7. Blue Gigantic Jets: Bridging the Gap to Space
Among all blue lightning events, blue giant jets are maybe the most amazing and unusual ones. Rising to altitudes of up to 90 kilometres, these large electrical discharges span the tops of thunderclouds all the way up to the ionosphere. Basically connecting the troposphere and the ionosphere, gigantic jets are a mix of blue jets and sprites.
At their base, where the electrical discharge interacts with nitrogen molecules in the denser lower atmosphere, blue is most vivid in giant jets. Due to interactions with various atmospheric gases at higher altitudes, the jet may change in colour from blue to purple as it rises.
With just a few dozen known observations globally, giant jets are rather unusual. Usually occurring above oceanic thunderstorms, they are thought to be important in the worldwide electrical circuit since they move a lot of charge between the lower and higher atmosphere.
8. Blue Streamers: The Building Blocks of Lightning
Blue streamers are a basic component of many blue lightning episodes rather than a separate kind of lightning phenomena. Initially, these tiny, ionised channels of air create the paths for electrical discharges in the environment. Regarding blue lightning, these streamers can show up as weak, branching blue light tendrils.
These streamers’ blue hue results from the high electric fields found in thunderstorms ionising nitrogen molecules. Electrons removed from nitrogen atoms emit blue light when they recombine. Many lightning events can be seen with the distinct blue glow produced by this process.
Comprehending the greater-scale blue lightning episodes requires an awareness of the creation and behaviour of blue streamers. The more spectacular shows of blue jets, sprites, and other events that inspire our imagination are derived from these little mechanisms.