Abstract

This paper discusses a new mechanism for the formation of red sprites: bright extended radiations in the upper layers of the atmosphere (at an altitude of 70-90 km), and blue jets: radiations in the blue region (at an altitude of 20-50 km). Based on similar bright flashes obtained under laboratory conditions, it is shown that sprites and jets are superluminescence radiation that arises when the overpopulation threshold of the upper excited levels of atomic oxygen is crossed.

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