[QUOTE="quantum_wave]...
Let me think about that Sprite lightening from my perspective and see if I can offer some thinking on it.[/QUOTE]Actually, one thought that comes to mind about Sprites is that they appear in conjunction with the timing of positive lightening from thunderclouds. That normal lightening discharges vast amounts of energy contained within the cloud, and could be looked at as causing an energy deficit between the cloud and the atmosphere above it. That could cause the energy in the upper atmosphere to gather and "flash" into the cloud to equalize the energy and fill the deficit. The formation of the plasma cloud that releases the Sprite could be an interim step in the process of replenishment of the energy in the cloud. The interim step, the plasma cloud, would be dealing with larger energy forces at the boundary of the upper atmosphere, and could have a time delay effect in its build up, before it releases the Sprite. Just some ideas as food for thought.
Let me think about that Sprite lightening from my perspective and see if I can offer some thinking on it.[/QUOTE]Actually, one thought that comes to mind about Sprites is that they appear in conjunction with the timing of positive lightening from thunderclouds. That normal lightening discharges vast amounts of energy contained within the cloud, and could be looked at as causing an energy deficit between the cloud and the atmosphere above it. That could cause the energy in the upper atmosphere to gather and "flash" into the cloud to equalize the energy and fill the deficit. The formation of the plasma cloud that releases the Sprite could be an interim step in the process of replenishment of the energy in the cloud. The interim step, the plasma cloud, would be dealing with larger energy forces at the boundary of the upper atmosphere, and could have a time delay effect in its build up, before it releases the Sprite. Just some ideas as food for thought.