Rare Phenomenon Recorded in Cyprus — Red Sprites Up to 90 km High

A rare luminous phenomenon — red sprites — was observed in the sky over Cyprus on October 8 and captured in photographs published by island resident Giorgos Paraskevaidis in the local weather enthusiasts’ community.

Red sprites are predominantly red and appear above powerful thunderstorms at altitudes of approximately 40–50 to about 90 kilometers, notes KitasWeather. They belong to the category of transient luminous events (TLEs), which also include other rare phenomena such as blue jets and elves.

According to Craig J. Roger’s 1999 study, sprites can be visually perceived as simple columns or as “jellyfish” in the sky. The first recorded photographic evidence of red sprites was made by scientists at the University of Minnesota on July 6, 1989; reports of sightings also exist in earlier sources.

For residents in Cyprus, this means that during periods of intense thunderstorms, the likelihood of seeing such rare luminous phenomena increases. The source does not provide specific safety instructions regarding the phenomenon.