Scientific American - USA (2020-03)

38 Scientific American, March 2020

THE

HIDDEN

TOLL

OF

WILDFIRE

AS BLAZES WORSEN

GLOBALLY, AN

AERIAL CAMPAIGN

SEEKS TO

UNDERSTAND HOW

EMISSIONS AFFECT

HUMAN HEALTH

By Kyle Dickman

CHEMISTRY

FROM THE COCKPIT of nasa’s DC-8,

a pilot views the Ridgetop Fire in Mon -

tana. Onboard, scientists and engineers

collect data on emissions as they fly

through and downwind of the plume.

Photographs by Matt Nager

© 2020 Scientific American