Astronaut Captures Rare Phenomenon – The Red Sprite
In a groundbreaking discovery, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen recently photographed a rare occurrence known as a red sprite. This unusual event, captured during the Thor-Davis experiment at Danish Technical University, is a significant breakthrough in the study of upper atmospheric lightning.
The Thor-Davis experiment, led by senior researcher Olivier Chanrion, aims to explore the connections between upper atmospheric lightning and its impact on greenhouse gas levels, ultimately affecting global warming. The high-resolution images taken by Mogensen using a specialized camera provide valuable insight into the elusive nature of red sprites, which are estimated to measure around 14 by 26 kilometres.
“The images taken by Andreas are fantastic,” commented Olivier Chanrion in an interview with BBC. “The Davis camera works well and gives us the high temporal resolution necessary to capture the quick processes in the lightning.”
But what exactly is a red sprite? This extraordinary meteorological phenomenon, categorized as a Transient Luminous Event (TLE), occurs above thunderclouds at altitudes between 40 and 80 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. Unlike traditional lightning bolts that descend from the clouds to the ground, a red sprite behaves inversely, ascending into the atmosphere in a form of reverse lightning.
The rapid occurrence of a red sprite, lasting merely a millisecond, poses a significant challenge for scientists seeking to capture and study them comprehensively. These phenomena are mainly visible from space, making them difficult to observe from Earth. Despite these challenges, deeper exploration of their characteristics can provide valuable insights into upper-atmospheric activities and contribute to scientific understanding.
The discovery of the rare red sprite adds to the list of transient luminous events witnessed in the upper atmosphere. Blue jets are another example of such phenomena that continue to intrigue and confound researchers.
With the continued development of technology and space exploration, scientists remain optimistic about gaining a better understanding of these elusive and enigmatic occurrences. The unprecedented images captured by Andreas Mogensen serve as a testament to the progress made in the field of atmospheric science and offer hope for further discoveries in the future.