![[Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer] Code 916](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916004346im_/http://jwocky.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/header.gif)
GIF animation of TOMS aerosol index for
July-September, 1988
July-September, 1988
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This GIF animation shows daily global images of the TOMS aerosol index indicating the location of UV-absorbing tropospheric aerosols from July through September, 1988. Light brown indicates the smallest amount of dust/smoke in the atmosphere, with dark brown indicating the largest amount. A number of things can be seen in July, including desert dust being blown from the Sahara across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and smoke from biomass burning in Africa south of the equator. Dust can also be seen over Saudi Arabia and in the Takla Makan desert in western China. Beginning in August, smoke from biomass burning can be seen in South America. Notice the transport of this smoke into and across the southern Atlantic Ocean, and the transport of smoke from Africa both west into the Atlantic and southeast into the Indian Ocean. Finally, smoke from the large number of forest fires in the western United States (particularly Yellowstone) is seen in late August, early September. Watch as this smoke travels across the northern hemisphere.
For further information, contact the Principal Investigator for TOMS aerosol research:
Dr. Jay R. Herman Code 916 Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD 20771 herman@tparty.gsfc.nasa.gov