3. Blue Jets
Another amazing and unusual kind of meteorological event, blue jets differ from other kinds of lightning in their upward direction. Blue jets, originating from the tops of thunderstorm clouds, soar into the stratosphere to reach heights of up to thirty miles. Their blue colour and narrow, cone-shaped beams define them; these are thought to be derived from nitrogen emissions in the high atmosphere. Blue jets travel upward, a behaviour not yet entirely understood unlike conventional lightning that strikes downhill. Pilots first noticed the phenomenon, and since then high-altitude research planes have been able to record important data for scientists. Still, the precise processes behind blue jets remain enigmatic; several ideas point to a connection to the atmospheric electrical breakdown above thunderstorms. Blue jets present a rare chance to investigate the intricate interactions between thunderstorms and the high atmosphere, but their rarity and erratic nature make study difficult. Hoping to solve the riddles of this fascinating natural occurrence, researchers keep looking at the circumstances under which blue jets develop.