Wildfires in the United States make headlines each summer. This is especially true in California and the Pacific Northwest. And the fires are larger, burn more intensely, and happen more frequently than in decades past. People cause most wildfires in the U.S., though climate change is making the fires worse and more likely to happen.
Small, low-intensity wildfires can be beneficial. But fires that grow out of control pose significant threats to humans, property, and ecosystems. These fires can burn tens of thousands to millions of acres. And the smoke they produce can affect air quality on the opposite side of the country.
Maps combining satellite and weather data can help us understand and communicate smoke transport. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) developed the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh Smoke (HRRR-Smoke) model to do just that.
Smoke forecasts are valuable because wildfires can burn for several weeks, and the smoke can remain in the atmosphere for much longer. During the summer of 2021, smoke from wildfires in the US West Coast left a smoky pall over much of the country. Although most of the smoke came from California, Oregon, and Washington, the smoke and its effects reached the East Coast. People all over the country shared photos of smoke-tinged sunsets. (Smoke particles in the atmosphere scatter sunlight and make the Sun appear red.)
NOAA’s HRRR-Smoke model and maps have a scientific purpose. But that does not limit their utility to a general audience. An intuitive and largely colorblind-friendly color scheme keeps the maps clear and concise. Raw model output data is also available for download and use by the public.
