Watch: Glowing pillars of light seen falling over Tibet. Here's what they are

A breathtaking video capturing towering pillars of red light flashing high above thunderstorms over Tibet has left viewers around the world mesmerised.

The rare phenomenon, known as red sprites, appeared like giant glowing tendrils stretching into space, creating a scene more reminiscent of a science-fiction film than a natural weather event.

The footage, recorded during an intense thunderstorm, shows multiple bright red flashes erupting above the cloud tops.

WHAT ARE RED SPRITES?

Unlike ordinary lightning, which strikes within clouds or between clouds and the ground, red sprites occur much higher in the atmosphere, often reaching altitudes of 50 to 90 kilometers above Earth's surface.

Scientists classify sprites as a type of Transient Luminous Event (TLE), brief flashes of light that occur above thunderstorms. They are triggered when powerful lightning discharges below create strong electrical fields in the upper atmosphere. These fields excite nitrogen molecules, causing them to emit a characteristic red glow.

Sprites can take on a variety of shapes, including jellyfish-like structures, columns, carrots, and branching tendrils. The striking pillars seen above Tibet are among the most dramatic forms ever recorded.

Although they can span tens of kilometres across the sky, they typically last only a few milliseconds, making them extremely difficult to observe with the naked eye.

Their fleeting nature is one reason sprites remained largely unknown until recent decades. While pilots had occasionally reported mysterious flashes above storms for years, the first photographic evidence was only captured in 1989.

Since then, advances in high-speed cameras and low-light imaging technology have helped researchers document more of these elusive atmospheric events.

WHY ARE THEY SEEN OVER TIBET?

Tibet's high elevation and relatively clear skies make it an ideal location for observing upper-atmospheric phenomena.

Thunderstorms developing over the region can generate the powerful lightning strikes needed to trigger sprites, while the thinner atmosphere and reduced light pollution improve visibility.

Beyond their visual appeal, sprites are of great scientific interest. Researchers study them to better understand how thunderstorms interact with Earth's upper atmosphere and near-space environment.

These events can influence atmospheric chemistry and provide clues about the transfer of electrical energy between different layers of the atmosphere.

For most people, however, the giant crimson flashes remain one of nature's most spectacular hidden displays.