Jan 21, 2014 · Lightning may flash on Earth about 100 times per second, but much remains a mystery about it. Scientists have discovered many strange forms of lightning over the years — everything from fiery...

The photo shows one of the ELVES (emission of light and very low frequency perturbations due to electromagnetic pulse sources). The shot was taken on March 27, 2023 at 21.43 UTC from Possagno, TV, Italy. The lightning that triggered it was in …

Red sprites, blue jets and elves are upper atmospheric optical phenomena associated with thunderstorms that have only recently been documented by using low light level television technology. These phenomena are collectively called Transient Luminous Events (TLE's).

Mar 20, 2024 · Like sprites, ELVES are triggered by intense lightning strikes. “A very powerful lightning discharge generates this very [strong] electromagnetic pulse,” says Cummer. That pulse is shaped like a sphere and expands outward from the lightning strike.

Elves are rapidly expanding disk-shaped regions of glowing that can be up to 300 miles across. They last less than a thousandth of a second, and occur above areas of active cloud to ground lightning. Elves result when an energetic electromagnetic pulse extends up into the ionosphere.

Jan 18, 2025 · Discover the mesmerizing phenomenon of red sprites and other upper-atmosphere lightning. Get a glimpse into the science behind these elusive and beautiful natural phenomena.

Nov 7, 2021 · ‘Elves’ and ‘blue jet’ lightning in Earth’s stratosphere spotted from space. The space station detected several “elves” and a “blue jet” in a thunderstorm over the Pacific Ocean.

Aug 15, 2023 · ELVES is an incredibly rare form of lightning that occurs when an electromagnetic pulse shoots upward from the clouds and hits nitrogen molecules, causing them to glow red for only 0.001 second. The photo depicts elves and red sprite lightning up to 60 miles above the clouds. (Image: Timo Kantola)

Here I describe the history and science of the optical manifestation (known as "elves") of heating of the lower ionosphere by the electromagnetic pulses launched by cloud-to-ground lightning in thunderstorms. What are elves? When were elves discovered? Why do some people capitalize ELVES? Is it possible to see an elve with your bare eyes?

In 1995, Lyons and associates confirmed the existence of this type of very brief brightening which they named Emissions of Light and Very Low Frequency Perturbations From Electromagnetic Pulse Sources (ELVES). Because sprites, jets, and ELVES have appeared for millennia, their discovery was inevitable.