NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers recently experienced an incredible moment while orbiting Earth. From 400 km above, she spotted a breathtaking electrical display igniting the sky—part of a summer thunderstorm in 2025. This rare event is known as a Transient Luminous Event (TLE). TLEs occur high above the clouds, between 40 and 80 kilometers, where they’re usually hidden from our view.
In her footage, Ayers caught a stunning blue jet shooting upwards, complemented by red flashes that spread like tentacles. The entire spectacle was over in less than a second, yet it highlighted the beauty and mystery of our atmosphere.
Ten years earlier, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen recorded the first pulsing blue jet from space. This breakthrough opened doors to understanding the lightning activity that occurs at the tops of thunderstorms. Researchers have since been exploring which types of clouds generate these phenomena and how they may influence atmospheric chemistry.
Another landmark moment took place in 2024 when NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps used a high-resolution camera to film a thunderstorm over Australia. By employing a fast frame rate, she captured a stunning pulsating giant jet, showcasing blue and red bursts—a first from space. This observation contributes to the Thor-Davis experiment aimed at studying lightning in the upper atmosphere and its impact on greenhouse gas concentrations. Named after the Nordic god of thunder, this initiative is run by the Danish Technical University in collaboration with the European Space Agency.
Despite lightning striking the Earth about 1.4 billion times a year on average, many aspects of these electrical phenomena remain a puzzle. Understanding how they function is crucial for scientists working on Earth’s weather systems.
Recent studies indicate that understanding TLEs can also provide insights into climate change. For instance, data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show a significant increase in storm intensity over the last few decades, making the study of high-altitude electrical events even more relevant.
As scientists continue to unravel the secrets of these atmospheric lights, their studies may open new avenues for climate awareness and risk reduction strategies.
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