Sprites, Elves and Intense Lightning Discharges - Atmospheric Coupling

In this review of Sprites, Elves and Intense Lightning Discharges the authors present a focused scientific account aimed at researchers and advanced students interested in upper atmosphere phenomena; the single biggest reason to read it is its clear synthesis of observational evidence linking powerful tropospheric lightning to transient luminous events in the mesosphere and ionosphere. The book reads like a specialist review rather than an introductory textbook, and it is most valuable to readers who want a concise, evidence-driven treatment of sprites, elves and jets backed by early spaceborne and ground-based observations.

Key Features

• Focused subject matter: Provides a concentrated treatment of sprites, elves and jets and their role in coupling the lower and upper atmosphere, useful for targeted research reading.
• Evidence-based synthesis: Summarizes ground-based video records and space shuttle observations to show the global occurrence of transient luminous events.
• Global perspective: Discusses observations from North America, South America, Australia, Japan and Europe to convey the worldwide nature of these phenomena.
• Space platform context: Places sprite detection within the broader spaceborne observational record, including early International Space Station and shuttle reports.
• Interdisciplinary relevance: Connects solar-terrestrial physics, atmospheric electricity and ionospheric science to help interdisciplinary researchers see the implications.

Who It's For

Researchers and graduate students in atmospheric physics, space science or electromagnetism will find this book most useful as a compact review of transient luminous events and their observational history. The book is especially suitable for those who require a synthesis of early discovery reports and comparative observations across continents.

Undergraduate readers seeking a basic introduction to lightning and atmospheric electricity should look elsewhere, as the text assumes prior knowledge of atmospheric layers and observational methods and focuses on concise scientific exposition rather than pedagogical detail.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Concise, evidence-based coverage makes it an efficient reference for specialists researching upper-atmosphere coupling.
• Global observational examples give readers a robust sense of geographic occurrence and observational consistency.
• Emphasis on early spaceborne detections highlights important historical milestones in sprite research.

Cons

• Not intended as an introductory textbook, so novices may find it too specialized and assume background knowledge.
• Coverage focuses on observations and synthesis rather than step-by-step experimental methods or extensive theoretical derivations.

Specifications

Title	Sprites, Elves and Intense Lightning Discharges
Series	NATO Science Series II: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry
Authors	Martin Fullekrug, Eugene A. Mareev, Michael J Rycroft
Subject focus	Transient luminous events, sprites, elves, jets, atmospheric coupling
Scope	Observational synthesis from ground and space platforms
Geographic coverage	North America, South America, Australia, Japan, Europe (global context)

Our Verdict

Sprites, Elves and Intense Lightning Discharges is a focused, high-value review for specialists who need a compact synthesis of observational evidence linking lightning to mesospheric and ionospheric emissions. It is worth acquiring for researchers and advanced students who want a clear account of the early global observations and the role of spaceborne platforms in establishing the reality and distribution of these transient luminous events.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover detection from satellites and shuttle missions?
Yes, it discusses early space shuttle detections and places sprite and elve observations in the context of space platform records.

Is the book suitable for beginners?
No, it is geared toward readers with some background in atmospheric or space physics rather than an introductory audience.

Are global observations included?
Yes, the text summarizes observations from multiple continents to demonstrate the worldwide occurrence of sprites and elves.