Hello Rob!
Tuesday June 04 1996 13:53, Rob Dennis wrote to All:
 RD>  The only theory I come up with is that the storms are charging the 
clouds
 RD> to a degree such as to make it act like and behave like a low level
 RD> sporadic `E' layer of some sort. Has anyone else noticed this strange
 RD> effect ?
I think the theory most widely held right now, supported with documentation 
and photos from the shuttle, is something called "upwards" lightning. These 
bursts of lightning move rapidly upwards from the tops of thunderstorms, and 
dissipate (as opposed to striking) in the E layer of the atmosphere. This 
does, of course, charge the E layer accordingly, essentially forming what we 
think of as an E cloud, hence causing the E layer propagation.
The photos taken from the shuttle show "red sprites" and "blue jets" of 
upwards lightning. Really fascinating. If you can find them, have a GOOD look 
at them.
73,
Ron KK5DK
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