Sprites, Blue Jets, and Elves What’s On the Other Side of the Storm

What Are They? RSprites, Blue Jets and Elves are upper- atmospheric lightning recently discovered in RThey are formed when the electric field of thunderstorms generates ambient electrons, causing them to impact one another and create optical emissions only visible from 100s of miles away. RSprites, Blue Jets and Elves are upper- atmospheric lightning recently discovered in RThey are formed when the electric field of thunderstorms generates ambient electrons, causing them to impact one another and create optical emissions only visible from 100s of miles away.

Where They Form

Sprites RThese form at ~70km altitude and move both upward and downward from their origination point. RSprites usually occur during the dying stages of a thunderstorm, and are frequent with large cloud-to-ground lightning strikes. RAlthough Sprites have a weak electromagnetic emission, they can reach up to 100km tall, sometimes breaking the ozone barrier. RThese form at ~70km altitude and move both upward and downward from their origination point. RSprites usually occur during the dying stages of a thunderstorm, and are frequent with large cloud-to-ground lightning strikes. RAlthough Sprites have a weak electromagnetic emission, they can reach up to 100km tall, sometimes breaking the ozone barrier.

Blue Jets RBlue Jets do not occur because of cloud-to-ground lightning, but interestingly are frequent during hail storms. RThey reach ~35km altitude with an upward velocity of 112km/s (Geophysical Institute, Heavener, Moudry, Sentman and Wescott). RIt is argued that because of its intense velocity, blue jets emanate from the center of thunderstorms, but this claim is widely disputed (Science and Technology News). RBlue Jets do not occur because of cloud-to-ground lightning, but interestingly are frequent during hail storms. RThey reach ~35km altitude with an upward velocity of 112km/s (Geophysical Institute, Heavener, Moudry, Sentman and Wescott). RIt is argued that because of its intense velocity, blue jets emanate from the center of thunderstorms, but this claim is widely disputed (Science and Technology News).

Larger View of Blue Jet

Elves RE.l.v.e.s stands for Emissions of Light and VLF perturbations due to EMP Sources (Fukunishi et al., 1995). RThese generally occur above thunderstorms, both in conjunction with sprites and alone. RAt an altitude of km, they are located higher than sprites, and can span horizontally as much as 530km (Heavener, Matthew 2000) RE.l.v.e.s stands for Emissions of Light and VLF perturbations due to EMP Sources (Fukunishi et al., 1995). RThese generally occur above thunderstorms, both in conjunction with sprites and alone. RAt an altitude of km, they are located higher than sprites, and can span horizontally as much as 530km (Heavener, Matthew 2000)

What’s the Big Deal? RI had two main questions: 1)How much electromagnetic energy do these forms of lightning put out? 2)Does the electromagnetic energy have any effect on the ozone layer, and if so, what does that mean for global warming? RI had two main questions: 1)How much electromagnetic energy do these forms of lightning put out? 2)Does the electromagnetic energy have any effect on the ozone layer, and if so, what does that mean for global warming?

Sprite, Blue Jet and Elves Electromagnetic Emissions ROn the whole,red spectral observations (sprites) showed an emission of nm. RBlue Jets were stronger, emitting anywhere from nm, showing a higher energy process was at stake. (Heavener, Matthew 2000) ROn the whole,red spectral observations (sprites) showed an emission of nm. RBlue Jets were stronger, emitting anywhere from nm, showing a higher energy process was at stake. (Heavener, Matthew 2000) RCircular Elves are so short lived that they are deemed less important energetically that sprites and jets (aww).

So, What About Global Warming and the Ozone?

Whaa, wha, whaaaaaa! RActually, the technical explanation gets into some atmospheric chemistry models, none of which I am familiar with… RBut, I can say that the amount of electromagnetic energy put out by these 3 millisecond bursts are not enough to battle the sun once it comes up. RHowever, since this is a new field of study for chemists and meteorologists alike, these tiny changes in the climate system’s initial conditions might add up to a problem in the long run, especially if global warming increases the incidences of strong electrical storms, thus create more sprites, blue jets, and elves. RActually, the technical explanation gets into some atmospheric chemistry models, none of which I am familiar with… RBut, I can say that the amount of electromagnetic energy put out by these 3 millisecond bursts are not enough to battle the sun once it comes up. RHowever, since this is a new field of study for chemists and meteorologists alike, these tiny changes in the climate system’s initial conditions might add up to a problem in the long run, especially if global warming increases the incidences of strong electrical storms, thus create more sprites, blue jets, and elves.

My Conclusion: They ROCK!

Sources RAmato, Ivan. “Sprites Trigger Sky-High Chemistry.”Chemical and Engineering News. 20 Mar, Vol 84. RBarrington-Leigh, C.P., Bell, T.F.,Cummer, S.A., Inan, U.S. “Elf Radiation Produced by Electrical Currents in Sprites.”Space, Telecommunications and Radioscience Laboratory, Stanford University. Stanford, CA. Geophysical Research Letters,15 Apr Vol 25, No. 8 RHeavener, Matthew J., Moudry, Dana R., Sentman, Davis D., Wescott, Eugene M. “Sprites, Blue Jets, and Elves: Optical Evidence of Energy Transport Across the Stratopause.” Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks. 19 Sept, Vol 5. RAmato, Ivan. “Sprites Trigger Sky-High Chemistry.”Chemical and Engineering News. 20 Mar, Vol 84. RBarrington-Leigh, C.P., Bell, T.F.,Cummer, S.A., Inan, U.S. “Elf Radiation Produced by Electrical Currents in Sprites.”Space, Telecommunications and Radioscience Laboratory, Stanford University. Stanford, CA. Geophysical Research Letters,15 Apr Vol 25, No. 8 RHeavener, Matthew J., Moudry, Dana R., Sentman, Davis D., Wescott, Eugene M. “Sprites, Blue Jets, and Elves: Optical Evidence of Energy Transport Across the Stratopause.” Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks. 19 Sept, Vol 5.