A NASA high-altitude research plane conducted flights above the wildfires in British Columbia over the weekend to gain insights into the weather phenomena triggered by large fires. Aviation tracking data revealed that the ER-2 aircraft flew multiple times over B.C.’s southern Interior on Saturday, departing from Great Falls, Montana, on a six-hour mission. Specifically, the plane spent around four hours at an altitude of 60,000 feet above the Clinton area, where the extensive Pear Lake wildfire is raging. It also flew east over Lake Revelstoke before reentering U.S. airspace.
NASA’s research focuses on pyrocumulonimbus clouds, described as one of the Earth’s least understood severe weather forms. The B.C. Wildfire Service noted that the Pear Lake wildfire, covering nearly 1,500 square kilometers, has produced these clouds as a result of intense smoke and heat, potentially leading to rain, lightning, and fire whirlwinds.
The ER-2 aircraft, a modified Cold War spy plane known as the U-2, is equipped with advanced infrared wildfire tracking technology to collect data on pyrocumulonimbus clouds. NASA highlighted the significance of monitoring these storms in real-time to enhance future forecasting and mitigate the risks they pose to aviation and fire management.
By gathering information during these flights, researchers aim to deepen their understanding of how wildfires influence the atmosphere and weather patterns, ultimately contributing to better emergency response strategies in wildfire-prone regions.