LLNL researchers chase sprites and elves

17 Jun 2002

Research from Los Alamos National Laboratory shows how electrical discharges between thunderstorm cloud tops and the upper atmosphere may be explained in the context of a runaway electron beam that breaks apart air molecules. Their model not only successfully recreates the optical characteristics of the three discharges -- dubbed sprites, blue jets and elves -- but also yields theoretically calculated radio and gamma ray emissions that match observations.

The model also shows how elves, ephemeral flashes that appear miles above the cloud tops of thunderstorms, can be kick-started by the electromagnetic pulse from a sprite or jet at a lower elevation."Our computations show how elves can be a byproduct of sprites or jets," said Yuri Taranenko, one of four Los Alamos researchers involved in the study."