Red sprite electrical storm, artwork. This sequence of artworks, from left to right, shows the formation of a red sprite (right) above a thunderstorm

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Red sprite electrical storm, artwork. This sequence of artworks, from left to right, shows the formation of a red sprite (right) above a thunderstorm (left). Red sprites are faint optical effects caused by the effects of the lightning in the storm below. They can rise to heights of 97 kilometres, reaching the bottom of the ionosphere and the edge of space. They last only for a few thousandths of a second, and are only visible under the right conditions. A similar phenomenon, called blue jets, has also been observed emerging from the tops of thunderstorms.

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Size: 5313px × 1648px
Photo credit: © MIKKEL JUUL JENSEN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: artwork, atmosphere, atmospheric, blue, climate, cloud, clouds, creation, diagram, edge, effect, effects, electrical, electricity, energy, formation, formed, forming, generated, generating, glowing, illustration, ionosphere, jet, light, lightning, meteorological, meteorology, optical, origin, phenomena, phenomenon, produced, producing, red, science, sequence, series, space, sparking, sprite, storm, storms, thunderstorm, weather