Strange gigantic jet lightning spotted in China Again (PHOTO)

Scientists Speculate on “Gigantic Jets”

In 2010, a “gigantic jet” was spotted over China. NBC News has reported that over the last two years scientists have been studying this rare huge bust of lightning. What makes this occurrence even more special is how far it happened from the equator. It is more likely to occur in tropical regions.

Space.com explains:

“The gigantic jet took place in eastern China on Aug. 12, 2010 — the farthest a ground-based one has ever been observed from the equator, according to the research team … Previous jets were mainly seen in tropical or subtropical regions, but this one took place around 35 degrees latitude, about the same as the southern part of Tennessee in the United States.”

Additionally, scientists are studying another lightning flash they believe to be a “gigantic jet” that occurred in the same area, but during a different thunderstorm.

Wherever and whenever it occurs, it can take on different appearances. One is what is known as a sprite, an orange-red flash above the clouds or it can appear as a cone shaped blue flash. This particular instance occurred 55 miles above the ground. Scientists are still unsure as to what exactly these “gigantic jets” are, but they hypothesize they balance out electrical charges during thunderstorms.

1. Howell, Elizabeth. NBC News. http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/26/17103649-mysterious-gigantic-jet-lightning-spotted-over-china?lite