Sky Oddities • Auroras & Plasma Phenomena • Child Pillar
Blue jets are spectacular blue electrical discharges that shoot upward from the tops of powerful thunderstorms. They belong to a family of upper-atmosphere electrical phenomena known as transient luminous events and represent some of the strangest forms of lightning on Earth.
This guide explains blue jets, giant jets, upward lightning phenomena and thunderstorm plasma jets — the rare moments when lightning decides to escape upward into space instead of downward toward Earth.
TL;DR: Blue Jets
- Blue jets are upward electrical discharges above thunderstorms.
- They begin near thunderstorm tops and shoot into the stratosphere.
- Giant jets are larger, more powerful versions that can extend much higher.
- Blue jets are part of the transient luminous events (TLE) family.
- They are associated with intense thunderstorm electrical activity.
- This page absorbs blue jets, giant jets, upward lightning phenomena and thunderstorm plasma jets.
What Are Blue Jets?
Blue jets are narrow cones or beams of blue light that erupt upward from thunderstorm tops. Unlike ordinary lightning, which generally moves toward the ground or remains inside clouds, blue jets travel upward into the upper atmosphere.
They usually appear:
- above powerful thunderstorms
- as narrow blue columns
- for fractions of a second
- between cloud tops and the upper atmosphere
- during intense electrical activity
Blue jets are difficult to observe because they occur rapidly and are often hidden by the storm itself.
How Do Blue Jets Form?
Scientists believe blue jets occur when electrical fields inside thunderstorms become strong enough to produce upward discharges above the cloud top.
The simplified sequence is:
- A powerful thunderstorm develops strong charge separation.
- Electrical energy accumulates near the storm top.
- An upward electrical discharge begins.
- A blue jet shoots into the stratosphere.
- The event lasts only milliseconds.
Their blue color is largely linked to emissions from nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere.
Giant Jets
Giant jets are among the most powerful upward lightning events ever observed. They resemble blue jets but can extend much higher into the atmosphere and transport enormous amounts of electrical energy.
Giant jets may:
- extend tens of kilometers above storms
- connect thunderstorms to higher atmospheric layers
- appear as branching blue-white structures
- carry substantial electrical charge
- remain extremely rare and difficult to observe
Many old posts about gigantic upward lightning bolts or giant electrical beams above storms should redirect here.
Upward Lightning Phenomena
Blue jets and giant jets belong to a broader category of upward lightning phenomena. These events challenge the common idea that lightning always travels downward.
Upward electrical discharges may:
- begin near cloud tops
- move into the stratosphere
- produce blue emissions
- appear as columns, cones or branching structures
- occur during powerful thunderstorms
These events demonstrate that thunderstorms can electrically influence regions far above the cloud tops.
Thunderstorm Plasma Jets
Blue jets are sometimes described as thunderstorm plasma jets because they involve ionized gases and luminous electrical discharges moving through the atmosphere.
Reports of plasma jets may describe:
- upward blue beams
- electrical plumes above storms
- glowing blue atmospheric columns
- ionized jets rising from cloud tops
- unusual plasma-like lightning phenomena
This page serves as the best 301 sink for old articles about upward plasma jets above thunderstorms.
Blue Jets vs Red Sprites
| Feature | Blue Jets | Red Sprites |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Blue | Red |
| Origin | Thunderstorm tops | High above storms |
| Shape | Cones and columns | Tendrils and jellyfish forms |
| Direction | Upward | Mostly diffuse flashes |
Where Are Blue Jets Observed?
Blue jets are most commonly observed above intense thunderstorms, particularly large storm complexes with strong electrical activity.
They are often detected:
- from aircraft
- from mountain observations
- from satellites
- through high-speed photography
- during nighttime thunderstorm activity
Because they occur above cloud tops and last only briefly, many events are never directly observed.
What Belongs Elsewhere?
This page specifically covers blue jets and related upward lightning events.
- Red sprites and jellyfish sprites → Red Sprites Explained
- ELVES and expanding light rings → ELVES Upper Atmosphere Flashes Explained
- Ball lightning → Ball Lightning Explained
- General lightning phenomena → Lightning Phenomena silo
- Auroras and subauroral emissions → Auroras Explained
FAQ: Blue Jets
What are blue jets?
Blue jets are upward electrical discharges that shoot from thunderstorm tops into the upper atmosphere.
Why are blue jets blue?
Their blue color is mainly caused by emissions from excited nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere.
What are giant jets?
Giant jets are extremely powerful upward lightning events that extend much higher into the atmosphere than ordinary blue jets.
Are blue jets ordinary lightning?
No. Blue jets are a special form of transient luminous event that moves upward rather than toward the ground.
Where should old upward lightning posts redirect?
Old posts about blue jets, giant jets, upward lightning phenomena and thunderstorm plasma jets should redirect to this page.
