Rare transient luminous event photographed in upper atmosphere

[Ivan Seeking]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/06/0625_030625_atmospherethunder.html

[LURCH]

I've always heard them refered to as "sprites". The artical states that they diliver the electrical energy of a storm high into the atmosphere. I can't help but wonder, "how high?". Looking at the peculiar way they spread out as they progress upward, it would almost appear that they discharge directly to the Earth's magnaetic field.