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

7. Halos: The Celestial Crowns of Thunderstorms

Advertisement

Another type of transient luminous event connected to red light phenomena are halos. Usually between 75 and 80 km, these diffuse, disk-shaped flashes of red light show up in the lower ionosphere. Usually preceding or accompanying sprite formations, halos provide the sense of a celestial crown atop thunderstorms. Halos have a smooth, uniform glow unlike the more ordered look of sprites. Lasting just a few moments, they can reach distances of 40 to 100 kilometres. Halos' red hue results from nitrogen molecules excited in the rarefied air of the upper atmosphere. Though occurring at lower altitudes where the air is heavier, halos are believed to be generated by the same intense electromagnetic pulses that generate ELVES. Although less visually striking than some other red lightning events, halos offer crucial details on the electric fields and energy transfer mechanisms in the top atmosphere during thunderstorms.