NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers recently got a beautiful shot of one such sprite. This beautiful Transient Luminous Event (TLE) captured as she was on orbit during Expedition 44, on July 3, 2015, from the International Space Station. This incredible image captures the beauty and complexity of these atmospheric phenomena, which take place high above thunderstorms.
Sprites are short, colorful bursts of light that briefly brighten the mesosphere, around 50 miles (80 kilometers) above Earth’s surface. They usually come out as a fiery red haze and what’s most fascinating are the complex structures that form, like jellyfish, or columns or carrots. Ranging tens of kilometers wide, these glowing occurrences are commonly linked to extreme electrical discharges above our atmosphere.
Understanding Sprites
Sprites are one of the most widely seen varieties of TLEs. They serve as an electrical bridge between the tops of thunderstorm clouds, which are located around 20 kilometers high, and the upper atmosphere, reaching up to 100 kilometers. This unusual phenomenon happens when powerful, red-hot electrical discharges—lightning—produced in the violent updrafts of these thunderstorms, become entrained in other atmospheric conditions.
Initially Ayers thought his observation was a case of something altogether different. Upon closer inspection, additional analysis was done and really it was a sprite after all. The implications of this finding underscore the continuing need to study these phenomena to improve our understanding of atmospheric processes and electrical activity.
The Role of Electrical Activity
Sprites are intimately connected to various phenomena, such as being the celestial cousins to lightning strikes and their attendant electrical discharges. When a lightning bolt strikes the earth, it may create an environment suitable for sprites to form. These luminous flashes deposit huge amounts of electrical charge into the atmosphere, affecting local and global weather systems.
Dr. Burcu Kosar from Rutgers University is the Principal Investigator for the Spritacular project. She is a dedicated sprite chaser and researches their relevance to atmospheric science. Her research seeks to understand a bit more about what causes sprites to deepen our understanding of their relationship to thunderstorms and electrical phenomena.
Implications for Atmospheric Science
Ayers’ image contributes to the growing body of evidence regarding sprites. Yet it shines a light on just how important and essential space-based observations are for extending our scientific knowledge. That said, the International Space Station provides an unparalleled platform for observing and tracking these mysterious occurrences. From this view, scientists can collect vital data that they would never be able to reach from the ground.
As researchers continue to study sprites and other TLEs, they hope to unlock more secrets about Earth’s atmosphere, including insights into storm behavior and climate patterns. Better predicting these phenomena is key to making our weather forecasts more accurate, and saving lives and property from severe weather impacts.