On November 17, the night sky over northern Italy revealed a stunning sight: a bright red ring. This rare event, called an “elve,” was photographed by Valter Binotto in his hometown of Possagno, nestled near the Italian Alps.
Elves are a unique type of upper-atmospheric lightning that can expand up to 300 miles wide but last less than a thousandth of a second. They occur above thunderstorms due to powerful electromagnetic pulses that reach the ionosphere, the same atmospheric layer where auroras are born. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these brief flashes are rarely seen by most people.
Binotto originally aimed to capture sprites, another form of upper-atmospheric lightning. He shared, “I didn’t capture any sprites, but fortunately, I managed to capture this elve!” He used a Sony A7S camera with a 20 mm lens at a high ISO of 51,200. The image he took is a single frame from a video recorded at 25 frames per second.
The specific elve Binotto photographed was triggered by an intense lightning strike located about 300 kilometers away in Vernazza. This strike generated a tremendous electromagnetic pulse and reached an extraordinary -303 kilo-amperes. To put that in perspective, typical lightning only carries about 10 to 30 kilo-amperes. This elve hovered around 100 miles above Earth and stretched roughly 200 miles in diameter.
This isn’t the first time Binotto has witnessed such phenomena. Earlier, on March 23, 2023, he captured an even more vivid elve that showcased the eerie beauty of the red halo expanding through the sky.
Recent studies in atmospheric sciences have highlighted the importance of documenting these events, as they can provide insights into climate patterns and atmospheric changes. Elves, despite their brief existence, are a reminder of nature’s complexity and power. Each observation contributes to a growing database of meteorological events, enriching our understanding of the upper atmosphere.
For those curious, images and reports of such phenomena can often spark discussions on social media, with enthusiasts sharing their own sightings and experiences. It’s a fascinating glimpse into how natural occurrences can unite communities and fuel interest in science.
In a world where technology often overshadows nature, moments like these remind us of the wonders still out there, waiting to be discovered. Check out Binotto’s insightful work on his website for more breathtaking shots of atmospheric wonders.
