The existence of elusive electrical discharges in the upper atmosphere, known by intriguing names like red sprites, blue jets, pixies, and elves, has been a subject of debate for years.
Astronaut Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency (ESA) recently documented rare thunder phenomena as part of the Thor-Davis experiment during his Huginn mission at the International Space Station.
Credit ESA – Learn more including video of the phenomenon
Among his remarkable captures was a red sprite, a type of Transient Luminous Event (TLE), occurring above thunderclouds at an altitude ranging from 40 to 80 kilometers. Scientists estimate the red sprite’s dimensions to be approximately 14 by 26 kilometers.
In a previous instance in 2015, Mogensen also successfully recorded kilometer-wide blue flashes at an altitude of around 18 kilometers, including a pulsating blue jet reaching up to 40 kilometers.
Credit ESA – Learn more including video of the phenomenon
This atmospheric phenomenon remains poorly understood, constituting a mysterious aspect of our atmosphere. Electrical storms extending into the stratosphere not only contribute to the fascination of these events but also bear implications for our understanding of how the atmosphere shields us from radiation.
