On the Tibetan plateau, north of Himalayas, thunderstorms are very common. The dramatic elevation changes produce intense convection in the atmosphere and the baratting of wet air creates clouds- a rich laboratory to study the Tles. However, none had been recorded there until Dong storm imaging in 2022.
Huang and his collaborator Gaopng LuAn atmospheric physicist from the University of Science and China technology has developed a method to synchronize videos and photos that a and Dong have taken on the Tibetan set. Using satellite data and stars’ maps in the night sky to determine the horodatages of each video frame, the team has linked around 70% of the parent -flair that triggered them.
For Huang, the results demonstrate the scientific value of amateur observations. “It is exciting that this area brings together professional scientists and passionate amateurs, working side by side to understand something so ephemeral, but so deep.”
Not only did the photographers captured a large number of red sprites, but the Himalayan storm also presented even rare Tles called Jets and Ghosts. The team found 16 secondary jets, powerful columns of light often blue or purple darting up in the sky, and at least four spectraGreen Floy Glows which can sometimes hover over the red sprites.
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“While sprites (and other Tles) may seem delicate and silent in the upper atmosphere, they are often linked to powerful meteorological systems, sometimes devastating,” explains Huang. “Understanding them not only satisfied our curiosity about the upper atmosphere, but also helps us to know more about the storms we face here on earth.”