Sprites imaged at 1000 fps

Sprites observed from Wyoming Infrared Observatory on August 18, 1999. The altitude scale on the right is correct - sprites span the altitude range 50-90 km above thunderstorms. The parent storm for these events was about 300 km to the east, over Nebraska.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• sprites
• lightning
• space

[izlude2]

suppose someone were "in there"... would they fry to a crisp?

[Eastview605]

@izlude2 No. The actual temperature increase of the air inside a sprite is on the order of 1/100 of a degree or so. The total energy in a moderately large sprite, which is typically distributed over a volume of a few thousand cubic km, isn't much more than the caloric equivalent of a few dozen jelly donuts.

[qpwoeirutyaaa]

question, Does plasma reside within these sprites?

[Eastview605]

Yes, but the medium is only very weakly ionized - the fraction of ionization is ~1e-8, not dissimilar to that of the weak plasma in fluorescent discharge tubes. However, the electron density combined with the strength of the transient electric field is sufficient to excite some of the molecules (N2 and O2) to optical fluorescence. That's why we can detect them optically. However, the duration is very short, about 1/100 sec, a transient flash.

[watchnasatvcom]

Thanks for posting this. Hauntingly beautiful. Is the glow at 90000Km associated with the subsequent sprites?

[Eastview605]

The diffuse glow region at the tops of the sprites is due to electron impact excitation of N2, part of the sprite itself. The broader diffuse background at ~75-80 km is also electron impact-produced, part of what's called s "sprite halo." A sprite halo is a sort of precursor to sprites. Where it is strongest and exceeds the threshold for streamer formation is the ignition point for the sprite to develop. Where it fails to exceed breakdown threshold there's only the transient glow.

[teentitans0789]

can anyone find this episode from natgeo ANYWHRE?? please please help i can't find it and it's fucking amazing.

[quaxk]

earth plasma ball

[vatacom]

I would comment, but I'm too afraid of saying something stupid...So I'll just attribute it to alien sneezes.

[Dragonfree97]

Someone try and put one in a box.

[lexagon]

For what? Plasma is rather commonplace. Everyday things like fluorescent lamps generate plasma.

[ActiveStorage]

looks like they originate in the upper atmosphere and then go down

[spartenxa]

Hmm..i wonder if scientists could somehow "siphen" out the plasma and use it??