Peru95 - sprite observations over the upper Amazon

The first video images of red sprites obtained over the upper Amazon region are shown in this short clip produced following a research aircraft campaign conducted by the University of Alaska in 1995. The views are from the right side of the aircraft, with the wing pod (extra fuel tank) visible in the LR corner. The scientific results were (a) red sprites were essentially identical to those imaged in the U.S. by the same team the previous summer, (b) there is no discernible influence by the local geomagnetic field, which is nearly horizontal at these latitudes, and (c) the first recorded optical spectra of St. Elmo's fire (near the end of the clip). The St. Elmos's fire enveloped the entire plane, and there was some anxiety felt when aircraft charging produced several discharges that struck the wing tank. [For a scientific report of the St. Elmo's fire observations see Wescott et al. (1996), "The optical spectrum of aircraft St. Elmo's fire", Geophys. Res. Lett., 23(25), pp 3687-3690.]

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• sprites
• lightning
• St. Elmo's Fire

[GedLuxto]

sorry if its a bit off topic, iv recently become fascinated by st elmos fire, but could you please tell me the name of the song you used at the begiining of this video? i love it!

[Eastview605]

@GedLuxto There are two pieces of traditional Peruvian pan pipes music in this video. The one at the beginning is titled "Regueando" and picks up at about 25 sec into the piece. The tune that ends the clip is titled "Correvuela" and picks up at about 1:07 into the piece. Both of these tunes were taken from the music CD "Music From the Andes," Delta Music Inc., 1993.

[Eastview605]

@GedLuxto Slight correction to my previous post: The correct spelling is "Rengueando."

[MCOvronnaz]

It seems that Saint Elmo's fire provoked electrical discharges, was that true?

20 SPRITES IN 2 FLIGHTS??? That's simply AMAZING, sprites are very rare to find, and aren't quite studied, yet...

Nice vid! *****

[Eastview605]

@MCOvronnaz. The St. Elmo's fire appeared to be produced by aircraft charging when we were flying through ice particles in a cirrus cloud. It's not clear what relationship this had to lightning discharge, but your question is a good one, namely, could the lightning discharge have been triggered by a charged aircraft in the absence of a charge center such as in a thundercloud that is usually responsible for lightning? We don't know, but it's a great question definitely worth thinking about.

[Eastview605]

@MCOvronnaz (cont). Also, sprites aren't really that rare, it turns out. Originally it was thought they were, but it has subsequently been determined that they occur above most large mesoscale convective systems (MCS), whether in the U.S., S. America, Africa, or Asia. A large MCS can generate dozens, even hundreds, of sprites. We didn't know this in 1995, but satellite studies have since confirmed this. Worldwide there is a sprite popping off somewhere at a rate of several per minute..

[fourwindsoh]

Cool. I wanna see Saint Elmo's fire too.

[thearchergravity]

Far and away the BEST video on this subject. Great footage not just stills. Video even tells you where to watch!

[kalarr1389]

my grandpa has had this happen to him on a couple of planes that he flew....said that at one point, there would be an actual ball/strobe of static floating around in the cabin and the aisles...some as large as 3 feet in diameter....you could poke your finger in it and it would make your hair stand on end.......freaked some of the greener flight attendants, who ran screaming down the aisle....would love to see this with my own eyes haha...

[panzuman]

st elmos fire kindof resembles upward streamers. those are the lighting bolts from the ground that meet up with the one from the sky

[MCOvronnaz]

Yeah!... I get your point, now *thumbs-up*... "Sexy curves"!....

ROFLMAO

[robinheil]

I agree with you.. but I dunno... the sexy curves of those fires..... ;)