A NASA high-altitude research plane conducted flights over the wildfires in British Columbia over the weekend to enhance the understanding of weather phenomena resulting from significant fires. Flight tracking data revealed that the ER-2 aircraft flew multiple times over southern Interior B.C. on Saturday, covering a distance of over six hours starting from Great Falls, Montana. During the mission, the plane spent about four hours at an altitude of 60,000 feet above the Clinton area, where the extensive Pear Lake wildfire is active, before heading east over Lake Revelstoke and returning to U.S. airspace.
NASA’s research focus with the ER-2 aircraft is on pyrocumulonimbus clouds, described as one of the least comprehended severe weather occurrences on Earth. These clouds, generated by extreme smoke and heat from wildfires like the Pear Lake fire, can lead to the formation of rain, lightning, and fire tornadoes, as stated by the B.C. Wildfire Service. The Pear Lake wildfire, covering nearly 1,500 square kilometers, has been a significant source of these unique weather conditions.
The ER-2 aircraft, a modified version of the Cold War-era U-2 spy plane, is renowned for its high-altitude capabilities, surpassing commercial flight altitudes by a significant margin. Fitted with advanced infrared wildfire tracking systems, the aircraft collects crucial data on pyrocumulonimbus clouds. NASA emphasizes the importance of monitoring these storms in real-time to improve forecasting accuracy and mitigate potential risks to aviators and fire management efforts.