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addition of extra energy. Hence, it does not seem unreasonable that if swamp-gases, (if they are a component of earthlights), or even incompletely formed ball-lightning, might react to the addition of external energy. This, it is suggested, might account for the so-named ‘close encounters of the fifth kind’, where, it is claimed by ufologists that an airborne visual object appears to respond to, or be modified, by probing it with a terrestrial beam of energy. Since the shipping incident described at para. 11 above, was at I Band, the implications are that this is at least possible with I Band military radars (e.g. Air Intercept Radars) if the critical atmospheric conditions exist.
OBSERVATION OF SPRITES
12. It is clear that a visible and measurable phenomenon of red (Sprites), possible with blue offshoots (‘tendrils’) or blue (Blue Jet) columns exist; and that they can be seen:
- From aircraft, in particular, because they appear where high-flying aircraft are likely to be.
- Above severe thunderstorms.
- On occasions from ground-level when the cloud-breaks allow a sight-line.
The phenomena appear for a few milliseconds and could be reported as UAPs. Working Paper No. 4 confirms that the human eye will detect and possibly retain an after-image on the retina. Finally, they might be ‘triggered’ by a radar in the vicinity.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
[1] Cummer S.A. & Inan U.S. “Measurement of Charge Transfer in Sprite-Producing Lightning.....”. Geo. Phys. Res. Letters Vol. 24 p.1731-4 15 July 1997.
[2] Nemiroff et al. “Full Wave Calculation of 30 VLF/ LF Wave Fields Radiated from a Lightning Discharge”. ISAP 1996 Proc. 1996 Int. Symp. Ant & Prop.
[3] Milikh et al. “Model of Red Sprite Optical Spectra”. Geo Pages Res. Letters. Vol. 24 15 Apr. 97.
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