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. Flight tracking data revealed that the ER-2 plane flew multiple times over B.C.’s southern Interior on Saturday for over six hours, originating from Great Falls, Montana.
During the flight, 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 also traversed east over Lake Revelstoke before returning to U.S. airspace.
NASA’s research focuses on pyrocumulonimbus clouds, described as one of the least understood severe weather phenomena on Earth. These clouds, formed by intense smoke and heat from wildfires, can lead to the development of rain, lightning, and fire tornadoes.
The ER-2, a modified Cold War spy plane also known as the U-2, has achieved altitude flight records double that of commercial flights. Equipped with advanced infrared wildfire trackers, the aircraft collects crucial data on pyrocumulonimbus clouds. NASA emphasizes the importance of monitoring these storms in real-time to enhance future forecasting capabilities and mitigate potential risks for aviators and fire outbreaks.
[Image: The flight path of NASA’s ER-2 Earth Resources aircraft flight over British Columbia on Saturday, Aug. 8, as tracked by Flightradar24. (The Canadian Press/Flightradar24)]
NASA’s proactive approach in studying these unique weather patterns aims to improve understanding and preparedness for similar events in the future.