Rare red sprites with giant branches observed over Corsica

An exceptionally rare atmospheric phenomenon—vivid red sprites—was successfully captured over the French island of Corsica. These electrical discharges, which occur high above storm clouds, visually resemble giant lightning bolts.

Characteristics of atmospheric discharges

Sprites belong to a specific class of electrical phenomena that form in the upper layers of the atmosphere directly above zones of thunderstorm activity. Their appearance is characterised by distinctive branching structures, which observers compare to "tentacles".

The physical parameters of these flashes are impressive in scale:

• The diameter of the main body of a sprite can reach 100 kilometres.
• The length of the branching "tentacles" extends up to 60 kilometres.

Why the phenomenon is difficult to observe

The main reason for the rarity of sprite observations and photography is their extremely short duration. Each electrical discharge lasts only a few milliseconds. The combination of the phenomenon's instantaneous nature and the high altitude at which it occurs makes capturing these red lightning bolts a challenging task.