GIF animation of TOMS aerosol index for
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: