Rare 'Red Sprite' Lightning Phenomenon Stuns Tibet

Shannan, Tibet, was treated to an extraordinary display last night. A red sprite, a rare type of upper-atmospheric lightning, illuminated the night sky. "It was like something out of a science fiction movie," said one local resident, whose video captured the event. Red sprites occur high above thunderstorms, typically at altitudes exceeding 80 kilometers. These large-scale electrical discharges are triggered by intense electrical fields and are often associated with positive lightning strikes. While rare, their occurrence is a testament to the power and beauty of atmospheric phenomena. This event serves as a reminder of the spectacular, yet often unseen, events that occur in the Earth's atmosphere.