red sprite
noun1
Astronomy, Climatology, Meteorology, Natural sciences An upper atmospheric optical phenomena associated with thunderstorms, a large but weak luminous flash that appears directly above an active thunderstorm system and is coincident with a powerful positive cloud-to-ground lightning strike.
- Red sprites flash high above thunderstorm clouds.1999, Patricia Barnes-Svarney, Thomas E. Svarney, Skies of fury: weather weirdness around the world, Simon and Schuster, page 99:
- Related terms
- blue starter, blue jet, elve, gigantic jet, gnome, pixie, sprite halo, sprelve, sprite, transient luminous event, troll, upward lightning