Red Lightning Unveiled: 15 Shocking Discoveries That Will Electrify Your Mind!

3. Ruby Elves: Miniature Red Lightning in the Upper Atmosphere

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Ruby elves, so named for their diminutive scale and strong red hue, are an interesting subset of red lightning events. Usually at heights of 80 to 100 kilometres, these little electrical discharges occur even higher in the sky than in sprites. Though they are little, elves pack a strong punch; some of the highest energy densities seen in any atmospheric electrical event. Unlike the vertical columns of sprites, elves show up as fast growing rings of red light, frequently with diameters of up to 400 kilometres in less than a millisecond. Their amazing speed makes them among the most difficult forms of red lightning to investigate; they call for sophisticated detection tools and specialised high-speed cameras. Recent studies have shown that strong lightning strikes produce electromagnetic pulses closely linked with elves. These pulses interact with the ionosphere to provide a transient but strong heating effect producing the distinctive red glow. By helping to control the flow of charged particles between the ionosphere and the earth, scientists have also found that elves might be absolutely essential in preserving the electromagnetic environment of Earth. Researchers are investigating the effects of ruby elves on radio wave propagation, satellite communications, even aurora borealis behaviour as our knowledge of them develops.