Scientists have finally explained a bizarre “red lightning” phenomenon spotted over the Himalayas in 2022. The display of “red sprites” was triggered by thunderstorms in the region, which can produce complex electrical discharges.
Researchers analyzed photos and videos of the event to determine the driving force behind it. They found that the red sprites were caused by high-peak current positive cloud-to-ground lightning strikes within a massive convective system spanning over 200,000 square kilometers.
The study suggests that thunderstorms in the Himalayan region have the potential to produce some of the most complex and intense upper-atmospheric electrical discharges on Earth. The findings hint that storms in the region may generate even more complex discharge structures like the red sprites.
The research was published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, with study co-author Gaopeng Lu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences calling the event “truly remarkable”.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/himalayas-red-lightning-mystery-phenomenon-b2717723.html