Rare ‘blue jet’ lightning viewed from the Space Station

In this video, an impression of lightning in clouds seen from Space Station followed by a blue flash, that lasts 10 micro seconds, and a blue jet lasting 400 milliseconds.

You can also see an elve that lasts for 30 microseconds, generated by the blue flash. The International Space Station solar panels are shown in the foreground.

A blue jet is a form of lightning that shoots upwards from thunderstorm clouds. They can reach as far 50 km into the stratosphere and last less than a second. The space storm-hunter measured a blue jet that was kicked off with and intense five 10-microsecond flash in a cloud near the island of Naru in the Pacific Ocean.

Dark clouds, the smell of rain on a hot sidewalk, the flashes of intense light followed by a loud crackling and then a low, rolling thunder – who doesn’t love a good summer thunderstorm. We’ve all seen one, heard one, or been completely soaked by one. But how much do we really know about this weather phenomenon?

source ESA