What are these strange red flashes photographed above the Himalayas? ⚡

Red flashes illuminated the sky over the Himalayas. This phenomenon, known as red sprites, fascinates scientists with its beauty and complexity.


On May 19, 2022, two Chinese astrophotographers captured over a hundred red sprites above the Himalayas. This observation, made near Lake Pumoyongcuo, revealed an exceptional celestial event, including dancing sprites and rare secondary jets.

Among the recorded phenomena was also the first observation in Asia of a green glow at the base of the night ionosphere. This event attracted worldwide attention and was widely covered by media.

A recent study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences by Professor Gaopeng Lu explains the mechanism behind these 'sprite fireworks'. Researchers identified cloud-to-ground lightning as triggers for these phenomena.

The team developed an innovative method to synchronize videos with satellite trajectories, enabling precise analysis of sprites. This technique has been praised for its potential to assist citizen scientists in their observations.

The initial lightning occurred in a stratiform precipitation area, revealing electrical discharge capabilities comparable to those of the American Great Plains. These discoveries open new perspectives on atmospheric coupling processes.

The Himalayan red sprites represent a striking example of atmospheric phenomena complexity.

What is a red sprite?

Red sprites are electrical discharges that occur above thunderstorms, at altitudes reaching up to 50 miles (80 km). Unlike traditional lightning, they shoot upward toward space and emit characteristic red light.

These phenomena are often associated with high-intensity cloud-to-ground lightning. Their observation is rare due to their brief duration and high atmospheric location.

Red sprites belong to a family of transient luminous phenomena, including blue jets and elves. Their study helps understand interactions between thunderstorms and the ionosphere.

The discovery of red sprites above the Himalayas highlights the importance of observations in extreme geographical regions for atmospheric research.