Final answer:
Sprites, ELVES, and blue jets are types of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) that occur above thunderstorms, known for their distinctive colors and shapes. Sprites appear as reddish-orange streaks, ELVES as rapid doughnut-shaped glows, and blue jets as upward, blue cone-shaped bursts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Transient Luminous Events
The question refers to specific types of atmospheric phenomena known as Transient Luminous Events (TLEs), which include sprites, ELVES, and blue jets. These phenomena occur above thunderstorms and are distinct from the more familiar cloud-to-ground lightning bolts.
- Sprites are large-scale electrical discharges that occur high above thunderstorm clouds, featuring a reddish-orange hue and appearing as several streaks of light.
- ELVES (Emission of Light and Very Low Frequency perturbations due to Electromagnetic Pulse Sources) are rapid doughnut-shaped glows in the ionosphere caused by the electromagnetic pulse from a strong lightning strike below.
- Blue jets shoot up from the cloud tops in a cone-shaped burst, extending upward in blue tendrils.
These are extraordinary meteorological events that are still being researched to fully understand their characteristics and impacts on Earth's atmosphere.