A NASA high-altitude research aircraft conducted flights over the wildfires in British Columbia over the weekend to gain insights into the weather phenomena triggered by large fires. The ER-2 plane was observed flying multiple times over B.C.’s southern Interior on Saturday, departing from Great Falls, Mont., for a flight lasting over six hours. Flight data from the Flightradar24 website indicates that the aircraft spent approximately four hours at an altitude of 60,000 feet above the Clinton area, where the significant Pear Lake wildfire has been active. It later flew east over Lake Revelstoke before reentering U.S. airspace.
NASA’s research with the ER-2 aircraft focuses on studying pyrocumulonimbus clouds, described as one of the least understood severe weather phenomena on Earth. The B.C. Wildfire Service notes that the Pear Lake wildfire, covering almost 1,500 square kilometers, has led to the formation of these clouds, which are generated by intense smoke and heat and can produce rain, lightning, and fire tornadoes.
The ER-2 aircraft, a modified Cold War spy plane based on the U-2, has achieved altitude records exceeding twice the typical height of commercial flights. Equipped with advanced infrared wildfire tracking technology, NASA utilizes the aircraft to collect data on pyrocumulonimbus clouds. These unique storms, characterized by smoky conditions and lightning, pose risks to aviators and can ignite new fires below. By monitoring and mapping these storms in real-time, scientists aim to improve forecasting capabilities for such events in the future.