With good cause, crimson sprites are maybe the most well-known type of red lightning. Usually at heights between 50 and 90 km, these ethereal, vertical columns of crimson light seem far above thunderstorms. Originally taken in 1989, sprites have now attracted close scientific investigation giving a plethora of data on high atmospheric energy. These transient events take place in the mesosphere, a part of the atmosphere whose inaccessibility has made research of rather challenging. Strong positive cloud-to- ground lightning strikes sets out sprites, which can span tens of kilometres in vertical extent. Their unique branching patterns—often compared to those of jellyfish or carrots—result from the intricate interaction between atmospheric density at high altitudes and electrical field. According to recent studies, sprites are rather important in the worldwide electrical circuit since they enable charge transmission between the lower and upper atmosphere. Furthermore, researchers have found that sprites can affect mesosphere chemistry, therefore influencing other atmospheric processes including ozone concentrations. Researchers are creating fresh hypotheses regarding the generation, spread, and consequences on the larger atmospheric system as our knowledge of red sprites keeps expanding.
