Yes, blue lightning, specifically in the form of blue jets, is real.
Blue jets are a type of upper atmospheric lightning. Unlike regular lightning that strikes from a cloud to the ground, blue jets shoot upwards from the tops of thunderstorm clouds. Here's a breakdown:
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What are Blue Jets? Blue jets are a form of lightning that eject upwards from the top of cumulonimbus clouds. They are one of several types of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs), which also include sprites, elves, and trolls.
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How High Do They Reach? Blue jets can extend quite high, reaching up to approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) into the stratosphere.
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How Long Do They Last? These events are brief, typically lasting less than a second.
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What Makes Them Blue? The blue color is attributed to the excitation of nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere.
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Why are they important? While not fully understood, TLEs like blue jets are important for understanding the electrical activity in the upper atmosphere and its influence on the Earth's electrical system. They also play a role in atmospheric chemistry.
While not "lightning" in the traditional cloud-to-ground sense, blue jets are indeed a real and fascinating electrical phenomenon in the upper atmosphere.
