Draft: The Impact of the 1998 Central American Smoke on the Atmospheric Environment of Eastern North America: Draft paper. On May 14 and 15 the 4000 km contiguous smoke plume stretched from Guatemala to Hudson Bay in Canada. The location of fires was detected by the DMSP and AVHRR satellite sensors, the smoke's spatial and temporal distribution was derived from the TOMS satellite and surface visibility measurements, and the aerosol spectral reflectance was derived from the SeaWiFS satellite data. Along the smoke plume the visual range was below 5 km, and aerosol concentrations were above 100 mg/m3 (> 500 umg/m3 in Brownsville, TX). At least 70% of the smoke aerosol was below 2.5 mm in size and composed of organics (50%), elemental carbon (2%) and an inexplicably high (26%) fraction of sulfate. The smoke aerosol has reduced the amount of solar radiation reaching the surface and increased the surface albedo by 10-30% in the near UV. An unexplained feature of the smoke is the yellowish coloration since it is not known whether it is due to pure scattering or preferential absorption in the near UV.; Submitted by Husar Rudolf on 9/22/00; RecID: Body.RudolfHusar4; Comment/Feedback URL: /Central-America/reports/JGR/SmokeImpactJGRDocCommentFeedback1.html

A 1000 Mile Long Smoke Ribbon over Alaska: On October 8, 1998 a smoke plume was observed over Alaska stretching from the Canadian boarder through central Alaska to Kodiak Island. GOES 9 satellite images show that there was virtually no lateral plume dispersion over the 1000 mile transport range.; Submitted by Husar Rudolf on 10/15/98; RecID: Body.RudolfHusar3; Comment/Feedback URL: /CENTRAL-AMERICA/RemoteCFPages/Alaska1000MilePlumeCommentFeedback1.html

Smoke Haze Images: Lubbock, TX & Lincoln NF, NM: I have put up some web pages with images of the Central America- Mexico- Southwestern USA smoke and its effect on visibility in the Lincoln National Forest of New Mexico, and in Lubbock, Texas. Go to: http://www.atmo.ttu.edu/nmhaze.html or http://www.atmo.ttu.edu/lbbhaze.html There are also links to new web pages illustrating dust storms and Asian dust in Lubbock. -Tom Gill; Submitted by Gill Tom on 6/19/98; RecID: Body.TomGill; Comment/Feedback URL: /CENTRAL-AMERICA/RemoteCFPages/nmhazeCommentFeedback1.html

The Central American Smoke Event of May 1998 - Summary slide Show: This is the first draft of a SUMMARY report on the Cental Amarican Smoke Event. It is given as a set of briefing slides - PowePoint presentations). Comment & feedback is requested. (Click on the Comment/Feedback line below); Submitted by Husar Rudolf on 6/14/98; RecID: Body.RudolfHusar2; Comment/Feedback URL: /Central-America/reports/SmokeSum/SmokeSum/sld001CommentFeedback1.html

Science and Air Quality Management Lessons Learned from the Central American Smoke and Asian Dust Events: This is a list of 6 observation regarding the Asian dust and Central American smoke events. I have e-mailed this to a number of managers at EPA and other agencies as well as to the people sign-up on the Dust and the Smoke websites. Do not hesitate to express your critical comments or constructive suggestions.; Submitted by Husar Rudolf on 6/2/98; RecID: Body.RudolfHusar1; Comment/Feedback URL: /central-america/reports/Lessons/SciMangmtLessonsCommentFeedback1.html

PM-10 Concentrations in Texas during the May Smoke Event: During the Central American Smoke Event, the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Committee (TNRCC) has continuously monitored the PM-10 concentrations with a Beta Gauge. The maximum PM-10 in Brownsville resulted in an extreme concentration of 580 micrograms per cubic meter on May 9th compared to the daily maximum PM-10 standard of 150 micrograms per cubic meter.; Submitted by Kayin Serpil on 5/22/98; RecID: Body.SerpilKayin; Comment/Feedback URL: /CENTRAL-AMERICA/RemoteCFPages/TNRCCCommentFeedback1.html

News Headlines Related to Central American Smoke Affecting Texas: Submitted by Yarbrough James W. on 5/22/98; RecID: Body.JamesW.Yarbrough1; Comment/Feedback URL: http://Capita.wustl.edu/datawarehouse/datasets/Epa/HeadlinesCommentFeedback1.html

Summary of May 20, 1998 EPA Activities Regarding Response to Mexican and Central American Fires: The EPA has obtained additional fine particulate (PM-2.5) data from sampling conducted May 17-18 and May 18-19 at four separate locations in Texas.; Submitted by Yarbrough James on 5/21/98; RecID: Body.JamesW.Yarbrough; Comment/Feedback URL: http://Capita.wustl.edu/datawarehouse/datasets/Epa/BachmanCommentFeedback1.html

The Central American Smoke Event of May 1998 - Summary, May 17: A Summary of the BigSmoke event based on Reports and Data on the Web as of May 17, 1998.; Submitted by Husar Rudolf on 5/18/98; RecID: Body.RudolfHusar; Comment/Feedback URL: /central-america/reports/MaySmoke/May98SmokeCommentFeedback1.html

Central American Fires in the News: This is a list of web links to news articles on the Central American fires. This page of links is maintained by the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, Louisiana.; Submitted by Schichtel Bret on 5/15/98; RecID: Body.BretSchichtel; Comment/Feedback URL: /CENTRAL-AMERICA/RemoteCFPages/mexfireCommentFeedback1.html

STATE EXTENDS SMOKE/PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT UNTIL MONDAY: The public health alert has been extended until noon Monday, May 18, for residents who live along and inland of the Texas Gulf Coast, from the Lower Rio Grande Valley to the Louisiana border, because of expected persistent unhealthy levels of smoke and haze. The TNRCC has established a public health "watch" area for most of the rest of Texas, including the area east of the Pecos River and north to the Oklahoma border.; Submitted by Husar Maja on 5/14/98; RecID: Body.MajaHusar1; Comment/Feedback URL: /CENTRAL-AMERICA/RemoteCFPages/05-98haze-bCommentFeedback1.html

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT FOR COASTAL REGION CONTINUES: The TNRCC and the Texas Department of Health continued a public health alert for residents who live along and inland of the Texas Gulf Coast because of expected persistent unhealthy levels of smoke and haze.; Submitted by Husar Maja on 5/14/98; RecID: Body.MajaHusar; Comment/Feedback URL: /CENTRAL-AMERICA/RemoteCFPages/05-98hazeCommentFeedback1.html