A Broomfield-based NCAR plane is set to fly into firestorm clouds as part of NASA’s INSPYRE mission, aiming to study pyrocumulonimbus storms generated by wildfires. The project, led by the Naval Research Laboratory, involves multiple aircraft and aims to improve understanding of these hazardous weather phenomena.
The INSPYRE mission, part of NASA’s Earth Venture program, marks the first large-scale effort to investigate fire-generated thunderstorms—weather systems that can reach 50,000 feet and spawn lightning, tornadoes, and long-range smoke plumes. A Gulfstream V aircraft operated by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), based near Broomfield, Colorado, will join NASA’s ER-2 plane in collecting data on these storms, which are becoming more frequent as wildfires intensify.
Studying Firestorm Clouds: The INSPYRE Mission’s Objectives
So this phenomenon, it’s kind of a new scientific topic,
said INSPYRE principal investigator Dave Peterson during a media event. It’s not well understood. It’s also not well predicted.
The mission seeks to address these gaps by analyzing how wildfires generate their own weather systems, including the formation of pyrocumulonimbus clouds. These storms can create blind spots for aircraft and ignite new fires, posing risks to both aviation and communities.
Researchers will use advanced sensors to measure cloud droplets, ice crystals, and black carbon particles, which influence smoke plume behavior. Characterizing the particles in general and specifically the black carbon component is important in predicting how the plumes behave long-term,
said Anne Perring, a researcher studying soot aerosols.
One of the mission’s key goals is to improve air quality forecasts and firefighting strategies. Anytime you’re studying fires, you’re trying to learn more about their behavior and what gets them going so that research can really focus on safety and health of the public,
said Cory Wolff, INSPYRE project manager at NCAR. The team hopes insights from the mission will help communities better prepare for wildfire seasons, which have become increasingly severe in Colorado and the West.
Technology and Collaboration in the Field
The NCAR Gulfstream V, equipped with 15 mission-specific instruments, will conduct 100 hours of flights between Wednesday and Sept. 10. The plane’s payload includes radiation sensors and a suite of tools to analyze atmospheric conditions. NASA’s ER-2, based in Montana, will also participate, alongside infrared wildfire trackers developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
The mission’s scope extends beyond immediate data collection. For example, the Snow4Flow campaign, also part of NASA’s Earth Venture program, studies glacier retreat in the Arctic—a region warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Data collected today can help guide communities on the front lines of change.
Researchers emphasize the importance of airborne remote sensing, which bridges gaps between ground-based instruments and satellite data. This approach allows scientists to gather high-resolution data in real time, crucial for understanding dynamic weather systems like firestorms.
Implications for Science and Public Safety
The INSPYRE mission’s findings could reshape how wildfires are managed and predicted. By mapping the behavior of fire-generated storms, scientists aim to enhance weather models and emergency response plans. We’re hoping that down the road, what comes out of this can really start to have impacts for the people here because we live with it most summers,
Wolff said.
As wildfires become more frequent and intense, understanding their atmospheric effects is critical for protecting both ecosystems and human health. The mission’s focus on black carbon and particulate matter aligns with broader efforts to monitor pollution sources, such as the FarmFlux and HAMAQ projects, which study agricultural emissions and urban air quality.
With its mix of cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary collaboration, INSPYRE represents a significant step forward in wildfire science. The data collected this summer will not only advance academic understanding but also inform practical strategies for mitigating the risks posed by increasingly extreme fire seasons. As Peterson noted, And so we’ve assembled a very large group of scientists from many different agencies, universities and other collaborators to tackle this challenge.
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