Name Lightning, Sprites

Description An atmospheric electrostatic discharge, or spark, between two objects, such as cloud to cloud or cloud to ground, or cloud to structure. Seen and then heard with thunder. Time between lightning streak and thunder clap increases with observers distance from the visible streak. The lighting we see on the ground is a lower atmospheric manifestation of the phenomenon. Others, such as Sprites, Elves, and Blue Jets, occur at much higher elevations in the earth's atmosphere. Common in thunderstorms, but also around volcanic eruptions.