Some of the most powerful lightning events
can propagate horizontally
for tens of kilometers and connect to the ground with a
massive surge of electricity.
We call these horizontally extensive ground flashes.
Seeing these Big Daddy's blossom
underneath storm clouds is a jaw-drop sight.
But underneath the storm you're still only seeing half the show.
if a ground flash is powerful enough
it can flip the charge at the top of thunderstorms
initiating another spectacular light show high above the storm.
These red Sprites
belong to a group of mysterious large-scale electrical discharges
Oh nice!
called transient luminous events or TLEs.
In order to see the spectacular parent lightning discharges in all their glory
BOOM! Holy moly!
and the TLEs they initiate above the storm
Whoa!
We're gonna need to be in two places at one time.
In this video I team up with Storm Chaser Paul Smith
to simultaneously document the most powerful lightning flashes
and the magnificent TLE's they parent
in what we call the over under experiment
Good to hear from you
Yeah you too.
So what do you say tonight we try the over under thingy?
That sounds like a plan.
I got a good feeling about it.
Yeah me too. I think we'll be on to something. It's so beautiful here. There's not cloud in the sky.
Got a can of off if you need it...
No?
You're hardcore.
These are negative ground flashes.
the most common manifestation of cloud-to-ground lightning
but these rarely transfer enough charge to spark a TLE.
For this experiment to be successful
I'm going to have to locate a rain-free vicinity of the storm
where the horizontally extensive positive ground flashes are occurring.
It's dark already and I have a feeling that on my shoulder...
there could be Sprites firing already
I'm still 50 miles out.
The good thing about it is when I get there the sky should be fairly dark, but I think it's probably too bright to be shooting Sprites in that direction anyway.
I'm not missing out too bad I don't think.
All the lighting is wrapped in rain and you can't see a whole lot of it right now anyway
but maybe we'll be able to eke out some of the lightning that'll be visible
and maybe Paul can capture some Sprites up above
He's pretty consistent on catching the Sprites
but you never know. We're going to take what the storm gives us.
it only takes one good one to make the night successful.
Whenever I shoot in that area I get the police called on me generally.
There's a lot of truckers that go by there
and I guess if they see somebody in the ditch
or looking suspicious around all oil and gas stuff.
Maybe they call the cops.
So I just called ahead and let them know
I've talked with police sheriffs from there before and they said that's the best thing to do just give us a call ahead of time
and let us know you're going to be there and then we know we know not to come out if there's a call.
So hopefully we don't see any red and blue flashing lights in my shots tonight.
Fun fun fun.
Paul had forecast a great location with a clear view over the thunderstorm complex.
After a couple hours struggling under the storm
I was beginning to see perfect conditions
When I get sprites now, they're going to be right at the top of the clouds.
Alright it's time. It's about to happen.
We're two guys 150 miles apart trying to figure out a 40 millisecond flash 50 miles above the ground.
We're due for another big flash here. Right.
I'm gonna uh... roll some video. Oh flash! Big flash and CG!
Oh my gosh!
Yes!
Awesome! got it 240 frames per second.
roll some video. Oh flash! Big flash and CG!
Oh my Gosh!
I'm gonna go set up the other camera at a tighter crop.
yep go for it. I'll scream if I see something and we'll check the footage later.
Yeah I'll set you down... BOOM!
BOOM! Holy moly!
Yes sir!
Notice in this match how the Sprite isn't initiated until the lightning connects to the ground.
Yeah I'll set you down... BOOM!
BOOM! holy moly!
Yes sir!
I'll scream if I see something we'll check the footage later.
Yeah I'll set you down... BOOM!
My ISO was too high.
I gotta bump my ISO down.
Oh I got somebody driving up on me in the middle of nowhere.
Don't you love that?
That's how every horror film... BOOM! Whoa!
Yes!
That's how every horror film... BOOM! Whoa!
Yes!
Yeah dude that was good one. That was a real good one
Wow, you should see it on my end.
(stranger approaches Paul)
Hi there... I'm just taking pictures [Laughter]