This is one of my favorite captures of late. A fascinating and rarely captured cloud top Transient Luminous Event known as a Pixie. Very quick electric blue flashes believed to be 100m or so across. Little research has been done on their formation, but I talked to Jozsef Bohr, a renowned atmospheric scientist, who said they are likely discharges caused by the oppositely charged cloud top being forced through a screening layer in the atmosphere. Some more prominent flashes can be seen that seem to have a nub of a lightning channel, these are either Gnomes or Blue Starters. Rarely seen and captured because of their location on top of the storm. I have only captured several instances from hundreds of hours observing storms- this unique perspective is something I have dreamed of. So interesting to see where they are focused and to see them dancing so fast at times, then to turn completely off. Just wild nature.Could they also be related to hail or other moisture up there? Do they signify another possible mode in storm development? Lots of questions. I would love to hear some input.Contact smith.paul.michael1@gmail.com for licensing
The Lightning Imager can continuously detect rapid flashes of lighting in Earth’s atmosphere whether day or night from a distance of 36 000 km.
This is the first time a geostationary weather satellite has the capability to detect lightning across Europe, Africa and the surrounding waters. Each camera can capture up to 1000 images per second and will continuously observe lightning activity from space. The data will give weather forecasters greater confidence in their predictions of severe storms.
We had another severe thunderstorm yesterday, and here is a time lapse of the moment the lightning flashed, captured by a wide angle camera pointed east from my home in Hiratsuka on July 4, 2023, between 19:37 and 20:08. You can see the cumulonimbus clouds developing. Translated with Deepl
Zaragoza. Spain.