Red sprites in the sky

In the Northern hemisphere in the midst of a season of thunderstorms. This means that now is an excellent time for observations of sprites. Paul Smith took this picture on July 14.

He said that was at the Kaw lake in Oklahoma, when the sprites started to beat up from the storm clouds. He was 225 km from the storm that has been raging in Kansas. The map shows the location of his camera (blue icon) and direction (blue arrow).

Sprites are "exotic" form of lightning, which flies from the storm up, not down. Although sprites have been observed for at least a century, most scientists did not believe that they exist until 1989 when sprites were photographed by cameras on Board the spacecraft. Now "hunters sprites" regularly photographing them. As they appear over the tops of storm clouds, the best distance for observation is provided the camera may be aimed in that direction and up.

In recent years, many fans take pictures of the sprites in record numbers. One of the reasons is the increased knowledge. More photographers know about sprites, and therefore the photos become more. Another reason could be the increase of activity of sprites. Some researchers believe that they are associated with cosmic rays — subatomic particles from outer space strike the upper part of the Earth's atmosphere, producing secondary electrons which starts the sprites. If this is true, the sprites in the next time may be more, since the intensity of cosmic radiation increases from the decline of the solar cycle.

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»