A NASA high-altitude research aircraft conducted flights over the wildfires in British Columbia over the weekend to enhance understanding of the weather phenomena triggered by large fires. The ER-2 plane was observed on online aviation tracking making multiple passes over B.C.’s southern Interior on Saturday in a flight lasting over six hours, originating from Great Falls, Mont.
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 extensive Pear Lake wildfire is currently active. It then veered eastward over Lake Revelstoke before reentering U.S. airspace.
NASA’s research focuses on pyrocumulonimbus clouds, described as among the most enigmatic severe weather occurrences on Earth. The B.C. Wildfire Service notes that the Pear Lake wildfire, encompassing nearly 1,500 square kilometers, has generated such clouds formed by intense smoke and heat, leading to the production of rain, lightning, and fire whirlwinds.
The ER-2, a modified Cold War spy plane also known as the U-2, has achieved altitude flight records twice the typical height of commercial flights. Equipped with advanced infrared wildfire tracking technology, the aircraft captures data on pyrocumulonimbus clouds to aid in real-time monitoring and forecasting of these hazardous meteorological events.
NASA states that these storms, characterized by smoke and lightning, can pose visibility challenges for pilots above and ignite additional fires below. By gathering and analyzing data on the development of these storms, scientists aim to improve future forecasting capabilities.
