A fascinating light phenomenon was captured by a photographer from the Crometeo team last night in Pelješac. This phenomenon has been captured on camera less than 10 times in Croatia.
Many in Pelješac and Korčula were disappointed yesterday from the lack of precipitation they received from the storm that was supposed to pass through southern Dalmatia.
Aside from the disappointment, the photography team at Crometeo had cause for satisfaction as they captured a fascinating light phenomenon that is still very much unexplored and unexplained – Red Sprites.
Red Sprites occur more than 70 kilometers above the ground or above thunder clouds. First photographed by accident in 1989, Red Sprites contain very strong electrical discharges.
Ivica Trojanović, stormchaser and member of the Pelješac Crometeo team, was delighted with his first “catch” of this phenomenon which has now been photographed in Croatia less than 10 times.
Red Sprites are very difficult to photograph because they are usually obscured by clouds and last no more than 10 milliseconds. Invisible to the observer, Red Sprites can only be detected subsequent to recording them on camera.
This large red “spark” was formed last night at about 200 kilometers southeast of Pelješac, around Lake Skadar in Albania during the storm. Their maximum height was about 90 kilometers above the ground. The appearance was recorded at 22:34.
See the photos below.
Images by Ivica Trojanović
