A NASA high-altitude research aircraft conducted flights over the wildfires in British Columbia over the weekend to enhance understanding of the weather phenomena generated by large fires. Aviation tracking data revealed that the ER-2 plane flew multiple times over B.C.’s southern Interior on an over six-hour flight originating from Great Falls, Montana. Specifically, it spent around four hours hovering at an altitude of 60,000 feet above the Clinton region, where the significant Pear Lake wildfire is active. The aircraft also flew east over Lake Revelstoke before returning to U.S. airspace.
NASA’s mission with the ER-2 aircraft focuses on studying pyrocumulonimbus clouds, described as a poorly understood severe weather phenomenon on Earth. The B.C. Wildfire Service noted that the Pear Lake wildfire, covering nearly 1,500 square kilometers, has produced these clouds through intense smoke and heat, leading to rain, lightning, and fire tornadoes.
The ER-2, a modified Cold War spy plane known as the U-2, has a history of conducting high-altitude flights, surpassing the typical altitude of commercial flights. Equipped with advanced infrared wildfire trackers, the aircraft gathers crucial data on pyrocumulonimbus clouds. NASA emphasizes that these storm systems, characterized by smoke and lightning, can pose risks to aviators and ignite new fires. By monitoring and mapping these storms in real-time, scientists aim to improve future forecasting capabilities.
The flight path of NASA’s ER-2 over British Columbia on Saturday, Aug. 8, was captured by Flightradar24, showcasing the research mission’s trajectory and coverage.