Mysterious lightning of incredible power attacked the Earth in 2017, becoming the heroes of numerous videos.
Researchers have discovered a new form of upper atmospheric lightning, the power of which is several times higher than all previously known.
Back in the 1980s, scientists were amazed when they discovered sprites - glowing red shapes that form against a backdrop of violent electrical storms. Their shape resembled strange tentacles that extend practically beyond the atmosphere. Since then, sprites have become the heroes of photo shoots with astronomers around the world.
Now, a new form of upper atmospheric lightning has emerged: giant jet lightning. It is similar to sprites, but it is more powerful and can be easily seen with the naked eye.
Such super-powerful lightning has been observed more than 20 times this year. Typically, this happened during tropical storms.
The observers have even prepared an impressive video that will leave few people indifferent. It shows what tremendous power nature can have.
The video contains the brightest and most powerful lightning that happened in the outgoing 2017.
Giant Jet Lightning is less common than sprites. However, one storm alone over the Spanish city of Lucena allowed viewers to make more than 20 recordings of this natural phenomenon of devastating power.
Promotional video:
Powerful lightning bolts and sprites inhabit the upper atmosphere along with auroras, meteors and noctilucent clouds. Some researchers believe that they are related to cosmic rays and predict that the frequency of such thunderstorms will increase year after year. However, the exact cause of their occurrence has not yet been established.