Stories
Mysterious Giant Red Sprites Light Up the Skies Above Spain
- •French photographer Florian Riou captured stunning images of rare red sprites glowing above the Mediterranean Sea off the Spanish coast.
- •Red sprites are a type of Transient Luminous Events occurring high in the atmosphere at altitudes between 50 and 90 kilometres.
- •The glowing red pillars and jellyfish-like shapes are caused by excited nitrogen molecules reacting to intense lightning strikes happening underneath them.
- •These atmospheric flashes last only a few milliseconds, making them extremely difficult to observe with the naked eye or capture on camera.
- •First photographed accidentally in 1989, sprites pose no danger to people on the ground and occur far above normal aircraft cruising altitudes.
Key Questions Answered
Red sprites are a natural atmospheric occurrence classified as Transient Luminous Events, taking place high in the atmosphere at heights of 50 to 90 kilometres. Unlike regular lightning that occurs within clouds or between clouds and the ground, sprites are triggered by intense lightning strikes underneath them that alter electric fields and excite nitrogen molecules.
Red sprites occur high up in the atmosphere at altitudes of roughly 50 to 90 kilometres. Their characteristic red colour is mainly a result of excited nitrogen molecules in the air emitting light when energized by powerful electrical storms below.
Although pilots reported sprites for decades, scientists did not obtain the first photographic evidence until 1989, when researchers at the University of Minnesota accidentally recorded one. Since then, high-speed cameras, satellites, and the International Space Station have aided further observation.
