Date: April 6th, Thursday
Time: 3:00 pm
Place: Little 339 (the Atrium)
Speaker: Beyza Aslan Caliskan 


Title: Lightning and Other Atmospheric Events: Sprites, Blue Jets, and
Elves

Abstract: In addition to their well-known effects on the lower levels of
atmosphere, large thunderstorms produce several kinds of lesser-known
effects on the middle and upper atmosphere. In this talk, I will first
talk about the well-known outcome of large thunderstorms, the lightning.
Brief description of lightning will be given and different types of
lightning will be studied. Next, I will talk about the Transient Luminous
Events (TLE's), the lesser-known outcome of large thunderstorms. Since
TLE's were not videotaped until 1990, it was only recently that scientists
started studying these strange phenomena. One of the first discovered and
studied TLE's are sprites and blue jets. Brief description of these events
as well as their pictures will be presented. Other less common events such
as elves and trolls will also be examined.