The Upside-Down Lightning That Strikes Space Explained by Scientists
Upside-down lightning, also called “gigantic jets,” is a rare type of electrical discharge that shoots out of the tops of thunderstorms and reaches the edge of space rather than striking the ground. Unlike typical lightning, which travels downward toward Earth’s surface, these powerful bolts launch upward, sometimes extending more than 50 miles above the clouds.
Scientists are still uncovering exactly why upside-down lightning occurs, but observations show that these phenomena can be extremely energetic, with some of the most powerful ever recorded detected over places like Oklahoma. Recent reports and striking photographs of gigantic jets reveal just how dramatic these skyward bolts can be, blasting out of severe storms and occasionally brushing the boundary of our atmosphere.
Understanding upside-down lightning isn’t just a curiosity—it offers insight into unique atmospheric processes connecting weather on Earth with the layers of space above. With each new observation, researchers are piecing together the physics behind these spectacular events, making them one of the most intriguing subjects in atmospheric science today.
What Is Upside-Down Lightning?
Upside-down lightning involves lightning bolts that travel upward, rather than down from the clouds to the ground. This rare phenomenon has unique origins and patterns distinct from typical ground-to-cloud lightning strikes.
Defining Upside-Down Lightning
Upside-down lightning, also called upward lightning strikes, occurs when an electrical discharge is initiated from a tall structure or elevated terrain and then travels upward into the atmosphere or even toward the edge of space. Unlike traditional lightning, which generally moves from the cloud to the ground, upside-down lightning starts at the ground level or an artificial structure.
This type of lightning is often triggered by nearby lightning activity that creates the necessary electric field conditions for an upward discharge. Common initiation points include radio towers, skyscrapers, and mountain peaks. The discharge can reach altitudes much higher than ordinary lightning and sometimes even grazes the lower edge of space.
Upward lightning is less frequent than standard lightning, making it a subject of study for atmospheric scientists. Its detection often relies on high-speed cameras and specialized instruments due to its rarity and challenging observation conditions.
Comparison With Standard Lightning Strikes
Standard lightning strikes—also called downward lightning—originate in thunderclouds and move toward the ground. The process involves a stepped leader that seeks connection with a streamer rising from the ground. When they meet, a visible lightning bolt forms, completing the electrical circuit.
In contrast, upside-down lightning exhibits a reverse initiation. The process starts with the upward streamer, typically triggered by existing electric fields from cloud activity. These upward bolts can carry significant current but look visually different, often appearing narrower or branching into the sky.
Key differences between the two types include their points of origin, direction of propagation, and triggers. While both are dangerous, upward lightning is more likely to impact structures such as communication towers. Researchers continue to compare these events to better understand atmospheric electricity and improve safety for tall structures.
How Upside-Down Lightning Forms
Upside-down lightning, also called upward lightning, involves electrical discharges that travel from the ground up toward the top of storm clouds and sometimes even reach the edge of space. This process is driven by the unique arrangement of charges and electric fields in severe thunderstorms.
Role of Thunderstorms and Storm Clouds
Severe thunderstorms are necessary for upside-down lightning to occur. These storms feature tall, well-developed storm clouds that extend high into the atmosphere. The tops of these clouds can reach altitudes where the air is thinner, increasing the chances of unusual lightning behavior.
Within these storm systems, updrafts carry moisture and ice particles upward, while downdrafts move air downward. The movement of these particles causes a separation of electrical charges inside the cloud. Typically, negative charges concentrate near the cloud base, while positive charges accumulate at the cloud top.
When certain conditions are met—especially in the presence of tall structures or mountains—intense electric fields near the ground can trigger a powerful upward discharge. This causes a bolt to travel from the ground toward the upper regions of the atmosphere rather than toward the earth.
Electrical Field and Charge Mechanisms
The electrical field in and around a thunderstorm is shaped by the distribution of electric charges in both the storm cloud and the ground. A strong electric field forms when positive and negative charges build up in different regions, creating a potential difference.
Upward lightning can be initiated when the electric field near the ground becomes strong enough, often due to positive charge accumulating on tall objects. Once the threshold is reached, an electrical discharge launches from the ground. This discharge travels rapidly upward, sometimes forming sprites or gigantic jets that can touch the edge of space.
This process is different from traditional downward lightning, which starts in the cloud and moves toward the ground. In upward lightning events, the direction of the electrical discharge is reversed because of changes in the electric field and the local accumulation of charge. Certain atmospheric conditions, such as low air pressure at high altitudes, can make these upward discharges travel farther than a typical lightning strike.
Gigantic Jets: Nature’s Upward Lightning
Gigantic jets are rare lightning events that shoot upward from thunderclouds toward the edge of space. Their unique structure, movement, and branching patterns distinguish them from typical lightning bolts seen during storms.
Structure and Features of Gigantic Jets
Gigantic jets form in severe thunderstorms when a specific imbalance occurs between the cloud and the upper atmosphere. These jets can reach heights of 50 to 90 kilometers (31 to 56 miles), well above the altitude of regular lightning and even above most commercial aircraft flight paths.
Unlike conventional cloud-to-ground lightning, gigantic jets transfer electrical charges from the top of storm clouds directly into the ionosphere. Observations indicate that they often emit a blue or violet glow, especially near the cloud tops, due to the excitation of nitrogen molecules at high altitudes. Below is a table comparing features:
Feature Gigantic Jets Regular Lightning Direction Upward (cloud to ionosphere) Downward (cloud to ground) Typical Height 50-90 km 1-10 km Color Blue/violet at top White/yellow
They are sometimes observed during intense hurricanes or major storms, and satellite images and instruments on the International Space Station have captured examples extending through the stratosphere.
Branching Patterns and Leaders
The development of a gigantic jet begins with “leaders.” These are conductive channels of ionized air that guide the upward flow of charge. Leaders for gigantic jets branch in multiple directions as they rise, but only the main channel will reach the highest altitudes.
Branching occurs mostly near the cloud top and in the lower stratosphere, with some jets showing complex, tree-like structures. The branches appear fainter than the main channel and often split off before reaching peak heights.
Distinct branching patterns can indicate the intensity and electrical makeup of a storm. Most gigantic jets display several secondary paths early in their ascent, but these secondary paths rarely persist far into the upper atmosphere.
Researchers use high-speed cameras and radio sensors to trace these paths, revealing the dynamic behavior and spatial extent of upward lightning. By analyzing these features, scientists gain insight into the conditions that trigger gigantic jets and how they transfer energy to near-space environments.
Reaching The Ionosphere And Space
Some forms of lightning do not just remain within storm clouds or strike the ground. Rare bolts project upward, crossing the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere and interacting directly with the ionosphere and outer space.
Connection Between Lightning and the Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a high-altitude region of Earth's atmosphere, stretching from about 60 to 1,000 kilometers above the surface. It is composed of ionized particles capable of conducting electricity.
"Upside-down lightning," or gigantic jets, form when a strong electric field triggers lightning discharges that travel upward from the tops of thunderclouds. These jets can penetrate the stratosphere and reach the ionosphere, occasionally extending to the edge of space.
Their path differs from typical groundward lightning since they require specific atmospheric conditions and intense charge accumulations within the storm. Once in the ionosphere, gigantic jets transfer electrical energy into regions that are normally influenced by solar and cosmic phenomena rather than weather.
Impacts Beyond Earth’s Atmosphere
When these upward lightning events enter the ionosphere, they momentarily disturb the existing balance of charged particles. This can create brief, visible phenomena known as blue jets or gigantic jets, with some even observed by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
These discharges can influence radio wave propagation and impact satellite communication, as the ionospheric disturbance alters how signals travel through the upper atmosphere. Such events also provide a natural laboratory for studying the interaction between Earth's weather and space weather.
Observations of upside-down lightning striking the ionosphere help scientists understand the links between thunderstorms, Earth's atmosphere, and the near-Earth space environment. Data reveals that terrestrial weather can play a role in shaping conditions far above ground level, bridging meteorology and space science.
Documenting Upside-Down Lightning
Scientific understanding of upside-down lightning, or "blue jets" and "gigantic jets," has advanced rapidly in recent years. New technology and research have enabled scientists to capture clear images and analyze these rare weather phenomena in detail.
Recent Discoveries and Research
Upside-down lightning, known as blue jets and gigantic jets, was once mostly a mystery due to its rarity and the height at which it occurs—sometimes reaching up to 50 miles above thunderstorms.
Significant breakthroughs came after a 2018 Oklahoma storm, when researchers documented multiple instances of gigantic jets shooting upward from clouds. In 2019, the International Space Station (ISS) recorded a blue jet zipping from a thundercloud into the stratosphere, confirming these events aren’t isolated.
Scientists have focused on studying the conditions during severe lightning storms that create these upward discharges. Most documented cases have occurred during strong thunderstorms, particularly over open plains like those in Oklahoma, where weather patterns favor jet formation. Research teams analyze data such as lightning frequency, storm intensity, and atmospheric layers to identify possible triggers.
Images and Observation Techniques
Advancements in imaging have transformed the study of upside-down lightning. High-speed cameras, satellite imaging, and specialized sensors are now used to capture events invisible to the naked eye.
For example, instruments aboard the ISS have produced time-lapse sequences revealing blue jets launching from storm tops. Ground-based photographers have also succeeded in capturing images during storms, especially in regions known for active weather events like Oklahoma.
Observation is often coordinated between ground and space. Scientists use lists of thunderstorms detected by weather radar to position cameras and instruments. Satellites enable continuous monitoring above large lightning storms, increasing the chances of documenting these rare phenomena.
The images collected are analyzed frame-by-frame, revealing not just the shapes but also the speed and luminosity of the jets. This evidence helps researchers verify patterns and better understand the connection between storms and upward lightning activity.
