Blue Jets Above Paraiba, Brazil
April 10, 2017
Photographer: Diego Rhamon Reis da Silva
Summary Authors: Diego Rhamon Reis da Silva; Jim Foster
Shown above is a gigantic blue jet observed from Campina Grande, Paraíba Brazil, on March 13, 2017. Blue jets are a very high altitude lightning, occasionally detected emerging from above the top of strong thunderstorms; above where lightning within the storm is most active. These funnel-shaped jets move upwards at velocities of approximately 100 km/s (Mach 300) and may extend to altitudes of about 30 mi (50 km).
This jet was recorded by my detection network that I refer to as BRAMON -- Brazilian Network of Meteor Detection. To our knowledge, it was the first such blue jet lightning recording in Brazil. The cumulonimbus cloud that generated it was roughly 60 mi (100 km) from my location. BRAMON consists of a simple security camera (CCTV) with a nighttime high-sensitivity lens (F1.0). Whenever thunderstorms are within my visual range of view, I point the camera toward the storm cloud and hope for results such was captured during this attempt.
Photo Details: Through a USB video grabber, the camera sends a signal to a computer. A specific software (UFO Capture) monitors and saves videos, images and other information.