A NASA research aircraft conducted flights over wildfires in British Columbia over the weekend to enhance understanding of weather phenomena triggered by large fires. The ER-2 plane, as shown by online aviation tracking data, flew multiple times over B.C.’s southern Interior on Saturday during a six-hour flight originating from Great Falls, Montana. Specifically, the aircraft spent around four hours at a 60,000 feet altitude above the Clinton area, where the significant Pear Lake wildfire is active. It also flew east over Lake Revelstoke before re-entering U.S. airspace.
NASA’s research focus with the ER-2 aircraft includes studying pyrocumulonimbus clouds, described as one of Earth’s least understood severe weather occurrences. The B.C. Wildfire Service reports that the Pear Lake wildfire, encompassing nearly 1,500 square kilometers, has generated these clouds through extreme smoke and heat, leading to rain, lightning, and fire tornadoes.
The ER-2, a modified Cold War spy plane, is renowned for its high-altitude capabilities, surpassing typical commercial flight altitudes. Equipped with advanced infrared wildfire tracking technology, the aircraft collects crucial data on pyrocumulonimbus clouds. NASA emphasizes the importance of real-time monitoring and mapping of these hazardous storms to improve future forecasting and mitigate potential risks for aviators and fire incidents.