading) fills gaps in the regulatory monitor network (dots). @mparrington.bsky.social @noaacomms.noaa.gov
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
Thick smoke (dark red shading) from the Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo & Santa Barbara Counties in CA blew southward to the Pacific coast yesterday 3 Aug, shown by aerosol optical depth (AOD) from VIIRS on the @noaa.gov NOAA-20 satellite.
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from ABI on @noaa.gov GOES-West highlights smoke from large ongoing Southwestern US wildfires today 3 Aug: Gifford Fire in CA, Dragon Bravo Fire in AZ & Monroe Canyon Fire in UT. @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
ABI on @noaa.gov GOES-East is observing the explosive growth of the dangerous Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo & Santa Barbara Counties in southern CA this afternoon 2 Aug. Fire Radiative Power (FRP, yellow/orange dots) shows the location & intensity of the burning.
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Very thick smoke from ongoing Canadian wildfires is pouring into the CONUS today 31 Jul, causing poor PM2.5 air quality from the Upper Midwest to New England, with the worst conditions this morning in MN, WI, MI & northern IL (red dots). @noaa.gov
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
To our data users: Due to problems with our center’s servers, all imagery stopped ~17:30 UTC yesterday 28 Jul on the AerosolWatch website www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/spb/aq/.... No ETA yet on when functionality will be restored, but hopefully sometime today.
star.nesdis.noaa.gov
AerosolWatch
Satellite aerosol products imagery NOAA/NESDIS/STAR
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Check out this story from @noaa.gov about wildfire smoke, featuring our group's satellite aerosol products! www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/wildfir...
nesdis.noaa.gov
Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality
Having the data to prepare and respond to wildfires is essential to forecasters and communities. Including having the information on the smoke impacting air quality hundreds of miles away from the fir...
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Check out this great article in The Conversation by our colleague Prof Jun Wang featuring our group's new TEMPO Aerosol Layer Height product! theconversation.com/is-that-wild...
theconversation.com
Is that wildfire smoke plume hazardous? New satellite tech can map smoke plumes in 3D for better air quality alerts at neighborhood scale
As wildfire smoke becomes a frequent summer hazard across large parts of the US, knowing the risk at the neighborhood scale matters for human health.
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Smoke originating from wildfires in central & western Canada caused poor daily PM2.5 air quality in New England & Québec over the weekend, with the worst conditions on 26 Jul when Unhealthy (Code Red) PM2.5 occurred in Montréal QC & Montpelier VT. @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Total column carbon monoxide (CO) from the TROPOMI sensor on the Sentinel 5-P satellite shows the tremendous emissions from ongoing Canadian wildfires, wrapping around a large Low pressure system yesterday 23 Jul. @esaearth.esa.int
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
The Dragon Bravo Fire in the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is emitting a large, thick smoke plume (red shading) today 23 Jul, shown by aerosol optical depth from the ABI sensor on the @noaa.gov GOES-West satellite.
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Thick smoke is moving over the Canadian Maritimes this morning 23 Jul, highlighted by aerosol optical depth from the ABI sensor on @noaa.gov GOES-East. The smoke originated from wildfires in central/western Canada. It is aloft in the atmosphere, not affecting surface air quality.
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
To our data users: Due to an issue with our center’s data ingest, near real-time GOES-East & -West ABI product images are missing/delayed this morning 23 Jul on the AerosolWatch website www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/spb/aq/.... IT is investigating the causes. We'll keep you updated.
star.nesdis.noaa.gov
AerosolWatch
Satellite aerosol products imagery NOAA/NESDIS/STAR
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Another intrusion of Canadian wildfire smoke is degrading PM2.5 air quality this morning 21 Jul in the Great Lakes & Northeast US. The smoke is moving in behind a cold front. 1-hour average PM2.5 is as high as 50-60 ug/m3 in southern WI & northern IL (orange dots). @noaa.gov
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Aerosol detection smoke mask from the VIIRS sensor on the @noaa.gov NOAA-20 & SNPP satellites highlights smoke (purple/magenta shading) across Canada on 17 Jul from the ongoing wildfires in the central and western regions of the country. @mparrington.bsky.social
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
To our data users: Near real-time imagery stopped early this morning 17 Jul on the AerosolWatch website www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/spb/aq/.... We are working to return the site to normal operation as soon as possible.
star.nesdis.noaa.gov
AerosolWatch
Satellite aerosol products imagery NOAA/NESDIS/STAR
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Aerosol optical depth from the VIIRS sensor on the NOAA-20 satellite observed moderate to thick smoke from several wildfires in the Pacific Northwest on 16 Jul, including the Cram Fire in Oregon & the Green Fire in northern California. @noaa.gov @noaacomms.noaa.gov
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AerosolWatch @aerosolwatch.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Lingering transported wildfire smoke pushed daily PM2.5 air quality to the Code Orange (USG) to Yellow (Moderate) range along the eastern US-Canada border yesterday 15 Jul, per estimates from @noaa.gov satellites (shading) & observed by regulatory monitors (dots). @noaacomms.noaa.gov
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