PyroCb

PyroCb in Arizona

Anna Sienko | June 22, 2016

On 22 June one pyroCu formed in Arizona. GOES-15 detected the smoke plume and pyroCb cloud, as well as the fire hot spot. The pyroCb (34.1 N 110.2W) occurred at around 00:45 UTC on 22 June. Starting at 22:00 UTC on 21 June, the animation below shows visible (.63 μm) on the left and shortwave IR (3.9 μm) on the right (click image to play animation). In the shortwave IR images the red pixels indicate very hot IR brightness temperatures exhibited by the fire source region.

GOES-15 0.63 µm visible channel (left) and 3.9 µm shortwave IR channel images (right) (click to play animation)

In addition, using GOES-15 10.7 μm IR channel the cloud-top IR brightness temperature could be found. The animation below, starting at 23:00 UTC on 21 June, shows the brightness temperature for the pyroCb was ~ -31ºC around 1:15 UTC (blueish green color enhancement).

GOES-15 10.7 µm IR channel images (click to play animation)

However, using POES 1-km resolution imagery it was found that the coldest brightness temperature was -46.8ºC at 3:38UTC. The image below (courtesy of Rene Servanckx) shows the pyroCb reaching the -40ºC threshold, which is indicated by a green color on the image.

POES 1-km resolution image at 3:38 UTC

PyroCu in Northwest Territories

Anna Sienko | June 21, 2016

On 21 June one pyroCu formed in the Northwest Territories. GOES-15 detected the smoke plume and pyroCu cloud, as well as the fire hot spot. The pyroCu (64 N 124 W) occurred at around 4:30 UTC. Starting at 4:00 UTC on 21 June, the animation below shortwave IR (3.9 μm, click image to play animation), visible imagery was not available at this time because the fire occurred at night. In the shortwave IR images the red pixels indicate very hot IR brightness temperatures exhibited by the fire source region.

GOES-15 3.9 µm shortwave IR channel images(click to play animation)

In addition, using GOES-15 10.7 μm IR channel the cloud-top IR brightness temperature could be found. The animation below, starting at 5:00 UTC on 21 June, shows the brightness temperature for the pyroCu to be ~ -26ºC around 7:00 UTC (dark blue color enhancement) The minimum brightness temperature for a pyroCb is -40ºC, meaning this is a pyroCu.

GOES-15 10.7 µm IR channel images (click to play animation)

PyroCb in Alaska

Anna Sienko | June 18, 2016

On 18 June a pyroCb formed in Alaska. GOES-15 detected the smoke plume and pyroCb cloud, as well as the fire hot spot. The pyroCu (64.5 N 153.2W) occurred at around 1:30 UTC . Starting at 01:00 UTC on 18 June, the animation below shows visible (.63 μm) on the left and shortwave IR (3.9 μm) on the right (click image to play animation). In the shortwave IR images the red pixels indicate very hot IR brightness temperatures exhibited by the fire source region.

GOES-15 0.63 µm visible channel (left) and 3.9 µm shortwave IR channel images (right) (click to play animation)

In addition, using GOES-15 10.7 μm IR channel the cloud-top IR brightness temperature could be found. The animation below, starting at 1:00 UTC on 18 June, shows the brightness temperature for the pyroCu was -49ºC at 3:10 UTC (green color enhancement).

GOES-15 10.7 µm IR channel images (click to play animation)

The smoke was detected using CALIPSO lidar data (images courtesy of Mike Fromm). The images below show the products of lidar . The smoke can be seen ~65-72 N over Canada which is northeast of the pyroCb. The first image below is the 532nm Total Attenuated Backscatter plot on 19 June from 10:52 UTC to 11:15 UTC. The smoke from this fires is indicated by a gray color. The second image is 1064 nm Total Attenuated Backscatter plot, the smoke on this plot is indicated by a gray color. The third image is the Depolarization image the smoke is indicated by a red color. The fourth image is the Attenuated Ratio plot between 1064 nm and 532 nm. The smoke is indicated by purple pixels. The fifth image is the Vertical Feature Mask. This plot shows the different features that are in the atmosphere, the smoke is attributed as a cloud on this plot and is indicated by a light blue color.

CALIPSO 532 nm Total Attenuated Backscatter on 19 June

CALIPSO 1064 nm Total Attenuated Backscatter on 19 June

CALIPSO Depolarization Ration on 19 June

CALIPSO Attenuated Color Ratio between 1064 nm and 532 nm on 19 June

CALIPSO Vertical Feature Mask on 19 June

In addition, a HYSPILT backward trajectory model was used to show where the smoke originated from that was detected by the CALIPSO imagery. The image below (courtesy of Mike Fromm) shows that the smoke from this pyroCb was detected by the CALIPSO imagery.

HYSPILT Backward Trajectory Model on 19 June at 11:00 UTC

PyroCu in Russia

Anna Sienko | June 14, 2016

On 14 June one pyroCu formed in Russia. HIMAWARI-8 detected the smoke plume and pyroCu cloud, as well as the fire hot spot. The pyroCu (54.8 N 107.1 E) occurred at around 10:00 UTC. Starting at 9:00 UTC on 14 June, the animation below shows visible (.63 μm) on the left and shortwave IR (3.9 μm) on the right (click image to play animation). In the shortwave IR images the red pixels indicate very hot IR brightness temperatures exhibited by the fire source region.

HIMAWARI-8 0.63 µm visible channel (left) and 3.9 µm shortwave IR channel images (right) (click to play animation)

In addition, using HIMAWARI-8 10.4 μm IR channel the cloud-top IR brightness temperature could be found. The animation below, starting at 9:30 UTC on 14 June, shows the brightness temperature for the pyroCu was ~ -38.2ºC around 11:40 UTC (blueish green color enhancement) The minimum brightness temperature for a pyroCb is -40ºC, meaning this is a pyroCu.

HIMAWARI-8 10.4 µm IR channel images (click to play animation)

OMPS AI index images (courtesy of Colin Seftor) shows the transport of smoke on 15 June. The maximum AI index was found to be 12.4 at 46.3 N 113.7 E around 5:03 UTC. This is southeast of the original pyroCu and is conducive to the movement of the smoke on the animations above.

OMPS Aerosol Index image on 15 June (click to enlarge)

Two PyroCbs and one PyroCu in Russia

Anna Sienko | June 2, 2016

On 02 June two pyroCbs and one pyroCu formed in Russia. HIMAWARI-8 detected the smoke plume and pyroCb cloud, as well as the fire hot spot. The first pyroCb (54.2 N 106.5 E) occurred at 7:10 UTC and the second pyroCb (54 N 106.3 E) occurred at 8:40 UTC. In addition, a pyroCu (53.4 N 106.3 E) occurred at 8:50 UTC. Starting at 6:00 UTC on 02 June, the animation below shows visible (.63 μm) on the left and shortwave IR (3.9 μm) on the right (click image to play animation). In the shortwave IR images the red pixels indicate very hot IR brightness temperatures exhibited by the fire source region.

HIMAWARI-8 0.63 µm visible channel (left) and 3.9 µm shortwave IR channel images (right) (click to play animation)

In addition, using HIMAWARI-8 10.4 μm IR channel the cloud-top IR brightness temperature could be found. The animation below, starting at 8:00 UTC on 02 June, shows the brightness temperature for the first pyroCb to be ~ -54ºC around 11:20 UTC (orange color enhancement) and the second pyroCb to be ~ -54ºC at 11:10 UTC (orange color enhancement). The pyroCu reached a minimum brightness temperate of -31ºC(teal color enhancement). The minimum brightness temperature for a pyroCb is -40ºC, meaning this is a pyroCu.

HIMAWARI-8 10.4 µm IR channel images (click to play animation)

OMPS AI index images (courtesy of Colin Seftor) shows the transport of smoke on 3 June. The maximum AI index was found to be 6.1 at 54.8 N 114.8 E around 5:31 UTC. This is east of the original pyroCbs and pyroCu indicating an eastward movement of the smoke.

OMPS Aerosol Index image on 03 June (click to enlarge)

The smoke was detected using CALIPSO lidar data. The images below show the products of lidar . The smoke can be seen ~54 N this is just east of the pyroCb. The first image below is the 532nm Total Attenuated Backscatter plot on 03 June from 05:51 UTC to 6:05 UTC. The smoke from this fires is indicated by a gray color. The second image is 1064 nm Total Attenuated Backscatter plot, the smoke on this plot is indicated by a gray/red color. The third image is the Depolarization image the smoke is indicated by a red color. The fourth image is the Attenuated Ratio plot between 1064 nm and 532 nm. The smoke is indicated by purple pixels. The fifth image is the Vertical Feature Mask. This plot shows the different features that are in the atmosphere, the smoke is attributed as a cloud on this plot and is indicated by a light blue color.

CALIPSO 532 nm Total Attenuated Backscatter on 03 June (click to enlarge)

CALIPSO 1064 nm Total Attenuated Backscatter on 03 June (click to enlarge)

CALIPSO Depolarization Ration on 03 June (click to enlarge)

CALIPSO Attenuated Color Ratio between 1064 nm and 532 nm on 03 June (click to enlarge image)

CALIPSO Vertical Feature Mask on 03 June (click to enlarge image)

PyroCb in Russia

Anna Sienko | June 1, 2016

On 01 June a pyroCb formed in Russia (56.5 N, 103.8E). HIMAWARI-8 detected the smoke plume and pyroCb cloud, as well as the fire hot spot. Starting at 5:00 UTC on 01 June, the animation below shows visible (.63 μm) on the left and shortwave IR (3.9 μm) on the right (click image to play animation). In the shortwave IR images the red pixels indicate very hot IR brightness temperatures exhibited by the fire source region.

HIMAWARI-8 0.63 µm visible channel (left) and 3.9 µm shortwave IR channel images (right) (click to play animation)

In addition, using HIMAWARI-8 10.4 μm IR channel the cloud-top IR brightness temperature could be found. The animation below, starting at 6:30 UTC on 01 June, shows the brightness temperature for the pyroCb is -46.4ºC around 07:10 UTC (lime green color enhancement).

HIMAWARI-8 10.4 µm IR channel images (click to play animation)

OMPS AI index images (courtesy of Colin Seftor) shows the transport of smoke on 2 June. The maximum AI index was found to be 3.7 at 54.8 N 115.4 E around 5:50 UTC. This is east of the original pyroCb indicating an eastward movement of the smoke.

OMPS Aerosol Index image on 02 June (click to enlarge)

The smoke was detected using CALIPSO lidar data. The images below show the products of lidar . The smoke can be seen between 52-58 N this is just east of the pyroCb and roughly were the OMPS AI index images are located. The first image below is the 532nm Total Attenuated Backscatter plot on 02 June from 05:08 UTC to 5:21 UTC. The smoke from this fires is indicated by a red and gray color. The second image is 1064 nm Total Attenuated Backscatter plot, the smoke on this plot is indicated by a yellow/red color. The third image is the Depolarization image the smoke is indicated by a blue color. The fourth image is the Attenuated Ratio plot between 1064 nm and 532 nm. The smoke is indicated by magenta pixels. The fifth image is the Vertical Feature Mask. This plot shows the different features that are in the atmosphere, the smoke is attributed as a cloud on this plot and is indicated by a light blue color. The last plot is shows the aerosol subtype, the smoke is indicated by black pixels in this image.

CALIPSO 532 nm Total Attenuated Backscatter on 02 June (click to enlarge)

CALIPSO 1064 nm Total Attenuated Backscatter on 02 June (click to enlarge)

CALIPSO Depolarization Ration on 02 June (click to enlarge)

CALIPSO Attenuated Color Ratio between 1064 nm and 532 nm on 02 June (click to enlarge image)

CALIPSO Vertical Feature Mask on 02 June (click to enlarge image)

CALIPSO Aerosol Subtype on 02 June (click to enlarge image)