Red Lightning: 15 Mysterious Phenomena - How Many Have You Seen?

4. Red Trolls: The Mischievous Cousins of Sprites

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Small, brilliant red flashes occurring in the lowest areas of red sprite buildings are red trolls, sometimes referred to as gnomes or pixies. These mischievous electrical discharges show up as little, reddish balls of light dancing about the tendrils of bigger sprite formations. Originally reported in the early 2000s, red trolls remain poorly understood among experts. Localised electric field concentrations inside sprite formations are thought to be the reason of their more strong ionising and light emission. Usually only a few milliseconds, red trolls are observed in clusters and add to the ethereal, magical look of sprite events. Red trolls add to the dynamic and intricate character of higher atmospheric electrical events, while less prevalent than their larger sprite counterparts. Their light-hearted moniker captures the wonder and intrigue behind these evasive red lightning events.