MSGID: 1:317/3 645d2d33   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   May 11, 2023 - A River of Smoke Darkens North American Skies   
      
      Smoke   
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      Smoke from wildfires in Western Canada darkened skies not only across   
      that country, but dipped southward and eastward to cross the   
      northeastern United States the North Atlantic Ocean on May 9, 2023. The   
      Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s   
      Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of the massive river of   
      smoke on that same day.   
      
      The smoke primarily originates from several intense fires burning in   
      the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. A few fires in southern   
      Saskatchewan may also be adding to the gray skies. The west-to-east   
      length of the plume was estimated at more than 3,770 kilometers (2,964   
      miles) using the NASA Worldview App measurement tools. The actual   
      length travelled by the smoke was much greater, however, as it first   
      was carried northward over the Northwest Territories and Nunavut before   
      dipping southeast.   
      
      As of May 10, there were 81 wildfires burning in Alberta, according to   
      the Alberta Wildfire Dashboard. A situation update by the government of   
      Alberta on that same date counted 23 fires out of control and 17 being   
      held and not expected to grow beyond projected boundaries given current   
      weather conditions and resources. The report also states that there are   
      13 evacuation orders and 15 evacuation alerts in place, and the   
      province recorded approximately 17,386 evacuees, 13,829 of which have   
      registered at designated evacuation centers.   
      
      Early May is typically the start of the wildland fire season in   
      Alberta, as snowmelt uncovers dead vegetation that can become fuel for   
      fires. This year, an unusually hot and dry spring made it easier for   
      fires to start and to quickly expand. Firefighting operations in the   
      central portion of Alberta have benefited from a few days of light rain   
      and cooler temperatures, but conditions are expected to get hotter and   
      drier again within the next several days.   
      
      Image Facts   
      Satellite:  Aqua   
      Date Acquired: 5/9/2023   
      Resolutions:  1km (6.5 MB),   
      Bands Used: 1,4,3   
      Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC   
      
      
      
   https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2023-05-11   
       
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