Space Photographer Dong Shuchang Captures Rare Red Sprites Phenomenon in Tibet
Looking up at the sky brings peace to each one of us. Even in its plain blue state, the sky is captivating. Yet, at times, it puts on such a show that you might find yourself feeling as if you're in the midst of a science fiction movie or on another planet. High above the clouds, moments occur that challenge the human eye to capture, but when combined with the patience and technology of a photographer, they result in spectacular images. The rare atmospheric phenomenon known as the 'Red Sprite' creates just such an effect.
Space photographer Dong Shuchang managed to capture these massive red light explosions appearing just above the storm clouds in the vast and pristine skies of Tibet. These mesmerizing moments, shared on social media, quickly garnered a great deal of admiration.
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So, what's the mystery behind these enigmatic lights that suddenly paint the sky blood red and resemble a colossal jellyfish?
Many of us are familiar with lightning as simply an electrical discharge occurring between the earth and the clouds. However, 'Red Sprites' move in the exact opposite direction of the storms we know, that is, upwards from the base of the clouds towards the boundary of space (the mesosphere). They are usually triggered at about 80 km high, immediately following very intense positive lightning strikes on the earth's surface, and they only last a few milliseconds. That's exactly what makes them so mysterious: Unless you're looking at the right place at the right time with the right equipment, you would never notice their presence.
The even more exciting part is that sometimes, as in this frame, a rare green afterglow remains at the very top of this red body. Scientists attribute this to oxygen atoms in the upper atmosphere being stimulated by energy from the lightning. These enormous pillars of light, appearing suddenly in the darkness of night, would probably have been interpreted as a mythology or the wrath of the gods if they had occurred in ancient times; today, they remind us of the fascinating surprises the universe holds.
Is this natural phenomenon seen in Turkey?
Yes, this captivating natural event can occur in Turkey and has been captured on camera several times before. This phenomenon, referred to as 'Red Sprite', occurs especially during the winter and autumn months over the very powerful, lightning storm clouds forming off the coasts of the Marmara, Black Sea, and Aegean seas, that is, about 50-90 kilometers up in the atmosphere. However, because it happens and ends within milliseconds and it's not the storm itself that needs to be observed, but the upper atmospheric layer hundreds of kilometers away, it is almost impossible to notice with the naked eye. Away from city lights, in pitch-dark areas and with the right camera equipment, it is possible to witness this magnificent visual feast in the skies of Turkey.
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