One of nature’s most elusive but stunningly colorful light displays has been captured in all its glory, high in the atmosphere above Oklahoma. The lightning-like electrical discharge is known as a jellyfish or column sprite.
The jellyfish sprites were photographed by Paul Smith in Anadarko, west of Oklahoma City, and about 100 miles (about 160km) southeast of a big storm last week.
Sprites are electrical discharges that can be triggered by a strong bolt of lightning near the ground. They are believed to be a balancing mechanism that the atmosphere uses to dispense charges.
They occur above storms, high in the mesosphere, which is higher over Earth than where shooting stars and meteors burn.
Sprites come in jellyfish and column shapes, and the jellyfish ones can be a massive 30 miles (48km) wide, making them far larger than lightning. However, they only last less than a tenth of a second.
The strange phenomenon was a mystery until 1989. Pilots had reported seeing the strange pink lights, but it wasn’t until one was accidentally photographed that scientists were able to confirm their existence.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!