Climatologists and atmospheric physicists are investigating a sharp, localized increase in reported sightings of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs)—specifically sprites and elves—over intense thunderstorm systems in the US Midwest this fall. TLEs are large-scale electrical discharges occurring high above the cloud tops of active thunderstorms. While sprites and elves are known phenomena, the recent spike and the unusual intensity of some of the observed events have prompted further study into the potential links between shifting atmospheric patterns (such as extreme jet stream behavior) and the frequency of these mysterious, short-lived light shows.
Source: American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting Abstract (November 2025)
Link: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/2025/XYZ001
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