Rare Red Sprites Captured Over Mediterranean Storms
Multiple photographers captured rare red sprites, high-altitude electrical discharges, above thunderstorms in the Mediterranean region. These transient luminous events occur 40-90 km above Earth, lasting milliseconds, and were first confirmed on video in 1989.
Key points
- Florian Riou photographed red sprites from Corsica, viewing storms 600 km away in Catalonia.
- Yohan Laurito captured similar flashes near Brignoles, France, linked to storms between Spain and Catalonia.
- Red sprites occur in the mesosphere, 40-90 km above Earth, lasting only milliseconds.
- The phenomenon was first confirmed on video in 1989 after decades of pilot reports.
- NASA’s Spritacular project and ISS astronauts continue to document these events globally.
Background
Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) include red sprites, blue jets, and other forms. First described in 1886 and modeled in the 1920s, they were dismissed by meteorologists until accidental video footage in 1989 proved their existence. Recent discoveries suggest similar events occur in Jupiter’s atmosphere.
How outlets are covering it
Defector emphasizes the awe and mystery of TLEs, noting their historical dismissal and current beauty. NDTV and India Today focus on the specific recent captures in France and the Mediterranean, highlighting the difficulty of observing them. Futura provides scientific context, explaining the mechanism of nitrogen excitation and the role of NASA’s Spritacular project in gathering data. All sources agree on the altitude and transient nature of the events but differ in emphasis: Defector on wonder, NDTV/India Today on the specific photographic event, and Futura on the scientific validation and ongoing research.
Why it matters
These captures provide visual confirmation of upper-atmosphere electrical activity that was long debated. They help scientists understand the link between ground lightning and high-altitude phenomena, contributing to knowledge of atmospheric chemistry and radio signal impacts.
What to watch
NASA’s Spritacular project will continue to use citizen-science images to track sprite frequency and impact. Astronauts on the ISS will keep documenting these events from orbit, providing clearer data free from ground-level distortion.
- There Is Some Mighty Weird Stuff Going On Up There Defector
- Watch: Rare Red Sprites Flash Above Thunderstorm In France, Photographer Captures Stunning Moment NDTV
- In 1989, researchers testing a camera in Minnesota accidentally filmed red flashes above a storm. Nobody had ever recorded them before Futura, le média qui explore le monde
- Giant pillars of light seen falling from skies over Spain amid thunderstorms India Today
- Red "Jellyfish" in the Sky: Giant Red Lightning Flared Over Corsica – Photos of a Rare Phenomenon Судово-юридична газета
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