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

9. Carmine Pillars: Towering Columns of Red Electrical Activity

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One of the most strikingly beautiful varieties of red lightning found thus far is carmine pillar. Rising from the top of thunderclouds up to altitudes of 70 km or more, these events show as tall columns of strong red light. Unlike the more scattered look of sprites or elves, carmine pillars have a rather narrow, cylindrical form all along their vertical extent. Strong electrical currents excite nitrogen molecules, which results in the deep red hue giving these pillars their name. The great stability and duration of carmine pillars distinguishes them from other kinds of red lightning. Although most high atmospheric electrical events pass in only milliseconds, carmine pillars have been seen to remain for several seconds, enabling more thorough studies. Recent studies have shown that the vertical movement of energy and charge in the atmosphere depends much on these pillars. Strong electromagnetic fields produced by carmine pillars have been found by scientists, perhaps affecting many different kinds of atmospheric processes. Given their ability to let trace gases and aerosols move throughout several levels of the atmosphere, some scientists even hypothesise that these events might have consequences for climate science.