Smoke from California fires

Smoke from California wildfires

11 November 2018 18:22 UTC and 23:30 UTC

Smoke from California fires
Smoke from California fires

Smoke from devastating, widespread wildfires in California in November 2018, was seen by Sentinel-3.

Last Updated

04 May 2023

Published on

10 November 2018

By Ivan Smiljanic (SCISYS) and Sancha Lancaster (Pactum)

On November 8, fires broke out in several places in the north and southwestern California. The largest, in the northern part of the state, known as Camp Fire, spread in one day to an area of ​​more than 30,000 hectares. By 13 November it was reported it had devastated at least ​​47,000 hectares, with 30% confinement . it was reported to be the deadliest wildfire to hit California in 85 years.

The Sentinel-3 OLCI True Colour RGB image (Figure 1) shows from various locations steaming out over the Pacific on 11 November. The observed domain is filled with smoke with almost no clouds seen.

 Sentinel-3 OLCI True Colour RGB, 11 Nov 2018 18:22 UTC
Figure 1: Sentinel-3 OLCI True Colour RGB, 11 Nov 2018 18:22 UTC
 

The Woolsey Fire, in the southern part of the state, was reported to have burned more than 37,000 hectare and destroyed 435 structures , including large swathes of the coastal area of Malibu. Figure 2 shows the smoke plumes over Malibu on 11 November.

 Sentinel-3 OLCI True Colour RGB, 11 Nov 2018 18:22 UTC
Figure 2: Sentinel-3 OLCI True Colour RGB, 11 Nov 2018 18:22 UTC
 

A wider view over the affected area, seen on the GOES-16 GeoColor image (Figure 3) reveals the smoke accumulation, mostly over the Pacific waters. This is the result of mainly westward air mass advection during days of fire activity.

 GOES-16 GeoColor, 11 Nov 2018 23:30 UTC
Figure 3: GOES-16 GeoColor, 11 Nov 2018 23:30 UTC
 

Additional content

Woolsey Fire in southern California (CIMSS Blog)
Camp Fire in northern California (CIMSS Blog)
California Wildfires Updates: 42 Deaths Make Camp Fire Deadliest in State History (New York Times)

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