These scientists have remained stuck in front of farfadets, a extremely rare natural phenomenon worthy of the avatar films by James Cameron

News JVTech These scientists have remained stuck in front of farfadets. Nevertheless, a extremely rare natural phenomenon worthy of the avatar films by James Cameron

Photo credit: Angel An. This photo. Nevertheless, entitled Cosmic Fireworks, won the Skyscapes category for the 2023 Astronomy photographer of the Year, these scientists have remained stuck organized by the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Consequently,

The scene seemed straight out of a science fiction film. Therefore, Above the Himalayan peaks, an unusual atmospheric phenomenon raised the head of an international team of scientists. In addition, Called “Red Sylphs”. Nevertheless, “Halos”, “Farfadets” or “Sprites” (English name), these light lightnings have been captured thanks to videos and photographs published in the scientific journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. Meanwhile, Now, a question arises: what was that?

Lights from the depths of the sky – These scientists have remained stuck

As you can see, red sprites are not ordinary lightning. Unlike visible lightnings near the ground during conventional thunderstorms. these events occur between 60 and 90 kilometers above sea level, well above the storm clouds. They appear when powerful electric discharges from conventional lightning generate electric fields intense enough to excite nitrogen molecules located. in the upper layers of the atmosphere. These molecules then emit reddish light, these scientists have remained stuck forming amazing structures, evoking jellyfish or light columns.

According to Gaopng Lu. professor at the University of Sciences and Technologies of China, these sprites “are triggered by lightning with very high current from a massive storm system”. In other words. colossal energy is released by the most intense and highest thunderstorms, and it is this energy that brings up the sprites for a short time.

The Himalayan mountain range is not unrelated to the appearance of these red lightnings. Its particular geography. marked by vertiginous peaks and a very rarefied air at altitude, constitutes a terrain particularly conducive to their formation. In fact, the mountains act as kinds of launching ramps, pushing damp air upwards and thus promoting particularly powerful thunderstorms. It is in this context that the scarce air facilitates the interaction of thunderstorms with the ionosphere. the upper layer electrically loaded with the atmosphere. For Professor Lu. there is these scientists have remained stuck no doubt: “Himalayan thunderstorms can cause high altitude electric discharges among the most complex ever observed on earth. »»

Understand the sprites to better understand our atmosphere

Beyond their crazy beauty, the red sprites have great scientific interest. Transient light phenomena (or TLEfor “Transient Luminous Events”). also bringing together phenomena such as blue jets, giant jets or blue starters, make it possible to better understand the transfer of energy and particles between the earth’s surface and the ionosphere. Red lightning acts in a way as Natural electric bridgespotentially influencing ozone chemistry. the overall electrical circuits of our planet.

Studying elves offers scientists a precious way to analyze processes that are difficult to reproduce in the laboratory. The data collected during this Himalayan event could thus contribute to better understand the impact of these phenomena on climate dynamics. world atmospheric chemistry, crucial issues at the time of climate these scientists have remained stuck change.

An unexpected aspect of this discovery concerns the growing participation of amateur citizens, simple enthusiasts or thunderstorms. Indeed. the method used by researchers, which consists in correlating the images of the sprites with the stars observable in the background to ensure temporal precision, is within the reach of amateurs equipped with simple cameras! Today, anyone can participate in advancing science, so why not you?

Source : dailygalaxy