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Science & Nature
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An Electric Bridge to Space: The Mystery of Upward Lightning Known as Gigantic Jets
From the ISS, astronauts witness rare 'gigantic jets'—massive electrical discharges rising 50 miles from storm clouds to the edge of space. These reverse lightning bolts connect thunderclouds to the ionosphere, helping scientists understand our planet's complex atmospheric electrical circuits.
When we picture a thunderstorm, we imagine brilliant flashes of lightning arcing between clouds or striking dramatically downwards to the Earth. It’s a powerful, familiar display of nature’s force. But high above the storm, hidden from our view, a far stranger and more colossal form of lightning exists—one that shoots upward, reaching for the very edge of space.
An Electric Bridge to Space
These breathtaking phenomena are known as 'gigantic jets.' They are a type of Transient Luminous Event (TLE), a family of upper-atmospheric electrical discharges that includes the more ethereal 'sprites' and 'elves.' Unlike its downward-traveling cousin, a gigantic jet is a massive burst of electricity that erupts from the top of a thundercloud and travels more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) up into the ionosphere, the electrically charged layer of our atmosphere that meets the vacuum of space.
Essentially, they are a form of reverse lightning. While a typical lightning bolt might transfer a charge of around 5 coulombs, a single gigantic jet can move 300 coulombs or more into the ionosphere. They act as a powerful electrical bridge between the lower and upper atmosphere, playing a little-understood role in the planet's global electrical circuit.
The View from the International Space Station
Because they occur so high above dense cloud cover, gigantic jets are nearly impossible to observe from the ground. Our most stunning and informative views have come from the unique vantage point of the International Space Station (ISS), where astronauts orbit above the weather. In recent years, instruments and astronauts aboard the ISS have captured these elusive events, providing scientists with invaluable data.
European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen captured remarkable footage of a gigantic jet during his mission on the ISS. He was observing a storm over India as part of the Thor experiment, which studies lightning from space.
I was looking at a thundercloud over India. The storm I photographed was very active with many lightning strikes, which is when I saw the gigantic jet reach up from the top of the cloud. It was a very impressive sight and a rare phenomenon, so I am very happy I got to capture it.
The Science of an Upward Strike
So, what causes a bolt of lightning to defy gravity and shoot upwards? Scientists believe gigantic jets occur under specific conditions where typical lightning discharges are suppressed. If a thundercloud is unable to discharge its electrical energy downwards or to other clouds, a massive amount of positive charge can accumulate in its upper region. When the charge becomes great enough, it can burst through the top of the cloud and forge a path of least resistance upward toward the negatively charged base of the ionosphere.
Research using satellite data and radio wave detectors has revealed that the formation involves cool streamers of plasma reaching temperatures of about 400°F, followed by a much hotter 'leader' that can exceed 8000°F. Studying these jets helps scientists understand not only our planet's electrical systems but also the chemical changes they might trigger in the upper atmosphere.
For those of us on the ground, these events are a humbling reminder that even familiar phenomena like thunderstorms hold profound mysteries. High above the storm, our planet continues to reveal secrets that we are only just beginning to understand, thanks to our watchful eyes in space.