15 Types of Blue Lightning vs. Regular Lightning: Latest Scientific Discoveries

5. Blue Starters: The Precursors of Jets

Found relatively recently, blue starters are a type of blue lightning found near the tops of thunderclouds. Blue starts fly upward from the cloud tops but stop at far lower altitudes than blue jets or massive jets, unlike ordinary lightning, which usually runs horizontally within clouds or vertically to the earth. Recent studies have shown that the beginning of bigger upward discharges depends critically on blue beginnings. Acting as a sort of "ignition" for more extensive atmospheric electrical events, scientists have seen that these events often precede the development of blue jets. This finding has given important new perspectives on the intricate series of events leading to the several kinds of upper-atmospheric lightning. The ability of blue starts to affect the chemical composition of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere makes them among the most fascinating features Studies have indicated that these discharges can generate substantial quantities of nitrogen oxides and other reactive species, which might affect atmospheric chemistry and climate dynamics.