If You See a 'Jellyfish' in the Sky, Find a Safe Place

Start writing...If You See a ‘Jellyfish’ in the Sky, Find a Safe Place


During certain nights when the atmosphere above a severe thunderstorm becomes clear, you may witness various forms of lightning flashes that resemble mythical creatures such as elves, gnomes, trolls, or blue jets. However, this reference to fairy tales is irrelevant, as these are merely different classifications of lightning phenomena occurring at high altitudes above powerful thunderstorm clouds.

Let us focus on "red sprites" as an example. These are fleeting bursts of light that materialize above thunderstorms in clusters. They are infrequent because they are exclusively generated by a specific type of lightning known as positive cloud-to-ground strikes. During a lightning discharge, a positive charge is transferred from a thundercloud to the ground. It is essential to note that these types of lightning strikes constitute only 10% of the overall occurrences.

For more than fifty years, red sprites were largely dismissed as urban legends, despite sporadic sightings by individuals. The brevity of these flashes prevented observers from sharing this phenomenon with others in real-time. Even when respected scientists or pilots discussed red sprites, the scientific community largely disregarded their significance. It was not until 1989 that researchers from the University of Minnesota managed to capture red sprites on film, sparking global interest. Consequently, videos and photographs of red sprites circulated worldwide.

Red sprites often commence as ionized airballs measuring approximately 328 ft, descending at speeds of 10% the velocity of light from altitudes of about 50 miles. Researchers have been diligently investigating not only the lightning bolts that descend from tumultuous clouds but also the vibrant flashes ascending into space. Electricity stretches upward to the electrically charged ionosphere while simultaneously descending towards the Earth's surface. Remarkably, red sprites exhibit diverse configurations, including the remarkable appearance of colossal, jellyfish-shaped sprites, covering substantial areas of up to 30 square miles. Other variations include carrot sprites or column sprites, which bear resemblances but differ in the presence of long tendrils. Carrot sprites typically possess blue lower tendrils and red upper tendrils.

On August 22nd, 2022, breathtaking photographs of red sprite streaks were captured above the Atacama Desert in Chile. Notably, these sprites were accompanied by a larger greenish glow known as "airglow." Airglow can only be observed clearly when there is minimal light pollution. Such pollution, resulting from excessive artificial lighting, obstructs our ability to view stars and other celestial bodies in the night sky. The phenomenon of airglow materializes when sunlight dislodges electrons from atoms of nitrogen and oxygen in our atmosphere during the daytime and subsequently recombines with these electrons, causing a glowing effect.

To witness a red sprite, the following conditions are necessary: locating a significant thunderstorm (more common in summer and spring, particularly during June), clear and exceptionally dark skies, with minimal interference from moonlight, and proximity to the storm, roughly 100 to 200 miles, to ensure unobstructed visibility above the cloud tops. It is advantageous if the storm is situated on the distant horizon, enabling comprehensive observation of phenomena. Tracking the storm using weather radar can aid in determining its trajectory. Allow your eyes to adapt to the darkness for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Maintain focus above the clouds while consciously avoiding direct gaze at the lightning flashes. A red sprite may materialize once for every 200 lightning strikes but capturing it on camera is challenging. Nevertheless, the awe-inspiring visual experience alone is often rewarding.

It is pertinent to acknowledge other transient luminous events (TLEs) associated with lightning phenomena, such as blue jets. These phenomena manifest as faint blue lights rapidly ascending, reminiscent of a puff of smoke, above severe hailstorms. Blue jets are also exceedingly rare, typically visible only from an aircraft.

Lastly, let us touch upon the references to mythical creatures. In the context of lightning flashes, "elves" denote brief, dim discs of light situated approximately 60 meters above the atmosphere. The acronym ELF stands for "emissions of light and very low-frequency perturbations due to electromagnetic pulse sources." Referring to "trolls," they represent red spots that emerge near cloud tops following intense red sprites. "Gnomes" refer to tiny, fast pulses of white light emanating from the pinnacle of towering thundercloud anvils. An anviled cloud formation appears elongated and protrudes above a tumultuous storm. It propagates in sync with upper-level winds. Gnomes persist for mere microseconds. Lastly, "ball lightning" manifests as fiery orbs, ranging in size from that of a golf ball to a significantly larger beach ball.