News Excerpt:

A European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut recently photographed an uncommon occurrence termed a red sprite.

About Red Sprite:

• A red sprite represents an extraordinary meteorological phenomenon categorised as a Transient Luminous Event (TLE). 
• It occurs above thunderclouds at altitudes between 40 and 80 kilometres (25 - 50 miles) above the Earth's surface. 
• Unlike typical lightning bolts that descend from the clouds to the ground, a sprite behaves inversely, ascending into the atmosphere, resembling a form of reverse lightning.
• The occurrence of a Red sprite lasts only for milliseconds.

Significance of observation of Red Sprite:

• It aims to investigate upper atmospheric lightning.
• There is observation of its implications on greenhouse gas levels, thereby influencing global warming.