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(thunder rumbling)
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...a team of scientists
takes to the air
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to investigate a mystery.
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I reported it,
and nobody believed me.
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(laughs)
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NARRATOR:
They're trying to catch
a burst of energy
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so fleeting and hard to see
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that scientists call it by
the ethereal name of "sprite."
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EARLE WILLIAMS:
The bolts that cause sprites
are super-bolts,
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the kind of lightning
that'll blow your TV sky high.
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NARRATOR:
Unlike the brilliant
Northern Lights,
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created in the upper atmosphere
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by streams of charged
solar particles,
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sprites are high-altitude sparks
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that originate
right here on Earth.
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They're leading researchers
on a chase
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into the far reaches
of the upper atmosphere
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to a little-explored region,
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home to many
mysterious phenomena.
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You can see airglow,
that's more diffuse
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and just in layers
than the curtain-like aurora.
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NARRATOR:
NOVA takes to the air
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on a quest to record
these elusive events.
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Sprite!
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NARRATOR:
And the effort
also continues above
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from the vantage point of space,
where the work had its beginning
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during the ill-fated
Columbia mission,
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with Israeli astronaut
Ilan Ramon.
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I asked him, "Please bring me
one sprite image."
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He said, "Don't worry,
I'll get you a couple."
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NARRATOR:
Ramon's colleagues now continue
where he left off.
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SATOSHI FURUKAWA (translated):
We must take over their work.
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I thought that was
the survivors' duty.
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NARRATOR:
Their dramatic discoveries
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are revealing that we live
on an electrified planet,
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surrounded by a global circuit
that rings the Earth.
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And like a planetary heartbeat,
we can now detect it.
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It is like taking the EKG
of the planet.
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NARRATOR:
High above the air we breathe,
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at the boundary
of a new frontier,
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journey with us
to the edge of space,
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right now on NOVA.
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Major funding for NOVA
is provided by the following:
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The Boeing Company.
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The Corporation
for Public Broadcasting.
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And by contributions
to your PBS station from:
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Additional funding from:
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00:02:56,097 --> 00:02:58,097
In the darkness of space
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there are violent forces
at work.
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Cosmic rays shoot
across the universe,
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00:03:06,331 --> 00:03:10,868
asteroids billions of years old
stream towards Earth,
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and solar winds wreak havoc.
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Their destination:
the edge of space.
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Our upper atmosphere:
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it's Earth's
first line of defense
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against the hurtling
space rocks
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that we see flare
into brilliance as meteors;
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a protective buffer against
the high-energy solar wind
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that creates the beautiful
Northern Lights;
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and crucially, it is a key link
in a global electric circuit
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that blankets the planet
from pole to pole.
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Far below, the surface
of the Earth
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is hammered by eight million
bolts of lightning every day:
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up to 100 strikes every second.
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Most lightning strikes
from the clouds
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towards the surface
of the Earth.
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But occasionally,
the most powerful bolts
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are accompanied by a ghostly and
fleeting flash above the clouds,
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reaching all the way
to the very edge of space,
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but lasting only
milliseconds.
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It's been a decades-long
challenge
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to understand these mysterious
bursts of light.
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Now, from the high vantage of
the International Space Station,
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it may finally be possible
to capture images
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of these rarely seen events
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in the boundary
between Earth and space.
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But what defines this region?
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Earth's atmosphere
is a thin blanket of gas.
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The troposphere is the lowest
and densest layer.
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All of life as we know it
depends on this relatively thin,
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00:04:59,845 --> 00:05:04,382
five- to ten-mile-thick band
of protective air.
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Its thickness varies
with latitude and the seasons.
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This is where
most weather occurs,
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including the towering
thunderclouds
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that generate lightning.
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A high-altitude
helium-filled balloon
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ascends quickly
through this region
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and enters the stratosphere,
where most jet planes fly
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and where the ozone layer
is found,
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which absorbs the Sun's
ultraviolet light
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that can damage living things.
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Moving into this hostile
environment,
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the air pressure drops,
causing the balloon to expand.
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Up here, the lack of oxygen
would quickly kill a person.
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The stratosphere reaches
an altitude of about 30 miles.
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Eventually, the balloon
cannot rise any higher,
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but the ever-thinning
upper atmosphere,
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including the ionosphere,
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extends another
500 to 600 miles,
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even beyond the orbital height
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of the International
Space Station,
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which circles Earth
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at an altitude of
between 200 and 270 miles.
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From here, the ISS
looks down on the planet.
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At this altitude,
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the environment
is instantly lethal.
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The extremely low pressure
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would cause a person's body
fluids to vaporize in seconds,
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while the little air that
remains can reach temperatures
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of more than 2,000 degrees
Fahrenheit.
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There are also dangers
of radiation exposure
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in this forbidding atmosphere.
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But safely aboard the ISS,
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an international team
of astronauts lives and works,
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including, on this mission,
Satoshi Furukawa,
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a native of Yokohama, Japan.
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An ardent baseball fan,
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he takes advantage of zero
gravity to play a solo game.
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A medical doctor, one of
Furukawa's jobs on the station
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is to study the effects
of micro gravity
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on the human body.
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He often conducts research
as both doctor and patient.
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He is also the mission
photographer.
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Using an extremely sensitive
high-definition camera,
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Furukawa will capture
nighttime images
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of Earth's upper atmosphere.
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The ISS is an ideal platform
to study the edge of space,
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thanks to the Cupola
observation window.
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It offers a priceless view
of space and the planet below.
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Its heavy shutters open
to reveal windows
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for photography and viewing.
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It's from here that Furukawa
will aim his camera
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when the station's orbit takes
it into the Earth's shadow,
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which it passes into
about every 90 minutes
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as it orbits the planet.
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Designed to capture
never-before-seen phenomena,
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it is so sensitive that
it can shoot color images
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in near total darkness,
bringing to light
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places once hidden
by the blackness of space.
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He's hoping to capture images
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of an elusive and mysterious
form of high-altitude lightning
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only recently discovered
and still little understood.
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The story of these
strange lights in the sky
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began one night in 1973,
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when a U.S. Air Force pilot
named Ronald Williams
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was surprised
by an unusual sight.
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There was a typhoon
over the South China Sea.
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I happened to be flying
over the typhoon.
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And as I was going right towards
the center of the typhoon,
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there was a big thunderstorm,
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just off the center
of the typhoon.
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All of a sudden,
just by accident,
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I was watching it because
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if I had been doing anything
else, I wouldn't have seen it.
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NARRATOR:
Williams saw a bolt of lightning
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00:09:26,411 --> 00:09:30,214
go straight up
from the top of the clouds.
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When it came up,
I happened to be watching it,
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and I just watched it go up.
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I reported it,
and nobody believed me.
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(laughs)
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They said, "Lightning
don't go straight up.
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It has to discharge
on something."
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NARRATOR:
But it turned out that Williams
was not the only pilot
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to see lightning emerge
from the top of a cloud
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and shoot upward towards space.
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As sightings accumulated,
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they became a part
of aviation folklore--
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00:09:59,444 --> 00:10:01,779
rare and unconfirmed events
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00:10:01,813 --> 00:10:07,117
that hovered just outside
the boundaries of real science--
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until another chance sighting
provided more evidence.
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00:10:10,388 --> 00:10:12,956
EARLE WILLIAMS:
A fellow by the name
of Jack Winckler
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had some detectors out.
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He was looking
for something else,
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but he discovered them
by accident
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with equipment that was operated
on dark nights in Minnesota.
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NARRATOR:
While testing a low-light
video camera in 1989,
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00:10:27,339 --> 00:10:30,874
Jack Winckler and a team
at the University of Minnesota
178
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accidentally captured
a black and white image
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that seemed to show
the elusive "upward lightning"
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the pilots had described.
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Fittingly,
this ethereal phenomenon
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became known as a "sprite,"
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a whimsical name that captures
its fleeting nature.
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These giant pillars of light
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sparked an intensified interest
in lightning
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and the dangers it presents
to spacecraft
187
00:11:00,538 --> 00:11:02,206
during launch or landing.
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Today, astronaut
Satoshi Furukawa
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is looking for thunderstorms.
190
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Sprites are only found
where lightning is present.
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00:11:17,789 --> 00:11:20,090
But spotting sprites isn't easy:
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00:11:20,125 --> 00:11:22,459
they only accompany
bolts of lightning
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00:11:22,494 --> 00:11:25,696
over ten times more powerful
than normal lightning.
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00:11:29,534 --> 00:11:32,369
In ten minutes,
it will be nightfall again,
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00:11:32,404 --> 00:11:37,040
so Furukawa quickly
prepares his camera.
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FURUKAWA:
Recorder power is on.
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00:11:42,447 --> 00:11:43,981
Monitor is on, too.
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00:11:52,490 --> 00:11:54,758
NARRATOR:
This specialized camera
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00:11:54,793 --> 00:11:57,995
should be able to capture images
of the elusive sprites,
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00:11:58,029 --> 00:12:00,831
even in these low-light
conditions.
201
00:12:00,865 --> 00:12:03,367
He'll need this
extra sensitivity
202
00:12:03,401 --> 00:12:05,035
to catch a sprite.
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00:12:10,475 --> 00:12:13,777
If any sprites appear,
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00:12:13,812 --> 00:12:15,879
they will be above
powerful bursts of lightning.
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00:12:15,914 --> 00:12:17,548
Across the world,
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00:12:17,582 --> 00:12:22,052
over 2,000 lightning bolts
flash every minute,
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00:12:22,086 --> 00:12:26,123
and over 20 million
strike the U.S. each year.
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00:12:26,157 --> 00:12:29,193
They're four to five times
hotter
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00:12:29,227 --> 00:12:32,563
than the surface of the Sun,
and the most potent
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00:12:32,597 --> 00:12:38,101
can discharge up to a billion
volts of electricity.
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00:12:38,136 --> 00:12:43,540
Unlike the superheated lightning
flashing below the storm clouds,
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00:12:43,575 --> 00:12:47,878
the sprites above are huge
but electrically much weaker--
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00:12:47,912 --> 00:12:51,682
and faster,
disappearing on average
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00:12:51,716 --> 00:12:54,785
in less than 70 milliseconds.
215
00:12:58,022 --> 00:13:03,093
Furukawa maintains his vigil
for several hours,
216
00:13:03,127 --> 00:13:07,097
but without much luck.
217
00:13:07,131 --> 00:13:10,267
FURUKAWA:
Hmm, it's difficult...
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00:13:12,937 --> 00:13:16,573
NARRATOR:
His camera recorded a huge
number of lightning flashes,
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00:13:16,608 --> 00:13:19,409
but no sprites appeared
above them.
220
00:13:19,444 --> 00:13:22,412
FURUKAWA:
I felt like a hunter.
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00:13:22,447 --> 00:13:26,016
It was impossible to predict
where it would appear.
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00:13:26,050 --> 00:13:29,219
NARRATOR:
Though the search
is frustrating and difficult,
223
00:13:29,254 --> 00:13:31,455
he is determined
to capture a sprite,
224
00:13:31,489 --> 00:13:35,359
in part because of a letter
he received
225
00:13:35,393 --> 00:13:38,362
during training
for his ISS flight.
226
00:13:38,396 --> 00:13:43,200
The letter was from an Israeli
lightning expert, Yoav Yair,
227
00:13:43,234 --> 00:13:46,503
who wrote to inquire
about the mission.
228
00:13:46,538 --> 00:13:49,740
He enclosed a photo
of Ilan Ramon,
229
00:13:49,774 --> 00:13:52,309
Israel's first astronaut
230
00:13:52,343 --> 00:13:56,013
and a crewmember of the
ill-fated Columbia mission.
231
00:13:56,047 --> 00:13:58,448
Ramon had brought with him
232
00:13:58,483 --> 00:14:00,751
a high-sensitivity
black and white camera
233
00:14:00,785 --> 00:14:04,655
to try to capture images
of sprites from space.
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00:14:04,689 --> 00:14:09,259
RAMON (recording):
It's a big day for the Israeli
science community.
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00:14:09,294 --> 00:14:14,598
NARRATOR:
Ramon's partner in the research
was Professor Yoav Yair.
236
00:14:14,632 --> 00:14:17,434
I asked him, "Please bring me
one sprite image."
237
00:14:17,468 --> 00:14:20,237
He said, "Don't worry,
I'll get you a couple!"
238
00:14:20,271 --> 00:14:22,673
NARRATOR:
After capturing over nine hours
239
00:14:22,707 --> 00:14:25,742
of thunderstorm footage
on board,
240
00:14:25,777 --> 00:14:27,044
he succeeded,
241
00:14:27,078 --> 00:14:32,716
and transmitted several images
of sprites back down to Earth.
242
00:14:32,750 --> 00:14:35,852
But tragically,
Columbia never made it home.
243
00:14:35,887 --> 00:14:40,557
It disintegrated
upon re-entry.
244
00:14:40,592 --> 00:14:44,428
Though debris
was scattered widely,
245
00:14:44,462 --> 00:14:46,830
the camera that Ramon had used
to capture sprite images
246
00:14:46,864 --> 00:14:48,198
somehow survived,
247
00:14:48,232 --> 00:14:51,134
with some of Ramon's work
intact.
248
00:14:57,208 --> 00:15:00,110
One image of active lightning
over Central Africa
249
00:15:00,144 --> 00:15:03,914
shows a bright flash of light
above the lightning
250
00:15:03,948 --> 00:15:06,984
and arcing up towards space.
251
00:15:07,018 --> 00:15:09,186
It was a sprite.
252
00:15:09,220 --> 00:15:11,355
Ramon captured images
like this one
253
00:15:11,389 --> 00:15:15,292
from several vantage points
in orbit.
254
00:15:15,326 --> 00:15:19,229
Yair and his research team
studied these photos
255
00:15:19,263 --> 00:15:20,831
and were surprised to discover
256
00:15:20,865 --> 00:15:22,265
how frequently sprite events
occurred
257
00:15:22,300 --> 00:15:24,501
over large tropical storms,
258
00:15:24,535 --> 00:15:27,771
and how widely distributed
they were.
259
00:15:27,805 --> 00:15:30,574
But there was still
much to learn.
260
00:15:30,608 --> 00:15:36,380
Yair saw Furukawa's mission
as a great opportunity
261
00:15:36,414 --> 00:15:38,815
to advance the understanding
of sprites.
262
00:15:47,492 --> 00:15:49,459
FURUKAWA (translated):
It's so touching.
263
00:15:49,494 --> 00:15:51,395
I can feel their passion.
264
00:15:51,429 --> 00:15:55,966
I was there
at their scheduled landing spot
265
00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,568
and looking up at the sky.
266
00:15:58,603 --> 00:16:00,671
The Columbia never came back.
267
00:16:08,446 --> 00:16:11,314
They were my friends
and my colleagues.
268
00:16:11,349 --> 00:16:15,352
I was very sad to lose them.
269
00:16:15,386 --> 00:16:18,522
At first, it was difficult
to get back on track.
270
00:16:18,556 --> 00:16:22,092
I didn't feel like doing
anything.
271
00:16:22,126 --> 00:16:23,460
Then I thought,
272
00:16:23,494 --> 00:16:27,431
"We must take over their work
and move forward."
273
00:16:27,465 --> 00:16:31,468
I thought that was
the survivors' duty.
274
00:16:31,502 --> 00:16:33,837
So I am honored and happy
275
00:16:33,871 --> 00:16:37,474
that I was given this chance
in this way.
276
00:16:43,014 --> 00:16:46,316
NARRATOR:
So nearly 250 miles above Earth,
277
00:16:46,350 --> 00:16:51,655
Furukawa is working hard
to further Ramon's legacy.
278
00:16:51,689 --> 00:16:52,956
He readies his camera
279
00:16:52,990 --> 00:16:55,425
as the flight path
takes him towards Europe
280
00:16:55,460 --> 00:16:59,563
and into the nighttime darkness:
Earth's shadow.
281
00:17:03,367 --> 00:17:04,601
He won't have much time.
282
00:17:04,635 --> 00:17:06,369
At ISS speeds,
283
00:17:06,404 --> 00:17:11,675
traveling over Paris to Rome
takes just two minutes.
284
00:17:11,709 --> 00:17:14,811
Looking down,
he sees the lights
285
00:17:14,846 --> 00:17:19,049
rimming the boot-shaped
peninsula of Italy.
286
00:17:19,083 --> 00:17:25,522
In ten minutes,
he'll be over Central Africa.
287
00:17:25,556 --> 00:17:27,457
Weather patterns
and topography
288
00:17:27,492 --> 00:17:31,328
make this the world's
most lightning-prone region.
289
00:17:31,362 --> 00:17:33,296
Because it's estimated that
290
00:17:33,331 --> 00:17:37,067
only one in 10,000 lightning
bolts produces a sprite,
291
00:17:37,101 --> 00:17:40,170
Africa's very active skies
make it one of the best places
292
00:17:40,204 --> 00:17:43,507
to spot one of these
elusive events.
293
00:17:43,541 --> 00:17:47,644
So the first step in capturing
a sprite is to track
294
00:17:47,678 --> 00:17:51,748
the kind of extraordinary,
monster thunderstorms
295
00:17:51,783 --> 00:17:55,051
that produce super-bolts
of lightning.
296
00:17:55,086 --> 00:17:58,789
And figuring out where they
might be is Yoav Yair's job.
297
00:17:58,823 --> 00:18:02,592
He analyzes weather patterns
on the ground
298
00:18:02,627 --> 00:18:05,896
and sends the locations
299
00:18:05,930 --> 00:18:07,998
of potential sprite-producing
thunderclouds
300
00:18:08,032 --> 00:18:09,833
to Furukawa
on the Space Station.
301
00:18:09,867 --> 00:18:14,838
This is a very exciting
and emotional thing for me to do
302
00:18:14,872 --> 00:18:17,674
because it reminds me
of the things we did
303
00:18:17,708 --> 00:18:23,446
for Ilan Ramon and the crew
of the Columbia in 2003.
304
00:18:23,481 --> 00:18:29,653
NARRATOR:
With Yair guiding him,
Furukawa circles the globe
305
00:18:29,687 --> 00:18:31,822
looking for the kind
of monster thunderclouds
306
00:18:31,856 --> 00:18:34,157
that could produce a sprite!
307
00:18:34,192 --> 00:18:39,429
Then, while flying
over the Middle East...
308
00:18:39,463 --> 00:18:40,864
FURUKAWA:
Incredible!
309
00:18:40,898 --> 00:18:45,168
NARRATOR:
...he sees something.
310
00:18:45,203 --> 00:18:49,406
It's clearly a sprite
flashing over the thundercloud
311
00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,008
and surging towards space.
312
00:18:52,043 --> 00:18:55,212
And it looks like a color
version of the one captured
313
00:18:55,246 --> 00:18:59,749
by Ilan Ramon
from the Columbia space shuttle.
314
00:18:59,784 --> 00:19:03,320
It's the first clear
high-definition color photograph
315
00:19:03,354 --> 00:19:06,823
of a sprite taken from above.
316
00:19:06,858 --> 00:19:09,960
And there are more.
317
00:19:09,994 --> 00:19:14,865
Ahead is Taiwan, Japan
and mainland China.
318
00:19:14,899 --> 00:19:19,269
A giant sprite appears
over Beijing, near the horizon.
319
00:19:22,106 --> 00:19:24,274
The white flash below
320
00:19:24,308 --> 00:19:26,810
is an unusually powerful bolt
of lightning.
321
00:19:31,949 --> 00:19:34,384
The sprite above is far off.
322
00:19:34,418 --> 00:19:36,620
It may not look
especially large,
323
00:19:36,654 --> 00:19:40,357
but some sprites can be
almost 40 miles in height:
324
00:19:40,391 --> 00:19:44,728
dozens of times taller than
ground-striking lightning bolts.
325
00:19:47,465 --> 00:19:51,301
Altogether, Furukawa
captured six sprites.
326
00:19:51,335 --> 00:19:53,203
FURUKAWA:
It was a real surprise to me.
327
00:19:53,237 --> 00:19:58,141
It's so exciting when something
previously invisible to us
328
00:19:58,175 --> 00:20:01,978
finally starts to become
visible.
329
00:20:03,948 --> 00:20:07,183
NARRATOR:
The footage was sent
to Yoav Yair
330
00:20:07,218 --> 00:20:10,153
and an international team
of sprite researchers
331
00:20:10,187 --> 00:20:13,556
who are continuing the work
of Ilan Ramon
332
00:20:13,591 --> 00:20:14,925
and the lost Columbia crew.
333
00:20:14,959 --> 00:20:17,127
Oh, very nice!
334
00:20:17,161 --> 00:20:21,398
Now it's much more detailed,
better camera, color--
335
00:20:21,432 --> 00:20:23,366
we only had black and white--
336
00:20:23,401 --> 00:20:25,001
but it was really
exciting for me.
337
00:20:25,036 --> 00:20:27,504
Actually, it really
moved my heart to see it.
338
00:20:27,538 --> 00:20:30,273
I have to imagine this
339
00:20:30,308 --> 00:20:34,077
because they are not with us--
they're all gone--
340
00:20:34,111 --> 00:20:36,646
but I am sure that if he knew
341
00:20:36,681 --> 00:20:41,184
that their mission was
accomplished eight years later
342
00:20:41,218 --> 00:20:46,623
or maybe even going on later,
they would feel fulfilled.
343
00:20:46,657 --> 00:20:50,560
He would be proud, I think.
344
00:20:50,594 --> 00:20:55,065
NARRATOR:
Images like these are helping
scientists to understand
345
00:20:55,099 --> 00:20:57,734
how a huge storm
can generate sprites.
346
00:20:57,768 --> 00:20:59,736
During a thunderstorm,
347
00:20:59,770 --> 00:21:03,173
electric charge builds up
in a thundercloud,
348
00:21:03,207 --> 00:21:06,276
causing lightning to emerge
from the lower part of the cloud
349
00:21:06,310 --> 00:21:07,510
and strike the Earth,
350
00:21:07,545 --> 00:21:11,114
discharging an immense
electric current.
351
00:21:11,148 --> 00:21:14,584
But if that lightning bolt
is powerful enough,
352
00:21:14,618 --> 00:21:18,221
it can trigger a sympathetic
spark above the cloud.
353
00:21:18,255 --> 00:21:23,693
EARLE WILLIAMS:
As you go up in altitude,
the density of air decreases.
354
00:21:23,728 --> 00:21:27,130
And so low-density air
is easier to make a spark in
355
00:21:27,164 --> 00:21:28,698
than high-density air.
356
00:21:28,733 --> 00:21:30,734
So a Sprite is really caused
by lightning
357
00:21:30,768 --> 00:21:33,436
down in the lower atmosphere
358
00:21:33,471 --> 00:21:38,108
that exerts a stress
on the upper, thinner atmosphere
359
00:21:38,142 --> 00:21:41,378
and causes a spark up there.
360
00:21:41,412 --> 00:21:45,782
NARRATOR:
And that spark gives rise
to a sprite.
361
00:21:45,816 --> 00:21:49,252
As the scientists examine
the images,
362
00:21:49,286 --> 00:21:52,422
there's one that attracts
a lot of attention.
363
00:21:52,456 --> 00:21:55,125
Captured in one
of Furukawa's pictures,
364
00:21:55,159 --> 00:21:57,060
the top of one of the sprites
365
00:21:57,094 --> 00:22:01,331
seems to reach all the way
to the airglow layer.
366
00:22:01,365 --> 00:22:04,401
The airglow is part
of the ionosphere,
367
00:22:04,435 --> 00:22:07,037
which is a vast sea of
electrically charged particles,
368
00:22:07,071 --> 00:22:08,304
or ions.
369
00:22:08,339 --> 00:22:09,839
It's these particles,
370
00:22:09,874 --> 00:22:16,146
with help from the Sun,
that create the glow.
371
00:22:16,180 --> 00:22:18,448
Airglow is due to solar
radiation at short wavelengths--
372
00:22:18,482 --> 00:22:20,850
ultraviolet wavelengths, UV,
the same stuff that sunburns us
373
00:22:20,885 --> 00:22:22,952
if we're outside
without our sunblock--
374
00:22:22,987 --> 00:22:26,990
or X-rays, you know,
that we use to image our bones.
375
00:22:27,024 --> 00:22:29,225
And that can transfer energy
376
00:22:29,260 --> 00:22:31,327
to the molecules
in the atmosphere,
377
00:22:31,362 --> 00:22:34,431
and that energy transfer
causes a glow.
378
00:22:34,465 --> 00:22:37,200
NARRATOR:
But the most important thing
about the airglow
379
00:22:37,234 --> 00:22:42,272
may not be why it glows,
but where it's located.
380
00:22:42,306 --> 00:22:44,674
It's the lowest part
of the ionosphere,
381
00:22:44,708 --> 00:22:47,577
the uppermost region
of the atmosphere.
382
00:22:47,611 --> 00:22:50,480
It begins about
60 miles above Earth
383
00:22:50,514 --> 00:22:55,952
and extends over 600 miles
to the very edge of space.
384
00:22:55,986 --> 00:22:59,122
The airglow is just
the most visible component
385
00:22:59,156 --> 00:23:00,824
of the ionosphere,
386
00:23:00,858 --> 00:23:03,993
which is created by radiation
from the Sun
387
00:23:04,028 --> 00:23:08,565
interacting with the topmost
layer of Earth's atmosphere.
388
00:23:08,599 --> 00:23:11,901
So the image of a sprite
reaching the airglow
389
00:23:11,936 --> 00:23:17,574
shows the incredible heights
these massive sparks can reach.
390
00:23:17,608 --> 00:23:21,377
But these stunning images
from the Space Station
391
00:23:21,412 --> 00:23:24,714
still leave many questions
unanswered.
392
00:23:24,748 --> 00:23:27,951
How exactly do sprites form?
393
00:23:27,985 --> 00:23:30,954
And what accounts
for their peculiar shape?
394
00:23:32,823 --> 00:23:35,258
To answer these questions,
395
00:23:35,292 --> 00:23:37,360
the group decides
to try something
396
00:23:37,394 --> 00:23:41,531
that's never been done:
to fly closer to sprites
397
00:23:41,565 --> 00:23:43,933
and to photograph them
simultaneously
398
00:23:43,968 --> 00:23:47,237
with two different cameras
on two different airplanes,
399
00:23:47,271 --> 00:23:49,939
hoping to combine
these images digitally
400
00:23:49,974 --> 00:23:52,442
and reveal the anatomy
of a sprite.
401
00:23:54,912 --> 00:23:57,280
The planes will also be equipped
402
00:23:57,314 --> 00:24:00,250
with the same super-sensitive
color HD camera
403
00:24:00,284 --> 00:24:03,052
Furukawa has been using on the
International Space Station.
404
00:24:05,956 --> 00:24:07,657
But their real secret weapon
405
00:24:07,691 --> 00:24:09,859
is a high-speed
black and white camera
406
00:24:09,894 --> 00:24:11,961
that shoots 10,000 frames
per second
407
00:24:11,996 --> 00:24:14,564
under low-light conditions.
408
00:24:14,598 --> 00:24:17,800
It will be able to show
the formation of sprites
409
00:24:17,835 --> 00:24:20,503
in slow motion.
410
00:24:20,538 --> 00:24:23,573
It will be the first time
that we have had two aircraft
411
00:24:23,607 --> 00:24:26,376
simultaneously
trying to image a sprite
412
00:24:26,410 --> 00:24:28,411
with high-speed cameras.
413
00:24:28,445 --> 00:24:31,447
Sp it's very exciting for us.
414
00:24:33,784 --> 00:24:35,618
NARRATOR:
They chose the area
415
00:24:35,653 --> 00:24:37,921
where the Great Plains
meet the Rocky Mountains
416
00:24:37,955 --> 00:24:40,456
as a likely place
to hunt for sprites
417
00:24:40,491 --> 00:24:43,726
because it is famous for very
big nighttime thunderstorms.
418
00:24:46,564 --> 00:24:49,966
You can see huge thunderclouds
there in the summertime.
419
00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:53,603
The weather is sunny
almost 70% of the year.
420
00:24:53,637 --> 00:24:56,206
The intense sunlight
heats the ground
421
00:24:56,240 --> 00:25:00,944
and causes a strong
upward air current.
422
00:25:00,978 --> 00:25:04,581
This, in turn, creates active
thunderclouds one after another,
423
00:25:04,615 --> 00:25:06,783
producing lightning.
424
00:25:06,817 --> 00:25:12,589
But only the biggest lightning
flashes of all produce sprites.
425
00:25:12,623 --> 00:25:17,594
And once again,
it will be Yoav Yair's job
426
00:25:17,628 --> 00:25:19,362
to help the team in the air
427
00:25:19,396 --> 00:25:22,565
find those huge
sprite-producing thunderclouds.
428
00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:27,737
He and his team will be at
the Yucca Ridge Field Station,
429
00:25:27,771 --> 00:25:29,472
a weather observation facility
430
00:25:29,506 --> 00:25:31,307
on the Great Plains
north of Denver.
431
00:25:31,342 --> 00:25:32,842
Oh, you got it.
432
00:25:32,876 --> 00:25:34,677
No, no...
433
00:25:34,712 --> 00:25:36,179
You got it okay.
434
00:25:36,213 --> 00:25:38,514
NARRATOR:
They will forecast
where a sprite might appear
435
00:25:38,549 --> 00:25:40,917
and direct the planes.
436
00:25:40,951 --> 00:25:45,021
At 5:00 p.m.,
the flight team gathers
437
00:25:45,055 --> 00:25:47,156
to discuss strategy
for tonight's mission.
438
00:25:50,194 --> 00:25:52,495
They call the control station.
439
00:25:52,529 --> 00:25:56,599
Scientist Geoff McHarg, who
will be on one of the planes,
440
00:25:56,634 --> 00:25:58,735
is asking for the lightning
forecast.
441
00:25:58,769 --> 00:26:02,238
We were just looking
at the charge moment change map
442
00:26:02,273 --> 00:26:03,539
and then the weather map...
443
00:26:03,574 --> 00:26:05,108
WALT LYONS:
It's not weakening.
444
00:26:05,142 --> 00:26:06,309
The good news is
445
00:26:06,343 --> 00:26:09,746
it's moving into some
extremely unstable air.
446
00:26:09,780 --> 00:26:11,948
NARRATOR:
Walt Lyons of the Yucca Ridge
Field Station
447
00:26:11,982 --> 00:26:15,351
is working with Yair
to analyze the weather data.
448
00:26:15,386 --> 00:26:19,722
In this satellite image,
clouds are shown in blue.
449
00:26:19,757 --> 00:26:22,392
That day, thunderclouds
were developing
450
00:26:22,426 --> 00:26:24,327
in a variety of places.
451
00:26:24,361 --> 00:26:27,063
But would they produce
powerful enough lightning
452
00:26:27,097 --> 00:26:30,867
to produce sprites?
453
00:26:30,901 --> 00:26:36,773
Back at the airport, the pilots
talk among themselves.
454
00:26:36,807 --> 00:26:38,808
Usually they avoid big storms,
455
00:26:38,842 --> 00:26:41,344
but tonight they will have
to fly in
456
00:26:41,378 --> 00:26:42,945
and around the thunderclouds,
457
00:26:42,980 --> 00:26:46,516
hunting for the perfect position
to capture sprites.
458
00:26:46,550 --> 00:26:51,187
They know it will be
a rough and difficult flight.
459
00:26:51,221 --> 00:26:56,159
(thunder rumbling)
460
00:26:56,193 --> 00:26:58,127
As soon as it gets dark,
461
00:26:58,162 --> 00:27:02,899
thunder begins to reverberate
around the airport.
462
00:27:05,069 --> 00:27:06,903
The researchers board the planes
463
00:27:06,937 --> 00:27:09,072
on what looks like
a promising night.
464
00:27:09,106 --> 00:27:12,775
At 9:00 p.m.,
the two jets take off.
465
00:27:17,114 --> 00:27:19,982
They're heading
for thunderclouds 120 miles away
466
00:27:20,017 --> 00:27:22,185
that are vigorously
producing lightning.
467
00:27:22,219 --> 00:27:25,988
The cabin is in constant
communication
468
00:27:26,023 --> 00:27:30,727
with Yair and Lyons
at Yucca Ridge.
469
00:27:30,761 --> 00:27:32,962
Essentially, they want
some kind of central location.
470
00:27:32,996 --> 00:27:35,798
NARRATOR:
He evaluates the data
and gives the pilots
471
00:27:35,833 --> 00:27:38,735
the latitude and longitude
of large thunderclouds
472
00:27:38,769 --> 00:27:40,370
where sprites might appear.
473
00:27:40,404 --> 00:27:43,906
We'll be on this
data collection run
474
00:27:43,941 --> 00:27:46,642
for about ten minutes.
475
00:27:46,677 --> 00:27:48,845
NARRATOR:
Outside the window,
476
00:27:48,879 --> 00:27:52,715
they see a huge thundercloud
begin to glow with lightning.
477
00:27:52,750 --> 00:27:54,283
MAN:
It's here!
478
00:27:54,318 --> 00:27:55,918
Lightning!
479
00:27:55,953 --> 00:27:57,553
Quite promising.
480
00:27:57,588 --> 00:28:00,723
NARRATOR:
Somewhere in the darkness
above the cloud,
481
00:28:00,758 --> 00:28:04,394
they are hoping a sprite
will occur.
482
00:28:04,428 --> 00:28:07,363
The high-speed camera
is adjusted slightly upwards
483
00:28:07,398 --> 00:28:10,733
to shoot the area above
the flashing thunderclouds.
484
00:28:12,803 --> 00:28:16,639
Geoff McHarg, who has spent
20 years chasing sprites,
485
00:28:16,673 --> 00:28:19,842
can barely contain
his excitement.
486
00:28:19,877 --> 00:28:22,779
But Yair and Walt Lyons
on the ground
487
00:28:22,813 --> 00:28:25,681
can see an unexpected change
in the thundercloud.
488
00:28:25,716 --> 00:28:27,216
YAIR:
They are here,
489
00:28:27,251 --> 00:28:30,319
and if they go like this,
they would get this part, but...
490
00:28:30,354 --> 00:28:34,724
LYONS:
You know, both of them
are starting to weaken.
491
00:28:34,758 --> 00:28:37,860
NARRATOR:
The large thundercloud
that was expected to grow
492
00:28:37,895 --> 00:28:41,297
has started to split in two.
493
00:28:41,331 --> 00:28:44,367
They've been in the air
for five hours
494
00:28:44,401 --> 00:28:47,236
with no sign of those
elusive sprites,
495
00:28:47,271 --> 00:28:51,607
and now the lightning
is quickly losing momentum.
496
00:28:51,642 --> 00:28:57,079
Despite the promising forecast
and their careful preparation,
497
00:28:57,114 --> 00:29:01,751
they have no choice but to
return to the airport defeated.
498
00:29:03,654 --> 00:29:05,121
It was horrible.
499
00:29:05,155 --> 00:29:06,489
MAN:
Until we got high.
500
00:29:06,523 --> 00:29:07,457
Yeah.
501
00:29:07,491 --> 00:29:10,293
I've seen much larger storms,
you know,
502
00:29:10,327 --> 00:29:12,328
where you get
really large sprites
503
00:29:12,362 --> 00:29:15,431
that happen pretty often,
and this was just too small.
504
00:29:15,466 --> 00:29:16,599
We'll see.
505
00:29:16,633 --> 00:29:18,501
Fingers crossed
for the next one.
506
00:29:18,535 --> 00:29:22,338
NARRATOR:
They realize
this will not be easy.
507
00:29:28,545 --> 00:29:31,047
On the Fourth of July,
508
00:29:31,081 --> 00:29:33,082
while people all over America
are celebrating,
509
00:29:33,116 --> 00:29:35,751
the sprite team hurries
to the airport.
510
00:29:35,786 --> 00:29:36,886
They've been waiting
511
00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,790
for the right kind of weather
for a week.
512
00:29:40,824 --> 00:29:43,359
Finally, new storm clouds
513
00:29:43,393 --> 00:29:47,063
powerful enough to generate
sprites have appeared.
514
00:29:47,097 --> 00:29:48,498
McHARG:
So if we go here...
515
00:29:48,532 --> 00:29:50,633
If we don't see
lots of sprites
516
00:29:50,667 --> 00:29:53,169
and this starts to get
more intense,
517
00:29:53,203 --> 00:29:54,604
then I may want
to extend up.
518
00:29:54,638 --> 00:29:59,575
Go as soon as they
get ready, I would say.
519
00:30:05,015 --> 00:30:08,618
NARRATOR:
Both planes take off
into a stormy sky.
520
00:30:17,461 --> 00:30:19,629
While Denver
watches fireworks below,
521
00:30:19,663 --> 00:30:23,699
they prep the cameras
and get ready.
522
00:30:23,734 --> 00:30:25,401
30 seconds.
523
00:30:25,435 --> 00:30:29,872
NARRATOR:
They start to see flashes
of lightning below.
524
00:30:29,907 --> 00:30:34,143
On the ground, Yair and Lyons
are trying to figure out
525
00:30:34,177 --> 00:30:36,379
the best way
to position the planes.
526
00:30:36,413 --> 00:30:38,447
But then they would have
to turn down,
527
00:30:38,482 --> 00:30:40,149
or do you want them
to circumvent it?
528
00:30:40,183 --> 00:30:42,985
Well, can they punch through
and come around the other...
529
00:30:43,020 --> 00:30:44,554
Go all the way and...
530
00:30:44,588 --> 00:30:46,022
Up to about 47 degrees
531
00:30:46,056 --> 00:30:47,823
and see if they can
punch through.
532
00:30:47,858 --> 00:30:51,727
NARRATOR:
The two thunderclouds shown
in deep blue have collided,
533
00:30:51,762 --> 00:30:53,996
and major cloud development
has begun.
534
00:30:54,031 --> 00:30:58,067
They send the coordinates
of the strongest lightning
535
00:30:58,101 --> 00:30:59,569
to the team in the air.
536
00:31:07,578 --> 00:31:12,214
NARRATOR:
Outside, lightning flashes
are everywhere.
537
00:31:12,249 --> 00:31:17,086
A monster cloud, with a diameter
of more than 300 miles,
538
00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:20,656
is releasing electricity
with frightening intensity.
539
00:31:20,691 --> 00:31:24,293
The scientists rush
to position their gear.
540
00:31:24,328 --> 00:31:28,197
The frustration and anticipation
of the previous week
541
00:31:28,231 --> 00:31:30,032
is getting to them,
542
00:31:30,067 --> 00:31:31,734
and tension in the cabin
is high.
543
00:31:35,505 --> 00:31:36,572
Sprite!
544
00:31:36,607 --> 00:31:37,907
Wow!
545
00:31:37,941 --> 00:31:39,575
That's a heck of a sprite there!
546
00:31:39,610 --> 00:31:41,010
Did you get it?
547
00:31:41,044 --> 00:31:45,014
NARRATOR:
For an instant,
a giant red flash appeared.
548
00:31:45,048 --> 00:31:48,818
On replay, they can see
beautiful shafts of light
549
00:31:48,852 --> 00:31:51,787
thrusting upwards toward space:
550
00:31:51,822 --> 00:31:55,658
the mysterious sprite
in all its glory.
551
00:31:58,128 --> 00:32:01,230
Then the sprites keep coming.
552
00:32:03,634 --> 00:32:05,568
Sprite!
553
00:32:05,602 --> 00:32:07,003
We got sprites!
554
00:32:09,539 --> 00:32:14,076
NARRATOR:
On board, the team reviews
the stunning and unique images.
555
00:32:14,111 --> 00:32:18,280
This sprite was shaped
like a mangrove tree.
556
00:32:18,315 --> 00:32:20,583
It's been captured
in more detail
557
00:32:20,617 --> 00:32:23,019
than any sprite until now.
558
00:32:25,055 --> 00:32:27,223
Just like its name,
559
00:32:27,257 --> 00:32:30,960
this sprite evokes
a fairy with wings.
560
00:32:33,664 --> 00:32:34,797
MAN:
Jellyfish!
561
00:32:34,831 --> 00:32:36,632
Yeah, a very big jellyfish!
562
00:32:36,667 --> 00:32:37,667
It's pretty,
very pretty!
563
00:32:41,805 --> 00:32:47,109
NARRATOR:
It indeed looks like a jellyfish
with many tentacles.
564
00:32:47,144 --> 00:32:53,616
Sprites of many different forms
appear one after another.
565
00:32:59,923 --> 00:33:05,261
Seen up close,
they have a variety of shapes.
566
00:33:05,295 --> 00:33:10,466
Eventually, a sprite appears
that demands special attention.
567
00:33:10,500 --> 00:33:13,636
(translated):
This is spectacular!
568
00:33:17,107 --> 00:33:19,608
NARRATOR:
The umbrella-like top
of this sprite
569
00:33:19,643 --> 00:33:23,512
reaches an altitude
of around 60 miles.
570
00:33:23,547 --> 00:33:25,948
That's the altitude
of the airglow layer
571
00:33:25,982 --> 00:33:27,817
that appeared
in Furukawa'fo
572
00:33:27,851 --> 00:33:30,853
from the International
Space Station.
573
00:33:30,887 --> 00:33:35,858
The image confirms that sprites
interact with the ionosphere.
574
00:33:42,332 --> 00:33:46,001
Now it's time
for the high-speed camera.
575
00:33:46,036 --> 00:33:48,804
It's designed so that
when a sprite is sighted
576
00:33:48,839 --> 00:33:50,773
and the button is released,
577
00:33:50,807 --> 00:33:53,342
the previous three seconds
of footage will be saved.
578
00:33:59,116 --> 00:34:01,717
Sprite!
579
00:34:01,752 --> 00:34:03,619
(crew talking excitedly)
580
00:34:15,532 --> 00:34:18,534
NARRATOR:
This is the momentary flash
of a sprite
581
00:34:18,568 --> 00:34:21,303
taken by the super-sensitive
camera,
582
00:34:21,338 --> 00:34:26,375
and when shot by the high-speed
camera, it looks like this.
583
00:34:34,684 --> 00:34:37,186
In just a few hundredths
of a second,
584
00:34:37,220 --> 00:34:41,891
countless particles of light
rain down.
585
00:34:44,327 --> 00:34:46,996
This is the first time
a sprite's formation
586
00:34:47,030 --> 00:34:49,532
has ever been revealed
in such detail.
587
00:34:53,637 --> 00:34:55,604
(crew talking excitedly)
588
00:34:55,639 --> 00:34:57,173
NARRATOR:
During the night,
589
00:34:57,207 --> 00:35:00,509
14 sprites were captured
by the high-speed camera.
590
00:35:00,544 --> 00:35:02,511
8,000, yes, very good.
591
00:35:02,546 --> 00:35:04,446
(crew talking excitedly)
592
00:35:05,849 --> 00:35:11,177
NARRATOR
What else will the footage reveal.
593
00:35:12,768 --> 00:35:15,868
With great expectations
they return to the ground.
594
00:35:16,318 --> 00:35:18,918
Not too bad, huh?
>>>Great!
595
00:35:22,014 --> 00:35:23,259
Thats amazing.
596
00:35:25,914 --> 00:35:27,011
It was fabulous.
597
00:35:27,211 --> 00:35:28,912
It was amazing.
598
00:35:28,946 --> 00:35:31,381
I haven't seen anything
like that ever.
599
00:35:35,886 --> 00:35:37,887
NARRATOR:
The long night is over,
600
00:35:37,922 --> 00:35:40,957
but they know their work
is just beginning.
601
00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:47,497
Back in Denver, the team gathers
to make some scientific sense
602
00:35:47,531 --> 00:35:49,833
out of their spectacular
sprite footage.
603
00:35:49,867 --> 00:35:52,402
The halo above
and the elf below,
604
00:35:52,436 --> 00:35:55,872
and that's just because
it's expanded out in front...
605
00:35:55,906 --> 00:35:59,542
NARRATOR:
At first glance,
this sprite may seem to burst up
606
00:35:59,577 --> 00:36:03,513
from the storm clouds
towards space.
607
00:36:03,547 --> 00:36:05,849
But when seen
by the high-speed camera,
608
00:36:05,883 --> 00:36:09,052
the movement looks
completely different.
609
00:36:09,086 --> 00:36:12,322
Bursts of light appear
out of the center,
610
00:36:12,356 --> 00:36:16,493
spreading both up and down.
611
00:36:16,527 --> 00:36:19,963
In fact, when examined
in slow motion,
612
00:36:19,997 --> 00:36:23,333
it appears that sprite formation
is more complicated
613
00:36:23,367 --> 00:36:25,568
than early reports
had indicated.
614
00:36:25,603 --> 00:36:32,108
And what about this sprite
shaped like angel's wings?
615
00:36:32,143 --> 00:36:34,277
With this one, too,
616
00:36:34,311 --> 00:36:37,580
bursts of light suddenly appear
out of darkness.
617
00:36:37,615 --> 00:36:41,251
They go down,
and the next moment, up,
618
00:36:41,285 --> 00:36:44,154
and then down again.
619
00:36:44,188 --> 00:36:48,791
They change their direction
as they unfold.
620
00:36:48,826 --> 00:36:51,895
So what is really happening?
621
00:36:51,929 --> 00:36:55,031
Within the sprite,
electrons are colliding
622
00:36:55,065 --> 00:36:57,567
with charged particles
in the atmosphere,
623
00:36:57,601 --> 00:37:01,237
creating a pathway
for the electrons to travel.
624
00:37:01,272 --> 00:37:04,741
Where they go depends on
the concentration of electrons
625
00:37:04,775 --> 00:37:06,943
and the composition
of the atmosphere.
626
00:37:11,916 --> 00:37:14,184
Sprites are beautiful
and intriguing,
627
00:37:14,218 --> 00:37:16,853
but do they actually
have a role to play
628
00:37:16,887 --> 00:37:21,457
in Earth's upper atmosphere?
629
00:37:21,492 --> 00:37:25,128
Yukihiro Takahashi
is investigating
630
00:37:25,162 --> 00:37:27,397
the aftermath of a sprite.
631
00:37:27,431 --> 00:37:30,633
Once the electrons
cut open a path,
632
00:37:30,668 --> 00:37:35,205
the atmosphere around it
becomes highly electrified.
633
00:37:35,239 --> 00:37:39,375
Following the sprite's path,
a large electric current
634
00:37:39,410 --> 00:37:43,079
continues to flow from the
thundercloud to the ionosphere,
635
00:37:43,113 --> 00:37:47,317
which shows up as the airglow
in many sprite images.
636
00:37:47,351 --> 00:37:50,486
(translated):
The sprite flashes
only for an instant,
637
00:37:50,521 --> 00:37:53,890
but at the moment
when it flashes,
638
00:37:53,924 --> 00:37:55,925
a conductive path is created.
639
00:37:55,960 --> 00:37:58,394
The electrified path
doesn't disappear
640
00:37:58,429 --> 00:38:02,632
when the flash ends,
but stays there for a while.
641
00:38:02,666 --> 00:38:07,103
The effects are thought to last
several seconds to minutes.
642
00:38:07,137 --> 00:38:10,673
NARRATOR:
The result is a massive transfer
of electric charge
643
00:38:10,708 --> 00:38:14,110
in the space between the cloud
and the ionosphere.
644
00:38:17,548 --> 00:38:20,750
The team also successfully
captured a sprite
645
00:38:20,784 --> 00:38:24,420
from different angles,
as they had originally planned,
646
00:38:24,455 --> 00:38:28,958
using high-speed cameras
placed on the two aircraft.
647
00:38:31,262 --> 00:38:34,097
By combining the images
from the two cameras,
648
00:38:34,131 --> 00:38:38,268
the three-dimensional structure
of the sprite becomes apparent.
649
00:38:41,505 --> 00:38:45,908
A large number of electrons
collide with the atmosphere,
650
00:38:45,943 --> 00:38:47,777
creating brilliant bursts
of light
651
00:38:47,811 --> 00:38:52,148
and opening channels
where the electrons can flow.
652
00:38:52,182 --> 00:38:56,686
Each sprite channel can be
hundreds of yards wide.
653
00:39:00,791 --> 00:39:03,926
A sprite event is like a switch
654
00:39:03,961 --> 00:39:06,929
that turns on an electric
current in the space
655
00:39:06,964 --> 00:39:10,800
between the Earth
and the ionosphere.
656
00:39:10,834 --> 00:39:14,671
In fact, our planet is
surrounded by electric current,
657
00:39:14,705 --> 00:39:18,608
from the surface
to the edge of space.
658
00:39:18,642 --> 00:39:22,312
Like lightning, sprites help
to complete a global circuit,
659
00:39:22,346 --> 00:39:26,849
allowing charge to flow
continuously around the Earth.
660
00:39:29,053 --> 00:39:31,487
But sprites reach
much farther than lightning,
661
00:39:31,522 --> 00:39:33,556
and unlike lightning,
662
00:39:33,590 --> 00:39:37,093
sprites can transfer charge
into the ionosphere
663
00:39:37,127 --> 00:39:39,495
to the edge of space.
664
00:39:39,530 --> 00:39:42,365
Not only that,
but the bolts of lightning
665
00:39:42,399 --> 00:39:45,468
that create the sprites
are so powerful
666
00:39:45,502 --> 00:39:49,906
that they literally reverberate
around the world.
667
00:39:49,940 --> 00:39:52,208
EARLE WILLIAMS:
When a sprite occurs,
668
00:39:52,242 --> 00:39:54,410
the parent lightning
that causes the strike
669
00:39:54,445 --> 00:39:57,580
radiates electromagnetic waves.
670
00:39:57,614 --> 00:40:02,518
Those waves propagate in what
we call the global circuit.
671
00:40:02,553 --> 00:40:05,855
NARRATOR:
Earle Williams of MIT
studies sprites
672
00:40:05,889 --> 00:40:09,225
from this remote laboratory
in western Rhode Island.
673
00:40:09,259 --> 00:40:13,129
Williams and his equipment are
nearly off the grid out here,
674
00:40:13,163 --> 00:40:16,399
but they're completely plugged
into the biggest circuit of all:
675
00:40:16,433 --> 00:40:19,235
the Global Electric Circuit.
676
00:40:19,269 --> 00:40:21,204
WILLIAMS:
We've been monitoring
this phenomenon
677
00:40:21,238 --> 00:40:23,272
for nearly two decades
at this site,
678
00:40:23,307 --> 00:40:25,775
trying to look
for long-term trends.
679
00:40:25,809 --> 00:40:29,445
NARRATOR:
In fact, scientists have
actually been measuring
680
00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:31,514
the Global Electric Circuit
681
00:40:31,548 --> 00:40:33,149
on this unusual site
since the 1950s,
682
00:40:33,183 --> 00:40:37,520
when the lab was set up
by Williams' predecessor,
683
00:40:37,554 --> 00:40:41,891
Charles Polk of the University
of Rhode Island.
684
00:40:41,925 --> 00:40:45,061
WILLIAMS:
The antenna immediately
behind me is Charles Polk's.
685
00:40:45,095 --> 00:40:48,698
The more distant antenna
is one that we constructed
686
00:40:48,732 --> 00:40:51,534
when Polk's antenna
was struck by lightning
687
00:40:51,568 --> 00:40:53,736
and it blew the antenna
into many separate fragments
688
00:40:53,771 --> 00:40:55,938
all over the meadow
we're sitting in right now.
689
00:40:55,973 --> 00:40:59,776
NARRATOR:
Williams got involved
with early sprite research
690
00:40:59,810 --> 00:41:01,844
by collaborating with Walt Lyons
691
00:41:01,879 --> 00:41:04,580
of the Yucca Ridge
Field Station.
692
00:41:04,615 --> 00:41:06,048
Every time Walt saw a sprite
in Colorado,
693
00:41:06,083 --> 00:41:08,284
which is roughly
2,000 miles from here,
694
00:41:08,318 --> 00:41:12,622
we would see a big disturbance
here in Rhode Island.
695
00:41:12,656 --> 00:41:14,323
NARRATOR:
The antenna Williams is using
696
00:41:14,358 --> 00:41:16,859
measures a very low
frequency wave,
697
00:41:16,894 --> 00:41:19,362
like a steady hum
that resonates
698
00:41:19,396 --> 00:41:22,265
between the Earth
and the ionosphere.
699
00:41:22,299 --> 00:41:23,933
WILLIAMS:
When a sprite occurs,
700
00:41:23,967 --> 00:41:25,802
the lightning
that causes the sprite
701
00:41:25,836 --> 00:41:30,139
sends waves in that thin cavity
around the world
702
00:41:30,174 --> 00:41:31,974
two or three times,
703
00:41:32,009 --> 00:41:36,345
and it is exciting something
called the Schumann resonances.
704
00:41:36,380 --> 00:41:39,315
And the Schumann resonances
is a manifestation
705
00:41:39,349 --> 00:41:43,386
of what we call
the AC Global Circuit.
706
00:41:43,420 --> 00:41:46,589
NARRATOR:
Earle's aunt was a prominent
violin player,
707
00:41:46,623 --> 00:41:48,090
so it's not too surprising
708
00:41:48,125 --> 00:41:50,927
that he thinks of it
in musical terms.
709
00:41:50,961 --> 00:41:52,762
WILLIAMS:
The vibration of a violin string
710
00:41:52,796 --> 00:41:55,731
is very much like what happens
with Schumann resonances.
711
00:41:55,766 --> 00:41:58,634
We have a fixed string length,
712
00:41:58,669 --> 00:42:00,770
and there's one wave
on the string,
713
00:42:00,804 --> 00:42:05,107
which has a fixed frequency,
say the A note of 440 hertz.
714
00:42:05,142 --> 00:42:07,477
For Schumann resonance,
we have a fixed length,
715
00:42:07,511 --> 00:42:09,979
but the length wraps itself
around the world.
716
00:42:10,013 --> 00:42:12,548
And for that fixed length
and the speed of light,
717
00:42:12,583 --> 00:42:15,218
we have a fixed frequency
of eight cycles per second.
718
00:42:15,252 --> 00:42:18,020
So they're both examples
of resonances,
719
00:42:18,055 --> 00:42:20,156
this one being
a mechanical resonance,
720
00:42:20,190 --> 00:42:22,558
that one being
an electro-magnetic resonance,
721
00:42:22,593 --> 00:42:24,794
but the same wave phenomenon
applies.
722
00:42:24,828 --> 00:42:29,432
NARRATOR:
It's almost like the music
of the spheres--
723
00:42:29,466 --> 00:42:32,034
or of the Earth, at least.
724
00:42:32,069 --> 00:42:33,936
WILLIAMS:
No matter where you are
on Earth,
725
00:42:33,971 --> 00:42:35,872
if you have an antenna,
a vertical antenna
726
00:42:35,906 --> 00:42:37,173
like the one behind me,
727
00:42:37,207 --> 00:42:41,277
you will see an oscillation
on that antenna
728
00:42:41,311 --> 00:42:42,712
at roughly eight cycles
per second.
729
00:42:42,746 --> 00:42:45,581
And that is maintained
continuously
730
00:42:45,616 --> 00:42:47,283
by all the lightning
on the planet.
731
00:42:47,317 --> 00:42:49,285
Every time there's
a lightning flash,
732
00:42:49,319 --> 00:42:52,388
a small fraction of the energy
in that lightning flash
733
00:42:52,422 --> 00:42:54,490
feeds into this
global resonance.
734
00:42:54,525 --> 00:42:58,794
NARRATOR:
The Schumann resonance
is present all the time.
735
00:42:58,829 --> 00:43:01,264
It never dissipates
736
00:43:01,298 --> 00:43:04,800
because there's always lightning
someplace on Earth.
737
00:43:04,835 --> 00:43:08,738
And when a sprite is produced
by a super-bolt of lightning,
738
00:43:08,772 --> 00:43:12,308
there is a spike in the Schumann
resonance signal.
739
00:43:12,342 --> 00:43:14,911
WILLIAMS:
Every sprite lightning
is a bell ringer
740
00:43:14,945 --> 00:43:16,812
for the Schumann resonances.
741
00:43:16,847 --> 00:43:18,681
One of these giant lightnings
742
00:43:18,715 --> 00:43:21,717
will single-handedly excite
the whole Schumann cavity
743
00:43:21,752 --> 00:43:24,620
with electromagnetic waves.
744
00:43:24,655 --> 00:43:28,991
And everyone on Earth
who has a receiver
745
00:43:29,026 --> 00:43:31,327
in the range of frequency
of eight cycles per second
746
00:43:31,361 --> 00:43:34,497
will detect a sprite event.
747
00:43:34,531 --> 00:43:35,932
Here on the oscilloscope,
748
00:43:35,966 --> 00:43:38,568
we have an example of the
Schumann resonant signals.
749
00:43:38,602 --> 00:43:40,636
You can see the characteristic
750
00:43:40,671 --> 00:43:43,606
eight-cycle-per-second
oscillation, continuously.
751
00:43:43,640 --> 00:43:45,808
That's called the background
Schumann resonances.
752
00:43:45,842 --> 00:43:49,946
Occasionally, you'll see a big
increase in the amplitudes.
753
00:43:49,980 --> 00:43:53,249
Those events are the events
that make the sprites.
754
00:43:53,283 --> 00:43:54,984
These are the lightning flashes,
755
00:43:55,018 --> 00:43:56,819
the very energetic
lightning flashes
756
00:43:56,853 --> 00:44:01,357
that create sprites
in the thin upper atmosphere.
757
00:44:01,391 --> 00:44:03,726
NARRATOR:
Earle's science
may be cutting edge,
758
00:44:03,760 --> 00:44:07,863
adding to our understanding
of planet Earth,
759
00:44:07,898 --> 00:44:10,132
but his equipment is
a little bit old school.
760
00:44:10,167 --> 00:44:13,235
EARLE WILLIAMS:
Because the Schumann resonances
761
00:44:13,270 --> 00:44:15,871
oscillate at only eight cycles
per second,
762
00:44:15,906 --> 00:44:18,608
it is kind of a low-tech
operation here.
763
00:44:18,642 --> 00:44:21,544
I mean, we do digital recording
of the signals, but it's...
764
00:44:21,578 --> 00:44:23,946
You know, these are very
low frequency signals
765
00:44:23,981 --> 00:44:26,382
you can put on an oscilloscope,
and you don't need
766
00:44:26,416 --> 00:44:28,884
high-bandwidth equipment
to record them.
767
00:44:28,919 --> 00:44:31,354
But you have to be
in a quiet place.
768
00:44:31,388 --> 00:44:32,955
You can't do this
in the middle of a city:
769
00:44:32,990 --> 00:44:34,690
there's too much
background noise.
770
00:44:34,725 --> 00:44:36,926
And that's why we're out here
in this very beautiful site
771
00:44:36,960 --> 00:44:39,362
in the middle of nowhere.
772
00:44:39,396 --> 00:44:43,199
NARRATOR:
And super-powerful lightning
produces not only sprites,
773
00:44:43,233 --> 00:44:46,035
but other weird phenomena
as well.
774
00:44:46,069 --> 00:44:49,171
There are actually a whole zoo
of creatures up there
775
00:44:49,206 --> 00:44:50,439
that are caused by lightning.
776
00:44:50,474 --> 00:44:52,575
There's something called
an ELVE,
777
00:44:52,609 --> 00:44:55,878
and it's like a pancake of light
within the airglow layer,
778
00:44:55,912 --> 00:44:58,648
and it's caused by the radiation
field from lightning.
779
00:44:58,682 --> 00:45:03,185
Then there is a halo,
which is also a pancake shape
780
00:45:03,220 --> 00:45:04,854
but at somewhat lower altitude.
781
00:45:04,888 --> 00:45:08,891
And then there are blue jets
and pixies
782
00:45:08,925 --> 00:45:12,762
and a whole host
of other optical phenomena
783
00:45:12,796 --> 00:45:15,931
that occur in conjunction
with lightning flashes.
784
00:45:15,966 --> 00:45:19,201
NARRATOR:
Since the Schumann resonance
fluctuates slightly
785
00:45:19,236 --> 00:45:22,772
depending upon factors such as
the temperature of the Earth,
786
00:45:22,806 --> 00:45:25,307
Williams thinks
it's one important way
787
00:45:25,342 --> 00:45:28,277
of measuring the health
of the whole planet.
788
00:45:28,311 --> 00:45:32,715
WILLIAMS:
It's a natural setup
for looking at the entire Earth.
789
00:45:32,749 --> 00:45:37,787
You have one quantity which
represents the entire planet,
790
00:45:37,821 --> 00:45:40,756
and it's hard to dream up
another such circumstance.
791
00:45:40,791 --> 00:45:43,926
It is like taking
the EKG of the planet.
792
00:45:45,629 --> 00:45:50,433
NARRATOR:
The global electric circuit
surrounds everything on Earth
793
00:45:50,467 --> 00:45:53,469
and connects us
to the edge of space.
794
00:45:53,503 --> 00:45:57,106
Sprites feed into the ionosphere
from below.
795
00:45:57,140 --> 00:46:00,710
But from above, the Sun
also affects the ionosphere,
796
00:46:00,744 --> 00:46:05,948
resulting in the vivid displays
of the Aurora Borealis.
797
00:46:05,982 --> 00:46:08,851
Auroras are light displays
798
00:46:08,885 --> 00:46:11,654
caused by the collision
of charged particles
799
00:46:11,688 --> 00:46:14,356
streaming from the Sun
into our atmosphere.
800
00:46:18,361 --> 00:46:21,363
There are two types of auroras.
801
00:46:21,398 --> 00:46:24,333
The discrete aurora like the
Northern and Southern Lights
802
00:46:24,367 --> 00:46:26,502
have well-defined boundaries
803
00:46:26,536 --> 00:46:29,004
that can be seen
with the naked eye,
804
00:46:29,039 --> 00:46:33,809
and diffuse auroras
that spread out over a wide area
805
00:46:33,844 --> 00:46:37,079
and are less colorful.
806
00:46:39,082 --> 00:46:42,051
93 million miles away,
auroras are born
807
00:46:42,085 --> 00:46:45,321
from a landscape
of blistering temperatures
808
00:46:45,355 --> 00:46:48,390
and violent eruptions.
809
00:46:48,425 --> 00:46:53,295
From the surface of the Sun,
huge volumes of solar material
810
00:46:53,330 --> 00:46:58,768
in the form of charged particles
are blasted into space.
811
00:46:58,802 --> 00:47:03,906
A fleet of satellites
monitors this solar activity.
812
00:47:08,645 --> 00:47:14,683
Stereo A and Stereo B satellites
are making 3D images of the Sun
813
00:47:14,718 --> 00:47:18,420
and also tracking
solar activity.
814
00:47:22,659 --> 00:47:27,630
These eyes in the sky paint
a detailed picture of the Sun
815
00:47:27,664 --> 00:47:30,599
and the powerful forces erupting
from its surface.
816
00:47:30,634 --> 00:47:34,436
The constant stream
of charged particles,
817
00:47:34,471 --> 00:47:36,105
the solar wind,
is so violent,
818
00:47:36,139 --> 00:47:38,808
it would strip away
the Earth's atmosphere
819
00:47:38,842 --> 00:47:41,076
if it hit our planet directly.
820
00:47:41,111 --> 00:47:44,747
CAHOY:
The sun you can think of
821
00:47:44,781 --> 00:47:47,416
as a really big angry
hair dryer in a lot of ways:
822
00:47:47,450 --> 00:47:50,219
it's constantly blowing
hot, energetic wind
823
00:47:50,253 --> 00:47:52,087
out in all directions,
824
00:47:52,122 --> 00:47:53,889
not just directly
towards the Earth,
825
00:47:53,924 --> 00:47:55,457
but in all directions.
826
00:47:55,492 --> 00:47:59,195
And this hot, energetic,
fast-moving particle stream
827
00:47:59,229 --> 00:48:01,664
hits straight on
with the Earth.
828
00:48:03,733 --> 00:48:08,070
NARRATOR:
Earth's magnetic field blocks
and deflects the solar wind,
829
00:48:08,104 --> 00:48:11,874
protecting our planet
from a full-on assault.
830
00:48:11,908 --> 00:48:14,443
But there is a back door
831
00:48:14,477 --> 00:48:17,513
that allows some of the charged
particles from the solar wind
832
00:48:17,547 --> 00:48:19,315
to reach us.
833
00:48:19,349 --> 00:48:21,817
In the Earth's shadow,
834
00:48:21,852 --> 00:48:27,556
there is a region in space where
charged particles accumulate.
835
00:48:27,591 --> 00:48:31,727
These particles, though
drastically decreased in number,
836
00:48:31,761 --> 00:48:35,331
sneak in through small gaps
in Earth's magnetic defenses.
837
00:48:38,568 --> 00:48:42,137
The charged particles
dash toward Earth...
838
00:48:45,876 --> 00:48:51,080
...and interact
with the magnetic field,
839
00:48:51,114 --> 00:48:53,949
which deflects and diverts them
to the poles.
840
00:48:59,522 --> 00:49:03,292
They rain down, forming
luminous rings in the sky.
841
00:49:10,967 --> 00:49:13,769
The beautiful, vibrant colors
of the aurora
842
00:49:13,803 --> 00:49:16,338
are visible evidence
of the particles' interaction
843
00:49:16,373 --> 00:49:21,810
with Earth's second line
of defense: the atmosphere.
844
00:49:21,845 --> 00:49:25,981
CAHOY:
The aurora are different colors
at different altitudes
845
00:49:26,016 --> 00:49:28,751
depending on the gases
in the atmosphere
846
00:49:28,785 --> 00:49:31,687
that the particles
are interacting with.
847
00:49:31,721 --> 00:49:33,956
So it's red at higher altitudes,
it's oxygen,
848
00:49:33,990 --> 00:49:37,927
and then blue and green,
oxygen and nitrogen,
849
00:49:37,961 --> 00:49:39,528
as it gets denser
into the atmosphere
850
00:49:39,562 --> 00:49:40,996
where the gases get thicker.
851
00:49:41,031 --> 00:49:44,066
And then for really,
really strong interactions
852
00:49:44,100 --> 00:49:46,035
of the particles,
energetic particles
853
00:49:46,069 --> 00:49:47,703
really penetrating deep
into the atmosphere,
854
00:49:47,737 --> 00:49:50,205
you may even see
a pinkish purple color
855
00:49:50,240 --> 00:49:54,276
down at the bottom,
where there's more nitrogen.
856
00:49:56,446 --> 00:49:59,481
NARRATOR:
But sometimes,
things can go wrong.
857
00:49:59,516 --> 00:50:01,450
Really wrong.
858
00:50:01,484 --> 00:50:06,021
Sometimes, the blast of charged
particles can be so intense
859
00:50:06,056 --> 00:50:10,192
that the auroral ring thickens
and vibrates explosively.
860
00:50:10,226 --> 00:50:13,662
CAHOY:
There are these periodic events,
these coronal mass ejections,
861
00:50:13,697 --> 00:50:16,732
where the gas just
is incredibly more intense
862
00:50:16,766 --> 00:50:18,467
than it normally is.
863
00:50:18,501 --> 00:50:21,136
And this charged particle cloud
will come out,
864
00:50:21,171 --> 00:50:22,538
spiral out towards the Earth,
865
00:50:22,572 --> 00:50:26,241
and our magnetic field
will respond.
866
00:50:26,276 --> 00:50:30,746
NARRATOR:
The Earth's magnetic field does
a good job of protecting us.
867
00:50:30,780 --> 00:50:32,614
The more beautiful the aurora,
868
00:50:32,649 --> 00:50:37,252
the more intense the battle
at the edge of space.
869
00:50:37,287 --> 00:50:39,588
And even satellites
high above Earth
870
00:50:39,622 --> 00:50:44,026
can fall victim
to the power of our Sun.
871
00:50:44,060 --> 00:50:49,631
In 1989, during a period
of intense solar turbulence,
872
00:50:49,666 --> 00:50:52,768
induced electric currents
caused by the aurora
873
00:50:52,802 --> 00:50:56,939
shut down the entire power grid
in Quebec, Canada,
874
00:50:56,973 --> 00:50:58,607
in under two minutes.
875
00:50:58,641 --> 00:51:02,311
The province's largest city,
Montreal,
876
00:51:02,345 --> 00:51:05,080
was crippled by power outages.
877
00:51:05,115 --> 00:51:07,282
Human activity
throughout the region
878
00:51:07,317 --> 00:51:10,319
came to a halt for nine hours.
879
00:51:10,353 --> 00:51:14,690
The more recent
"Halloween storms" of 2003
880
00:51:14,724 --> 00:51:18,327
caused hour-long power outages
throughout Sweden
881
00:51:18,361 --> 00:51:21,864
and impacted satellites
and aircraft communications.
882
00:51:21,898 --> 00:51:29,738
But the greatest solar storm
on record took place in 1859.
883
00:51:29,773 --> 00:51:32,174
It created auroras so powerful
884
00:51:32,208 --> 00:51:36,045
they illuminated skies as far
south as Hawaii and Panama,
885
00:51:36,079 --> 00:51:38,514
while playing havoc
with telegraph systems
886
00:51:38,548 --> 00:51:40,716
around the planet.
887
00:51:40,750 --> 00:51:43,485
A similar storm today
could devastate power grids
888
00:51:43,520 --> 00:51:47,890
and communication systems
and cost billions to repair.
889
00:51:47,924 --> 00:51:52,127
In today's wired world,
no one is invulnerable.
890
00:51:52,162 --> 00:51:53,962
CAHOY:
Solar storms can affect
891
00:51:53,997 --> 00:51:56,565
satellite communications
in different ways.
892
00:51:56,599 --> 00:52:01,703
Performance of your handheld
radio, your GPS receiver,
893
00:52:01,738 --> 00:52:03,439
your satellite
television receiver,
894
00:52:03,473 --> 00:52:04,940
your satellite radio receiver,
895
00:52:04,974 --> 00:52:08,377
all of these things can be
affected by space weather.
896
00:52:10,947 --> 00:52:15,617
NARRATOR:
We think of electricity
as a modern invention,
897
00:52:15,652 --> 00:52:19,421
but the electric Earth
has always been with us,
898
00:52:19,456 --> 00:52:21,990
surrounding our planet
899
00:52:22,025 --> 00:52:25,561
and connecting us
to the edge of space.
900
00:52:52,255 --> 00:52:54,990
AsterThis:NOVAlprograms on
a colis available on DVD.arth.
901
00:52:55,024 --> 00:53:00,329
To order, visit shoppbs.org,
or call 1-800-playpbs.
902
00:53:00,363 --> 00:53:02,831
NOVA is also available
for download on iTunes.
903
00:53:06,202 --> 00:53:02,831
Captioned by
Media Access Group at WGBH
access.wgbh.org