NASA Campaign Explores Clouds Spawned by Wildfires

NASA's INSPYRE campaign focused on identifying and studying pyrocumulonimbus clouds – also referred to as pyroCbs – generated by wildfires. The team specifically targeted the Wildhorse grass fire in eastern Idaho during its peak activity throughout July and August of 2023. Scientists observed the wildfire producing a significant pulse of smoke which then evolved into a complex, towering cloud structure. This pyroCb demonstrated an ability to rapidly transport heat and momentum vertically within the atmosphere. Researchers utilized specialized instruments to gather data about the formation, evolution, and impacts of these dangerous weather events associated with large-scale fires.