By Brian Lada, AccuWeather 4/24/2019
A rare and elusive weather phenomenon was photographed last weekend in the central United States as severe thunderstorms swept across the region.
When lightning occurs, it usually either dances through the clouds of a thunderstorm or strikes the ground, but when conditions are right, a certain type of lightning bolt can extend well above the thunderstorm itself. This type of lightning is known as a "sprite."
The red color of the sprites is believed to be caused by the interaction between the sprites and nitrogen in the atmosphere, according to the University of Washington. This is why they are also known as "red sprites."
"Red sprites are short-lived, red flashes that occur about 80 kilometers (50 miles) up in the atmosphere. With long, vertical tendrils like a jellyfish, these electrical discharges can extend 20 to 30 kilometers up into the atmosphere and are connected to thunderstorms and lightning,†NASA reported.
To put their size into perspective, most commercial jets fly at a cruising altitude of around 7 or 8 miles, just a fraction of the altitude of where sprites occur in the atmosphere.
This rare phenomenon was captured by nature photographer Paul Smith on two occasions over the past week when severe thunderstorms rumbled over the central U.S. Smith has been specializing in night photography since 2015, capturing mesmerizing images of the aurora, thunderstorms at night and red sprites.
More:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/photographer-captures-breathtaking-images-of-rare-and-elusive-weather-phenomenon/70008073
