In a breathtaking display of nature's hidden wonders, newly released timelapse footage has captured one of meteorology's most elusive phenomena: vibrant red lightning sprites dancing high above storm clouds.
These transient luminous events occur in the mesosphere, far higher than conventional lightning, creating spectacular crimson tendrils that flash for mere milliseconds. The extraordinary video reveals these electrical discharges appearing like celestial fireworks approximately 80 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Nature's High-Altitude Light Show
Unlike typical lightning that strikes downward towards the ground, sprites shoot upward from the tops of intense thunderstorms. They form when powerful positive lightning between the cloud and ground creates a rapid charge rearrangement in the upper atmosphere.
The resulting electrical breakdown produces these mesmerising red-orange flashes that resemble giant jellyfish or carrots dancing across the sky. Their brief duration - often lasting just one-hundredth of a second - makes capturing them particularly challenging for photographers and scientists alike.
A Meteorological Marvel Revealed
This remarkable footage provides scientists with valuable insights into these poorly understood atmospheric events. Sprites were first documented scientifically in 1989, though pilots had reported seeing mysterious red flashes above storms for decades earlier.
The video showcases multiple sprite occurrences during intense storm activity, their vibrant red colour caused by the excitation of nitrogen molecules in the thin upper atmosphere. Researchers continue to study how these high-altitude electrical phenomena might affect the Earth's atmospheric chemistry and electrical circuit.
For weather enthusiasts and sky-watchers, this footage represents a rare opportunity to witness one of nature's most spectacular - and normally invisible - atmospheric performances.
