Carbon Monoxide from California Wildfires Drifts East
New imagery made with AIRS data shows high concentrations of carbon monoxide emitted from California's wildfires (in orange/red) drifting east across the U.S.
California is being plagued by massive wildfires, and
the effects on air quality from those fires can extend far beyond the state's
borders. In addition to ash and smoke, fires release carbon monoxide into the
atmosphere. Carbon monoxide is a pollutant that can persist in the atmosphere
for about a month and can be transported great distances.New images made with data acquired by the Atmospheric
Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on NASA's Aqua satellite show the high concentrations
of carbon monoxide emitted from the fires (in orange/red) between July 29 and
August 8. As the time series progresses, carbon monoxide high in the atmosphere
is shown drifting east -- with one branch moving southward toward Texas and the
other forking to the northeast.From space, AIRS measures carbon monoxide high up in
the atmosphere -- where it has little effect on the air we breathe. However,
strong winds can carry this pollutant downward to where it can have significant
effects on air quality. The time series of images shows just how far the carbon
monoxide from California's wildfires has travelled eastward and what areas may
be at greater risk of experiencing its effects.Other NASA instruments contribute to the study of
carbon monoxide as well, including the Measurement of Pollution In The Troposphere
(MOPITT), which looks at carbon monoxide in the lower atmosphere, and the
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) which can detect carbon
monoxide (and provide other useful surface data) over large areas of land.The Atmospheric Infrared
Sounder, AIRS, in conjunction with the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit, AMSU,
senses emitted infrared and microwave radiation from Earth to provide a
three-dimensional look at Earth's weather and climate. Working in tandem, the
two instruments make simultaneous observations all the way down to Earth's surface,
even in the presence of heavy clouds. With more than 2,000 channels sensing
different regions of the atmosphere, the system creates a global,
three-dimensional map of atmospheric temperature and humidity, cloud amounts
and heights, greenhouse gas concentrations, and many other atmospheric
phenomena. Launched into Earth orbit in 2002, the AIRS and AMSU instruments fly
on board NASA's Aqua spacecraft and are managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in Pasadena, California. JPL is a division of Caltech in Pasadena.For more information about AIRS, visit:https://airs.jpl.nasa.gov/